-----Original Message-----
From: lmbauer@unlnotes.unl.edu <lmbauer@unlnotes.unl.edu>
To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu <sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu>
Date: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 10:59 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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