Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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Big Organic
As organic farming and the popularity of organic food continue to increase,
agribusiness interest in organics is also on the rise. Phil describes the situa-
tion in California: “Maybe you don't see that in the Midwest, but certainly
here you have some pretty significant conventional produce growers doing
organic. Or a portion of their operation is organic. One of the big lettuce
people, they are very interested in organic. You have a lot of people taking
a look at it.” In terms of the California example, Phil explains what is
happening in organic production: “Well, that is the negative thing that is
happening in the organic market. It used to be that a small grower had the
opportunity to market product wholesale. Some of them with five or ten
acres, those opportunities are becoming much more limited, unless they
have a specialty crop, like kiwis. There are still opportunities, but there are
less and less. In the early 1990s there were a number of produce brokers that
were like grower agents. These grower agents wanted a lot of people growing
for them. So there were opportunities for people with twenty to fifty acres
to market that way, whereas now those types aren't around anymore. They
have either gone out of business or been bought out. And the choice for
people to market to is less and less. You have to have something that they
want, and you have to have enough of it. Because now you are a vendor, and
they probably don't want to deal with someone with a small amount.”
To support some of the smaller-scale buyers, Mary describes her sales
of organic citrus: “A lot of times, if the distributor is so high, then the
little guy can't buy it and he goes out of business. The distributors are
buying and reselling to the small guys, because the smaller guys can't take
ten or fifteen cases at a time. So they have to go through a distributor. I
try to work with them. If I know it's going to a small store, well, I'll try to
take off a few dollars.” In addition, Mary says it is unfair how the larger
producers are treating smaller growers. “It is not right what they do. They
are putting farmers out of business. The farmers aren't making money. I
am only because I pack it and market my own. We are making money and
putting it back in here and building the facility.” Rob is worried that “in ten
to twenty years, if more people keep coming on board, the organic market
is going to be just like the conventional market. They are going to ruin it.”
Joel says he's heard that agribusiness interests are getting into organic
policy. “As far as the organic program, now the Georgia contingent tried to
slip in a thing on the farm bill saying they don't have to feed 100 percent
organic. I don't knowwho these Georgia people are, but they are even paying
off the politicians down there and getting what they want. Isn't that a sham?
We called our legislators and talked to other people that had and they said
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