Klaus: you asked -
> if you were an organic grower (let's assume vegetables or fruit)
> and you know, you can't compete - meaning you have nothing to
> sell during the winter months - with supermarkets: how would you
> react ?
>
> a) it's not worth driving to the market with nothing but celery
> or cabbage in winter, you do not sell enough to pay for the
> gasoline...
>
> b) consumers usually are used to buy most of their food from ONE
> farmer (a certain market stand from someone they have trust
> in). if you quit the market for a "winter time-out", they
> might go to the supermarket AND (that's the dangerous thing)
> might decide to stay supermarket shoppers even in the next
> season.
>
> so the farmer has two options:
>
> a) stay in the market with a (maybe extremely reduced
> assortement) and very likely losing money or having an hourly
> income not worth the time spent
>
> b) switch to sell non-organic food from southern countries and
> (that's important for the confidance) to clearly tell your
> clients, that this is conventional food
>
> i know organic growers, who changed to option b), because they
> think it very important not to loose contact with their usual
> clients. and immendiately some other organic growers accuse them
> to negate the "spirit" of organic farming.
>
> how would you react and what would be wiser in your opinion ?
>
First, I am not an organic grower and wouldn't presume to advise one on the
correct strategy. I would suspect the answer to your question would vary with
many variables specific to the particular grower. In general terms, however, I
would think that the kind of person who specifically patronizes organic food in
summer - for whatever reason - might behave differently from the general
consuming population. They might well be more understanding of seasonal lulls
in production - after all, they know the dificulties of growing strawberries in
a northern climate for market in January! They might have read and taken to
heart the Nearing's fabulous books - Living the Good Life and More of the Good
Life - and learned to enjoy each food in its season. I sure have, and so have
many friends and acquaintances who have never heard of the Nearings.
I do see a trend, particularly as people become more aware of just what they are
buying, and the health and environmental implications of year-around
availability of everything, including exotic fruits and vegetables. There is a
convergence of thought in this regard, with some farmers and some consumers
coming together with like purpose. Not a lot of either, but enough of each to
make for momentum - and that is encouraging. It doesn't make it easy,
especially for those of you on the forefront, but you are making it happen and I
applaud you. Ann
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