"Organic" Farming and the True Cost of Food-A Small Farmers Perspective

[RoccoR5955]

51. Thanks for the info, BUT

Here in the Northeast, we also have NOFA, who strictly certifies organic farming. From what I have been told, it is quite strict, and very difficult to get on NOFA's list. More info on NOFA here: http://nofa.org .

Here in the Hudson Valley of NY, we have a plethora of farmers' markets that serve the community. Many of these small farms are organic. I have seen the Kingston, NY farmers' market start off small, to being a huge community event. They have even started a winter market. Even though this is smaller than the market in summer, and does not happen as frequently, it's becoming quite large. This has taken a little over ten years, but it is wholly worth it. Many of the farmers' markets here take EBTs for payment, and have been for at least five years.

There has also been a move on in the city of Poughkeepsie to bring a community farming project online, so that people in these food deserts can grow their own food, in their community, and have input into what gets planted, how work is divided, what gets sold, and other aspects of this effort. It seems to be successful, because they are out at the market all the time.

I have also seen a local movement to have more local produce in some of the larger super markets. People are demanding it, so the smart managers of these stores have listened. I hope that this is the beginning. I really think that though people are happy to have food that is not in season in the local area, they are getting tired of seeing it come from places like South American countries.

I used to work in a food co-op warehouse, and saw the consolidation of small companies into larger ones, and it is not nice for the people buying their products, or people like us, who supplied the food co-ops and buying clubs. They tend to raise prices, and the quality is just not what it used to be.

So being part of the food co-op movement early on, I see exactly what you mean. Our main goals were to educate people as to the value of raw, natural, and organic foods, and to educate folks that buying this food in bulk, with a group of people who have a vested interest in the outcome can actually reduce food bills. Now that there is a "natural foods" section in every super market in the country, I feel that one part of our goals were met. Though the warehouse that I worked in has been out of business for quite some time now (due to corporate consolidation) many of us who worked there are still getting out the word about co-ops, their advantages, and their value to the individual consumer.

Thanks for bringing up the points you did. People should know that "organic" is being compromised by the corporations, as every good idea people come up with for the good of WE THE PEOPLE, and not them, the corporations!