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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Market-farming Digest, Vol 56, Issue 25

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  • From: STEVE GILMAN <stevegilman AT verizon.net>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Market-farming Digest, Vol 56, Issue 25
  • Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:47:51 -0400

This is really hits a lot of the key issues that are part and parcel of our Industrial Food System:

In the early 1900's New Jersey got put out of business as "The Garden State" because of retailer deals with (rail) shippers who said -- "you want produce in the winter -- you gotta buy from us in the summertime too."

The minute fruits and vegetables are harvested they undergo respiration and transpiration process that can be slowed by cooling and proper handling somewhat -- but they only have so many "breaths" left before spoiling. Vegetarians and others are appalled at the animal-based waxes and pesticides used to make cukes, etc LOOK good. Go Local!

Nutritional values have collapsed as production and shipping qualities have been bred into crop varieties, displacing the genetics for antioxidants and other key phytonutrients. The Organic center has a whole new section on this <www. organic-center.org>. Another study I found based on USDA data determined that in 1956 a woman's daily Vitamin A requirement could be met by eating two peaches. A 2005 follow up study confirmed that to now meet this requirement she would have to eat -- hold on to your hat -- FIFTY SIX peaches! Also, flavor is a key factor to get people to eat enough veggies in the first place and flavor is linked to nutritional content...

Steve
On Sep 19, 2007, at 9:04 AM, market-farming-request AT lists.ibiblio.org wrote:

Message: 7
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:53:23 -0500
From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] quality produce in California?
To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <00c401c7fabc$2a20b250$db088b3f@STCHARLES>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Sure, you're right. But I'm not trying to be critical of shuipping because it's shipping. I'm critical of the quality of produce most people generally have available to them. Many have few choices for sources of produce and the big box industry doesn't offer them much quality. I think it's a crisis. Why do Americans fail to respond to a major campaign by the produce industry to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day? The research shows they eat, on average, about 3 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. They don't eat more, because they don't like it. It's not very high quality. I eat produce at the rate of 8-10 servings a day during the season, when fresh product is litlerally at my doorstep. But when I don't have any local production, and I have to rely on the retail m,arkets that rely on shippers, product quality is so poor I rely more on our home-canned and frozen product, which very few people do any more. These retailers do not buy much from local sources. Some
buy none. They have long-standing relationships with shippers who provide product 12 months/year. Those relationships are key to the system of cash-flow and profit. Local growers don't figure well into the system. So the consumer gets what the system offers. They have few, if any alternatives.

I'm not trying to be critical of shipping because it's shipping. I'm frustrated that consumers fail to eat much produce because they don't have access to really good, FRESH produce. The wholesale system is more about consistent supply of mediocre product than it is about working harder to provide quality product. I think everyone loses. Retailers sell less product and suffer more shrink. Consumers buy less product, enjoy it less and suffer less healthy lives. If they could the quality of product that we eat routinely from our farms and gardens, I think they'd eat more, but the system cuts out most produce growers in short-season areas.

By the way, mangoes are a recent introduction into Midwest produce departments. You didn't find them 15 years ago. My Puerto Rican friend tells me they are nothing like the ones he finds back home in Puerto Rico. I wish you could grow mangoes and sell them to your wholesale buyers too.


Bill




  • Re: [Market-farming] Market-farming Digest, Vol 56, Issue 25, STEVE GILMAN, 09/19/2007

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