buying local

Martha Wells (flylo@txcyber.com)
Wed, 4 Aug 1999 07:35:46 -0500

I rarely post to this group but thought this might be of some personal
interest. Here in Bryan Tx, the local 'greengrocer' Mike Scarmado (Farm
Patch) WILL go out of his way to buy organic produce and tries to buy
local. they also have a large warehouse off-site that receives truckload
shipments. They also have a whole valley full of their own farmlands,
growing (commercially) quite a bit of area produce themselves. when we
approached him about buying organic produce he was agreeable. The daily
EARLY shipments come in, he selects the produce, organic first usually, and
will pay a slight premium for quality organic produce. IF you hit his
office after daybreak though, he'll still try to buy your harvest but if
his OG quota is filled for the day, it goes in at regular prices.
I'm not taking up for Whole Foods but I do understand how a large grocer
would need to have a chain of commitment and the local growers normally
aren't prepared for the turnover they need. If they toss out a mega
contract for a seasonal local grower, the contract seller probably won't
try to renew the contract. I know Grocer's Supply has control over many of
the small grocery stores and restaurants in the area. If a local tomato
grower comes to them and wants to sell his produce, if GS finds out, they
have been known to pull their whole vegetable contract from the grocer.
Again, I'm not taking up for Whole Foods but if you intend to go to the
news folk with the way they conduct their business, best to see the problem
from all angles.
martha, Flylo Farms, (Texas)
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/5505/

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