OK--I'm going to be very direct here.
I can't believe that an intelligent consumer would have that much
trouble understanding that certain terms would apply to produce grown
without chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Farmer's Markets are no guarantee that the food was raised in a
sustainable manner. In fact, there aren't even the checks and balances of an
outlet like Whole Foods--or even regular chains--that do spot testing of
their own. That's where labeling comes in; if there's no signage, I assume
it's been sprayed with everything imaginable and fed with chemical salts or
raw manure (not allowed under organic standards.)
And unless the Farmer's Market is "producer only", the produce probably
comes from the same giant distribution center than supplies grocery stores
and restaurants. All too many people buy cheap bulk produce, dress down for
the day and sell it a farmer's market--it really pisses off the real farmers
and is a huge thorn in their sides.
On the 'imported' issue: Yes, some off-season organic produce does come
from Chile and Mexico. (I haven't seen Asian, but anything's possible as the
world continues to shrink.) Its imported by American companies who also
raise organic produce domestically, and I believe, is held to the same high
standards.
BUT what you have written seems to say that it all comes from overseas,
which is incorrect--the vast majority is American (or Canadian) grown.
And, I believe, honestly grown.
---McG
----- Original Message -----
From: "Diana Liu" <[email protected]>
To: "Elizabeth Leipold" <[email protected]>;
<[email protected]>; "Mike McGrath"
<[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 11:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Selling organic produce
All of these labellings are confusing to me. As a consumer, I like to
support our local farmers, community gardens (some areas have regs that CG
can't make profit from the produce) and local food growers and distributors.
Therefore, I get most of my fruit and veggies from Farmer's Market. They
just taste so much better and so fresh. I've bought veggies and fruits that
are labeled USDA certified organic, but they are grown in South America,
Asia and other countries hundreds and thousands of miles away. Honestly,
even though they are labeled organic, they just don't taste the same as the
ones that I get from our local farmer's market.
I am wondering, other than farmer's market, are there examples where grocery
stores or supermarkets get their produce from local producers? I know there
is Whole Food. However, their prices are much higher than the Farmer's
Market. Well, they do have to make a profit, since they have employees, and
a permanent store. I guess. However, so do the producers.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.
- Lao Tzu
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;
courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”
- Winston Churchill
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
--- On Thu, 2/26/09, Mike McGrath <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Mike McGrath <[email protected]>
Subject: [Community_garden] Selling organic produce
To: "Elizabeth Leipold" <[email protected]>,
[email protected]
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2009, 8:44 AM
That's somewhat different.
But as I said earlier, there is a $2500 break point. The NOSB (federal)
standards state that you can use the words "organically grown" on
signage and labels if you plan to sell less than $2500 worth of produce in a
given calendar year. (And, of course, follow the rules of the NOSB
standards,
which are posted on the Internet.)
If you go over that amount (or know you will) you must either apply for
and
receive official certification, which is somewhat expensive, and I would
imagine, a nightmare to qualify in a community garden, where someone might
go
"Oh this isn't a chemical! This Sevin I'm spraying on everything is
a combination of seven natural ingredients! My neighbor's cousin' friend
said so..." *
The smart money would say to keep it under $2500. If that's not your
goal, you can use terms like "no spray", "chemical free" and
such. Some growers who feel they can't afford official certification use
those and similar terms to describe their organic--but not
certified--operations.
Good luck!
----McG
* true story by the way; listeners have said this exact thing to me more
than
once. Same for Miracle-Gro and round-Up.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Elizabeth Leipold"
<[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 11:01 AM
Subject: [Community_garden] must haves for an organic garden?
i forgot to metion that we are going to be selling at the local
farmer's
market. preference is given to organic growers.
thanks
-- Elizabeth Leipold
Mindful Practices
mindfulpracticesyoga.com
[email protected]
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
<http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20090226/5b314279/attachment.html>
_______________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of
ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to
find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
To post an e-mail to the list: [email protected]
To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:
http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
_______________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of
ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to
find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
To post an e-mail to the list: [email protected]
To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:
http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
<http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20090226/fcea6611/attachment.html>
_______________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's
services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find
out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
To post an e-mail to the list: [email protected]
To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:
http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
_______________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's
services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out
how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
To post an e-mail to the list: [email protected]
To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:
http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
