Market Farming

[Alex McGregor <waldenfarm AT sprintmail.com>]

Alison and all,

I like Coleman's "authentic."  We need something to distinguish our farm
products from the organish pap that will be produced and over processed.

He spoke a few years ago in North Carolina about a European system where 
stores
posted their guidelines for buying food- what they didn't allow used.  He said
this system tended to disallow more and more unsustainable farming methods, 
thus
improving the quality of food.

In contrast, he said that the organic standards for this country would get
degraded over time by vested interests.  (Hey!  It's the American way!)

The Food Alliance in Oregon certifies sustainable practices and farms who meet
guidelines:
 http://www.thefoodalliance.org/

But are we getting back to organic certification under another name?  And will
the food cartel move in on that, too?  Maybe we need another approach.

BTW, this is one of the topics at the Southern SAWG Conference coming up this
weekend- how farmers who don't recertify can market.  Check it out:
 http://attra.ncat.org/ssawg/

Alex McGregor
Walden Farm