Offshoot of the WF thread:
> Ditto - same thing in Austin during the Texas Organic Growers annual meeting.
Why isn't there a North Carolina Natural Growers .....
instead of a proliferation of "non-profits" :-) :-) :-)
claiming to support the market grower and small farmer, that rely on
grants, donations and membership fees for survival, and, of course, money
from the few "organic" farmers in the state willing to shell out a chunk
of their hard earned income to pay for the 3rd party certification - in
the face of loss of market share, lowered prices, increased competition
from out-of-area companies.
We have needed this for a long time and need it even more now. I wish a
few of us could figure out a way to get a real organization for North
Carolina natural growers started. This would accomodate the organic but
non-certified grower who would rely on building credibility and faith
amongst consumers who buy from him through csa, local green market,
farmers market, direct sales, coop or even brokerage service. Those
wanting organic certification would be accomodated as well.
Grow locally - sell locally. We are losing growers, farmland and market
share here in NC and We need to do something real to shore up small
farming as a lifestyle and way of making a living here and all over the US.
Eric Kindberg came to NC a few years ago and outlined a very effective
plan for accomplishing much of the above. We need to followup on this
now.
Why are there so few posts originating from North Carolina in this forum?
Eric:
-----
Ascend the stage. Give us an update on your ideas, a plan for the next
millenium for small growers in NC ....and elsewhere.
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