Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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necessary to market independently. “Most of the big packinghouses will not
pack for you. They will buy your crop if it is quality or if they think they
can make some money, but they are not just going to pack it and charge
you. They want to make money off of you. People get so greedy. We have a
packing facility, and I have a citrus fruit dealer's license. So I can go out and
buy and sell with that citrus fruit dealer's license.”
Speaking of the organic grains they grow in eastern Colorado, Naioma
says, “You have to find a market and then grow the right crops.” In addition
to the six organic grains that the Bensons grow and market (with multiple
varieties that often go to different buyers), Allen has also developed a “cus-
tom”operation inwhich he does specific jobs for other farmers in the region.
Of course, the Benson family has been growing grains for generations, but
they are always willing to tap into a new specialtymarket. The latest is selling
wheat for juicing.
In Illinois, Joel says, “I am diversifying as quickly as I can here. The
finances show that.” He describes how his family now sells beef, chicken,
turkey, eggs, and other items locally to restaurants, through buying clubs,
and at a large Chicago farmers' market. He is trying to reach every possible
customer. “We have our organic soap, and now our dog biscuits, and barley
grass and wheat grass sets, so we can get some of the vegetarians' money,
too. The problem when you sell meat is the vegetarians pass you by.” But
this is no longer the case, thanks to the Rissmans' diversification.
In upstate New York, Steve notes that their original livestock farm has
changed a great deal in recent years. “Growing the vegetables has been
a challenge, but it has been, for the most part, profitable, which helps.
We saw vegetables as a way to expand the farm, saleswise.” The fact that
vegetables are highly perishable means that harvesting and transporting
must be accomplished quickly. “The vegetables need to get out the door and
down the road.” He notes, pragmatically, “Being diversified is great, but it
can kill you when you are trying to get everything done.”
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Direct Marketing
By taking out or reducing the “middleman” - the buyers, wholesalers, dis-
tributors, transporters, processors, and stores - organic farmers are able
to keep more of the profit on their farm. Terence, the California organic
marketing manager, says idealistically, “I always tell people: the most revo-
lutionary act you can commit is to go to a farmers' market and buy from an
organic grower. Because then you have bypassed the whole distribution sys-
tem. You're buying food that's local, so you're supporting your community;
