Congratulations Dr. Bullock! Just remember to get home to North
Carolina and your brother's farm from time to time!
And many thanks to Chuck for providing a lay of the land on the 20/20
show. (See below.)
There's been discussion on this list and elsewhere as to our response to
this "hit piece" ranging from litigation, FCC, the Organic Trade Assn.
and the staff there, competent science, etc. The issue is the growing
MARKET SHARE of organics and sustainable ag. The TV show was just our
initiation into the food business. I feel for OTA and executive
director Kathrine Dimatteo. For what it's worth, thanks for your grace
and control.
I suggest that our limited resources go further into marketing,
promotions and sales of small farmer and rancher foods, that we build
upon and expand our high quality customer contacts. The issue is MARKET
SHARE. Will we "win"? I guarantee it!
I'd like to hear your ideas, your comments and questions. But beware,
farmers be asked you to sign up with smallfarms.com for free or fee.
For all of you with advanced degrees including Dr. Russ, buy farmer
food. (smile!)
glenn
Buy from the Farmer
http://www.smallfarms.com Full text of Chuck's message:
> Re the 20/20 hit-piece on organics -- One reason that people like Avery
> and Stoessel are well paid to do what they do is that the organic industry
> is beginning to make solid strides in some major parts of the food
> industry. Part of the conventional food industry feels threatened and is
> viscerally opposed to everything the organic industry stands for. These
> same companies tend to be the most pro-GMO. They will keep Avery and
> Stoessel-types in business and will buy them air-time one way or another.
> The organic industry needs to prepare for a continuing barrage of
> attack-media, both here and abroad. The same sort of hit-pieces are being
> placed in British and French publications.
>
> Another set of companies, constituting the majority of the conventional
> industry, is hedging their bet by getting involved in organics, but slowly
> and tepidly. These companies are followers and tend to wait and see which
> way the wind is blowing before making any decisive move.
>
> A third part of the food industry is getting involved with organics
> because they actually have come to believe it is the best way to farm for
> the land, to produce high quality and safe food, to assure safe working
> conditions for farm workers and other employees and neighbors, and to
> assure a profit at the end of the day. Many of these same companies are
> either openly anti-GMO or likely to be among the first wave of companies
> announcing policies to avoid GMO foods to the full extent practical.
>
> Evidence suggests that the companies in the third group are prospering for
> the same reasons that companies in the first group are losing market
> share. General Mills has bought Small Planet Foods (Cascadian, Fantastic
> Foods, Muir Glenn) and is seriously flirting with a no-GMO policy; it
> recently passed Kellogg in market share for the first time. If General
> Mills continues to win over Kellogg customers at least in part because of
> these policies, watch for Kellogg to make a move. That will break the dam
> wide open and the pace of change in the food industry will accelerate.
>
> The last couple issues of "The Packer" have included a remarkable full
> page add by Earthbound Farm Organic. It features a picture of Rick Antle,
> President of Tanimura and Antle, the world's largest lettuce producer and
> one of the largest vegetable growers in the world. Mr. Antle is looking
> back over his shoulder with a smile, wearing a tie-dyed teeshirt with a
> peace sign-like graphic on the back. On the top part of the circle around
> the peace sign appears the word "Organic" and on the bottom part of the
> circle, the words "The Biggest Revolution Since the 1960s."
>
> The tagline on top of the ad reads -- "The Meaning of Conventional Depends
> on Who You Follow."
>
> The short text/message reads -- "The organic revolution is upon us...In
> the 21st century, organic is conventional wisdom."
>
> At EcoFarm this year, it was reported that the Calif. Dept. of Food and
> Agriculture had already received over 200 applications this year for
> organic certification from farms that have not previously been in the
> organic program. This was in addition to hundreds of applications for
> expanded/new acreage by growers already certified, according to the CDFA
> person at the meeting.
>
> The momentum fueling growth in the organic industry is rooted too deeply
> for a 20/20 broadcast to reach. P.R.-driven attacks on organic will
> back-fire and trigger yet more evidence that people really care about the
> food they eat and how it is grown.
>
> In my opinion, it will be more effective if consumers and NGO activism
> remain positive and dedicated to rewarding those companies moving in the
> right direction. At the end of the day people want to feel good about the
> food they eat and will respond stronger to positive messages and hopeful
> alternatives.
>
> chuck
>
>
>
>
> Charles Benbrook CU FQPA site www.ecologic-ipm.com
> Benbrook Consulting Services Ag BioTech InfoNet www.biotech-info.net
> 5085 Upper Pack River Road IPM site www.pmac.net
> Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
> 208-263-5236 (Voice) 208-263-7342 (Fax)
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