Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Claudia & Linda" <dragonhill2@netzero.net>]

Oklahoma has a food co-op that was established about 3 years ago now and seems to be working well.  There's a one time fee to join, refundable anytime you choose to leave the co-op.  Each month, producers list what they have available, mostly via the internet site but I believe there a mailed list available for those without a computer.  Consumers order directly from the producer and on the set date all orders are taken to a central place in Ok. City.  Here volunteers sort them into orders and the orders are delivered to other major cities for pick up.  The co-op is making enough to pay the route drivers for their gas and time.  The system doesn't cover the entire state yet but it's a start.  It's been enough of a threat to Tyson, that last summer their lobbyists got legislation pushed thru the Ok. legislature making third party delivery of processed poultry illegal so the co-op can't deliver farmer's dressed poultry anymore.  This was done very quietly and no one new anything about it until the co-op was raided on a delivery day.  All attempts to get the law rescinded have been futile; Tyson pays off too well.  But the co-op method is one way to get local food to the city and it obviously has the big boys scared.

 

Claudia