Times are changing for the producers of organic produce. Three years ago only a very limited
number of supermarkets sold any organic produce. Today many supermarkets and other chain store outlets stock a quite
reasonable range of organic goods both fresh and dry. Wholesalers like Turners & Growers and Fresh Direct are also
in on the game. Many of these companies are selling organic produce not because they are concerned for the
environment or believe in the principles of organics but because they see there is a dollar to be made. This is both
good and bad. Who sets and controls the pricing of produce is discussed and it is recommended that the producers have control of product supply and pricing. Individual farmers and growers can’t do this on their own.
It is only by banding together and co-operating that they can succeed. This is not new, nor is it rocket science, quite
the opposite in fact. New Zealands agriculture has achieved much of its success thought farmer co-operation on both
the selling and purchasing sides of production. It is critical that New Zealand organic producers join together and create a single selling desk
immediately before the large wholesalers and retailers gain control of the market and force organic producers to
become price takers rather than price givers. The benefits and pitfalls of a national producers co-op is considered.[Show full abstract]
Description:
This opinion paper was published in Organic NZ July/August issue 2002.
![[PDF]](/themes/LURA/images/mimes/b_pdf.png "PDF file"){kind=small}
