We sell to a Tucson co-op called The Food Conspiracy. They have been
extremely important to us in that they have enouraged us to sell to them,
they ooh and ahh over our produce which makes us feel really good and
encouraged us in our farming. There is also a local IGA grocery store..
Garretts..(independently owned), which has accepted some of our produce but
has a difficult time marketing "organic". We approached Reays Ranch market,
they were not interested in even talking with us until we became
"certified". This past year Reays has now become "wild Oats". They were much
friendlier, but are still not interested in our produce until we become
certified. I'm not too optimistic they will buy from us once we have
obtained organic certification.
It has been extremely difficult for us to develop a market for our
vegetables. The co-op pretty much saved us our first year. I don't know if
they have policy statements regarding "buying local" or not but that is
definitely part of their philosophy. Their email is natural@azstarnet.com.
-----Original Message-----
From: lmbauer@unlnotes.unl.edu <lmbauer@unlnotes.unl.edu>
To: <sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu>
Date: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 7:55 AM
Subject: buying local
>This conversation hits home in Lincoln, Nebraska. I'm on the board of
directors
>for our local natural foods cooperative, Open Harvest, and we're currently
>setting policy statements that will direct buying habits of our general
manager.
>Ideally, we want to go local. There are rumors that a Whole Foods is coming
to
>town, and we think our push for local foods will not only be healthier for
our
>community, but also that it will give us a marketing edge over Whole Foods.
>
>However, we have two farmers on our board, and just last night they were
talking
>about the difficulties in marketing directly to the retail sector.
Obviously,
>conventional marketing structures are well-oiled, "efficient" machines,
while
>"alternative" marketing lacks infrastructure, at least in our area. Our
board
>farmers highlighted distribution, farmers' marketing skills and consumer
>education as some areas needing attention. We need a food broker for local
>products, more training for farmers doing direct marketing and a consumer
>education campaign, among other things.
>
>I am wondering if anyone else is involved in locally owned food co-ops --
either
>selling to them, buying from them, or directing them -- and if you would
share
>your experiences. Has your local food co-op contributed to a local food
system,
>if so how?
>
>I also work for SARE, and our office in the North Central region is having
a
>marketing conference to address these issues and others. The conference
will be
>held Nov. 19-20 in Lincoln. See www.unl.edu/conted/acpp/sare for more info.
Send
>me your address if you'd like to receive registration materials.
>
>Thank you,
>Lisa
>
>
>---------------------- Forwarded by Lisa M Bauer/ard/IANR/UNEBR on 08/04/99
>08:55 AM ---------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
>Martha Wells <flylo@txcyber.com> on 08/04/99 07:35:46 AM
>
>
>
> To: "sanet-mg-digest@ces.ncsu.edu"
> <sanet-mg-digest@ces.ncsu.edu>
>
> cc: (bcc: Lisa M Bauer/ard/IANR/UNEBR)
>
>
>
> Subject: buying local
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>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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