[Market-farming] Fedco etc.
Sharon and Steve
shopkins at tdstelme.net
Thu Jan 1 16:35:29 EST 2009
>
> I suspect there's a connection between cheaper prices and slower
> service >
> -- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly
> Fresh-market organic produce, small scale
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If we are trying to match service and price I would consider that tough to
do, when Johnnys has a super farm growing seed crops as well as breeding and
multiplying new crops. They have an impressive (for an organic start up)
record with All-America; as well as a bunch of varieties in their catalog
that have been developed at Albion. Sales are at a large facility at
Winslow, has a retail store, and is steps from the best deli in Maine, sure
makes running down there for the odd packet worth while as a break in the
busy season.
Fedco has from its roots been a coop that gives us excellent value while
working with more and more local growers to provide local organic and or
natural material. It has a an amazing person at the helm in C.R. Lawn who
writes most of the veg catalog and I doubt that he opens many books to do
so; they operate out of a retired chicken barn with a super efficient home
built facitity. Stock is sorted into cardboard boxes and picked into those
apple harvest buckets that strap to the chest. They operate on their
schedule which also allows almost everybody to also be a grower in his own
world but do internet orders through the summer.
It is interesting to attend growers programs here in New England and have
Rob Johnston (Johnny) and C. R. Lawn (Fedco) spend an evening with growers
dealing with how to select and grow out own seed. These gentlemen want us to
succeed and do what they can to help!
MAsteveINE
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