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Re[2]: Help! Model Ordinances, Direct Marketing Farmer Surv

     I wholeheartedly agree that marketing *FINISHED* compost at farmer's 
     markets to urban suburban dwellers (not farmers) would likely be a 
     viable activity in some of our local markets in the triangle area of 
     NC.  as soon as i get my homestead up and running, i think i will 
     pursue it.
     
     thanks for the comment sheryl.  


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Help!  Model Ordinances, Direct Marketing Farmer Surv
Author:  "Sheryl N. Swink" <sns7@cornell.edu> at Internet
Date:    9/24/97 10:28 PM


Dear Larry, Clarence, Cary, Noah and other interested souls,

I think the potential for sale of compost at Farmers' Markets should not be
dismissed so quickly without a little more investigation into the
particular Market and compost producer's situation. There may be potential
not only as an educational forum, but also as an income generating site,
depending on the location of the market. However, it is probably not the
farmers who will buy it, but small scale gardeners.

I worked in a retail nursery in Seattle a few years ago and we could not
keep enough bags of locally produced compost in stock to cover the demand
on garden season weekends. City folk, homeowners with small yards, and
apartment dwellers with container gardens have a difficult time producing
their own compost and pay good money for small and large bags of compost.

Now that I am living in Ithaca, NY, I find myself missing a good source of
readily purchased compost even though I have my own pile. Every time I move
I start preparing a garden before the first batch of home made compost is
ready. I am sure there are others in the same situation. I really recommend
doing some math and price and market testing before deciding it is not
sufficiently profitable to sell compost at a specific Farmers' Market! Lots
depends on the local population interest, how active the Market is, the
distance the compost has to be hauled, transportation available to the
producer, etc. In a very urban area (the heart of Seattle) we were selling
several hundred 1 and 2 cubic foot bags a week during planting season
(April thru June) and the demand just kept growing as people became more
aware of the value of compost and composting to their gardens and to the
environment.

Sheryl Swink
Graduate Student
International Agriculture and Rural Development
Cornell University

sns7@cornell.edu

>compost list <compost@listproc.wsu.edu>
>Subject: Re: Help!  Model Ordinances, Direct Marketing Farmer Surv
>References: <00051184.3430@mail.ehnr.state.nc.us>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>Noah Ranells wrote:
>>
>>      i think cary may be correct in the assumption that there would be
>>      little profit incentive to haul compost to farmer's market and sell it
>>      there.
>>
>>      but i do think that the innovative farmer's markets might have one or
>>      two vendors who would be interested in hauling the organic waste from
>>      the urban/suburban folks back to their farm.  don't ya think?
>>
>>      this idea really speaks to local food/nutrient webs!
>>
>>      noah ranells
>>      nc div of soil and water conservation
>>
>> ______________________________ Reply Separator
>>_________________________________
>> Subject: Re: Help!  Model Ordinances, Direct Marketing Farmer Surveys
>> Author:  coshin@rodaleinst.org (Cary Oshins) at Internet
>> Date:    9/24/97 2:29 PM
>>
>> Clarence walker wrote:
>> >Maria, Would it be appropriate for producers of professionally and
>> >safely made composts to take their composted organics to such markets as
>> >a means of reaching the farmers and possibly even educating those who
>> >are interested in the value of composting as an alternative to
>> >landfills?
>>
>> Clarence, while it would be acceptable to sell compost at a farmer's market,
>> it would hardly be economical.
>> Cary Oshins
>> Rodale Institute
>> coshin@rodaleinst.org
>My note back to CARY was:"Thanks for the feedback. My thought was not so
>much selling as trying to find ways to get the compost into the hands of
>those who canuse it and as an investment marketing means of enhancing
>public awareness, acceptance, and support. Larry Walker
>--
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