Market Farming

["RDH" <rdhopkins AT americanpasturage.com>]

Del and Others,

That is what we find with our meat.  Our beef labels don't make but one
exclusion and that is no confinement.  The brand says most of it:  PASTURE
PUREFECT  We argued for 90 days to get acceptance of the "miss-spelled" word
"purefect" claiming it was a name not a word so it wasn't miss-spelled.
USDA does not allow miss-spelled words on their labels.  The "pure" part
emphasizes our method of raising.

Customers do not pay as much attention to the label as far as product
discrimination as they do meeting the producer face to face.  Here I sit
waiting on a reporter to call back regarding the new NOPs and certification
and as an officer of an organic grower association I must take the position
that certification is a good thing while most of my associates sit and
snicker knowing full well there will be little independent participation in
the process.

Several of our customers are recovering cancer patients.  We are beginning
to hear that their doctors are telling them to eat healthy, especially for
the antioxidant properties of fresh vegetables and grass fed meats.  Why do
they have to be recovering cancer patients to benefit?  Wouldn't it make
sense that eating healthy would keep one cancer free?

Frustrating!

Rick H.



-----Original Message-----
From: Del Williams [mailto:delannw AT dlogue.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 12:51 PM
To: Market Farming
Subject: [market-farming] Re: NY Times: Small Organic Farmers Pull Up
Stakes


Well, for many small markets, your honorable person is what they trust.

Some of my customers had cancer or were in remission.  They were looking for
pesticide free food.  At any price.  They don't care what you call it as
long as they trust you.

For those committed to sustainable practices, a few minutes of conversation
when they can catch you with a few moments at the market or even out at your
farm is all they need.

You become a 'known' commodity... or as an honorable producer for their
needs.

The interesting thing about the "organic" growth in the market is the nature
of it.
I don't think those folks care about the label... they care about the
process and the product.

What is that all about and where did it come from?

Geeze, even K-Mart here is selling organically grown lettuce mix.
They wouldn't be doing it if it weren't selling or they aren't
anticipating/testing  sales.

The produce manager at Eagle's told me that they throw out a lot of their
organic produce.  Not enough buyers for now but they are going to stick by
company policy.

Interesting.

You know, most people don't have a clue about how their food is produced,
their cars, their clothing.  What they care about is what they want and what
they think they need.

Del Williams
Farmer in the Del
Clifton, IL
delannw AT dlogue.net



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