Comments on: Is Big Organic a Big Flop? http://jcarrot.org/is-big-organic-a-big-flop/ Jews, Food, and Contemporary Issues Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:05:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Aliza http://jcarrot.org/is-big-organic-a-big-flop/#comment-1671 Aliza Sat, 30 Jun 2007 04:35:58 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/is-big-organic-a-big-flop/#comment-1671 The issue of the middle-man is an important one, aside from the debate about "big organic." At least in the US, there is a lack of infrastructure in processors and distributors for small to mid-sized farms that want to serve local populations. The Farm and Food Policy Project has been working on a program called the Healthy Food Enterprise Development program, to solve this very problem, and we are currently working hard to get this program authorized in the Farm Bill. The program is still in the works, and there will shortly be more information available about it at www.foodsecurity.org (I need to put it on the website!). Please contact me if you are interested in more info about this. The issue of the middle-man is an important one, aside from the debate about “big organic.” At least in the US, there is a lack of infrastructure in processors and distributors for small to mid-sized farms that want to serve local populations. The Farm and Food Policy Project has been working on a program called the Healthy Food Enterprise Development program, to solve this very problem, and we are currently working hard to get this program authorized in the Farm Bill.

The program is still in the works, and there will shortly be more information available about it at http://www.foodsecurity.org (I need to put it on the website!). Please contact me if you are interested in more info about this.

]]> By: Michael Green http://jcarrot.org/is-big-organic-a-big-flop/#comment-1661 Michael Green Tue, 26 Jun 2007 23:19:46 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/is-big-organic-a-big-flop/#comment-1661 The fact that lots of organic food is sold via supermarkets is, in some way, fantastic. It means more availability for consumers and, most importantly, more organic farmland. But it also means that sustainable farming is being delivered by unsustainable market structures. Patrick's carrots are just one example, but especially notable as an organic pioneer and director of the Soil Association. Can UK supermarkets ever be 'green' or 'ethical'? In their current state, the answer has to be 'No'. They have made a mess of both the British countryside and many towns and cities. That doesn't mean they can't change. But for now, it's only their spots that are changing. The flipside is that since the (supermarket-led) UK organic explosion in the late 1990s, more people are buying organic food direct from the farmers from home delivery box schemes and the like. Some were set up by particularly enterprising growers, others by farmers who were simply squeezed out by the ever-decreasing returns from supermarkets and took control over their own businesses. Most deliver fresh organic veggies to a few hundred households a week, others reach tens of thousands. Not only is their food fresher and tastier than supermarket organic, but it often costs the same as non-organic grub in supermarkets. Everyone's a winner. The fact that lots of organic food is sold via supermarkets is, in some way, fantastic. It means more availability for consumers and, most importantly, more organic farmland. But it also means that sustainable farming is being delivered by unsustainable market structures. Patrick’s carrots are just one example, but especially notable as an organic pioneer and director of the Soil Association.

Can UK supermarkets ever be ‘green’ or ‘ethical’? In their current state, the answer has to be ‘No’. They have made a mess of both the British countryside and many towns and cities. That doesn’t mean they can’t change. But for now, it’s only their spots that are changing.

The flipside is that since the (supermarket-led) UK organic explosion in the late 1990s, more people are buying organic food direct from the farmers from home delivery box schemes and the like. Some were set up by particularly enterprising growers, others by farmers who were simply squeezed out by the ever-decreasing returns from supermarkets and took control over their own businesses. Most deliver fresh organic veggies to a few hundred households a week, others reach tens of thousands. Not only is their food fresher and tastier than supermarket organic, but it often costs the same as non-organic grub in supermarkets. Everyone’s a winner.

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