The Huron Expositor, 1994-03-16, Page 44Farm Progress '94 -Page 27
Organic food: a soon to be force at the check out counter
by Tony McQuail
Joe Smillie wamed organic
producers and consumers, at the
13th Annual Organic Agriculture
Conference at Guelph, that one
of the greatest threats to a
business is success and rapid
expansion.
In 1993, organic retail sales
reached $1.5 billion in its fifth
consecutive year of double digit
growth showing 11 per cent in
1993.
"Organic food is becoming a
force at the check out counter
and the demand for organic
produce, particularly for
conversion to processed foods is
likely to exceed supply in the
short term," says Smillie.
The problem is no longer how
to grow organic crops. This
knowledge is available and
farmers are making the transition
to organic crop production. The
challenge now is dealing with
the marketplace and changing
the rules of the marketplace.
Smillie reminded his audience
that the organic trade
community, comprised of
growers, wholesalers, processors,
retailers and consumers, was
dependent on several other
communities. There are the com-
munities of living organisms in a
healthy soil, the compost pile
and the rumen. To be healthy
these communities are diverse
and work together. Similarly the
organic trade community must
look at win/win approaches from
the growers through to the final
consumer. Organic foods should
be synonymous with quality for
the consumer, fair prices for the
fanner and production methods
based on the environmental
vision of stewardship.
Smillie noted that there were a
number of excellent models of
organic enterprises including
Community Supported/Shared
Agriculture (CSAs), farmer co-
ops like Ontario -Bio, seasonal
and specialty markets like
Joe Smlllte
Cookstown Greens, and Oak
Manor Farms in its evolution
from a farm into a trading and
processing business.
"There are many examples
which point out that the organic
trade has marketing savvy and
entrepreneurial talent. One
common trait in these is the
emphasis on food quality. We
need to expand the focus on
quality to include the principles
of Y management," says Smillie„
He went on to describe how
quality management is a new ap-
proach in business based on a
holistic systems approach. He
contrasted his experience
watching U.S. and Japanese
businesses operating in the
marketplace. "I once had the
opportunity of sitting in on a
meeting between a U.S. trader
and a consumer -retailer -
manufacturer Japanese
consortium. When the trader
proposed selecting a packer
based on price, the Japanese
delegation all carefully explained
they wanted to Increase the
price to the best packer to insure
his participation as part of the
team and guarantee a consistent
quality service. This win-win
approach is not based on charity,
but sound economic planning."
Smillie concluded saying, "In
expanding the market for organic
foods, our approach should not
be based on cutting prices to the
farmer and consumer, but on
marketing our environmental
vision of stewardship,
sustainability and planetary
health. This is not idealistic
philosophy, but good business.
Companies like Ben & Jerry's
are highly profitable by
combining hard-nosed
accounting and quality
production with an emphasis on
their social, economic and
ecological statements of
mission."
Grain millers
had to prove
themselves
'from page 16
simply because it occupies too
much valuable time.
"Our Local customers are served
very well," she says, adding that
they had to really prove themselves
as viable before the retail stores
would even consider stocking it.
What's different about the product
itself is the fact that the oats are not
steam cooked like other brands.
Instead, the Mations toast their
whole grain oats, giving them a
distinctive nutty taste. Recipes are
included in each box of Hilton
toasted oats shipped out, and the
couple keeps any letter or comment
they receive. They've received
many.
For order and product
information, send a self-addressed
stamped envelope to Hilton Whole
Grain Millers, RR 2 Staffa, Ont.,
NOK IYO.
A safety tip
Loader Restraining Devices
Handling large round bales with a
loader tractor? Unrestrained bales
could break loose and roll down
loader arms, causing serious injury
to the operator. A loader should be
equipped with a spear or grapple
that will handle the size of bales
being produced on your farm. Most
important, the loader should have a
restraining device that will -estop
bales from rolling backward. (from
the Farm Safety Association)
7604 Viett4,t, AUCTION, -
'`'SALES
for Elletrit 4 Farm & Industrial Supply Ltd.
FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1994 & FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1994
Friday. April 1st, 1994
at 10:00 a.m.
Antique and Collectors tractor Auction
Sale. This auction will feature over 100
antique tractors, consignments will be per-
mitted until March 31st.
The following list is only a partial list of
some of the tractors consigned to this auc-
tion sale.
Case #60 steam engine, Wallis K on steel,
1936 Hubert HK (factory cab), Caterpillar
#20 dozer (1928 model), Massey Harris
Pacemaker (on steel). Mini Moline G1000
(propane), Mini Moline GBD (diesel). Co-op
E40 (gas), Cockshutt 1900 (diesel), Allis D-
21. Hart -Parr 18-36, Hart -Parr 12-24,
Oliver 950, Farmall F-12, McCormick 10-
20, International 650 (Rice model), Case
500, Case DO (orchard), John Deere LI
(industrial), John Deere 15-27, Silver King
(narrow front),
Over 40 2 cyl. John Deeres Over 20
Internationals. Parts, tractors
PLUS Olivers, Cockshutts, Fordsons,
Case, Massey Harris, Mini Moline.
Friday, April 8th. 1994
at 9:30 a.m.
Regular Consignment Auction Sale of farm and industrial equipment.
This auction will feature over 100 farm tractors, 200 pieces of equipment and over 25 industrial items. Some early
consignments are listed below. Consignments for this auction accepted until April 7th.
Lot #1 sellin• at 11:30 a.m.
The fofowing equipment is from K.G.L. Farms of Fergus all of which sells to the highest biddetl
IH 1086 c/w cab, air, duals; IH 2250 loader (fits 1086); IH 915 4 wd combine; IH 810-15 Flex head; IH 810-15
ridged head; IH 810-10 c/w pickup; Case IH 8950 round baler; IH 1190 9' mower conditioner; 11-4 5100, 21 run drill;
IH 45 18' cultivator; IH 710 x 6 furrow plow; New Idea rake; JD 18' disc; Rockpicker on wheels; Allied 51 x 7
auger; 9' double auger snowblower; 300 bushel gravity box and wagon; combine header and wagon.
Lot #2 selling at 12:00 noon
The following lot is from a farmer in the London area.
John Deere 3130 c/w 148 loader (new style), sharp; New Holland 1003 bale wagon (like new); Dion windrow
invertor (like new).
Lot #3 selling at 12:00 noon
The following equipment is consigned from John Minnema of Caradoc Township (who has quit farming). •
White 2-105 c/w cab, air, 18.4 x 38, 3300 hours; White 4 x 16' roll-over plow; Landell S shank soil saver c/w 18'
sweeps; George White 500 gallon tandem sprayer c/w 42' boom and dickie john monitors with radar; McKee 8 ft.
double auger snowblower; Lundell 12' stalk chopper; Nobel 4 row wide row crop cultivator; NH #25 forage blower.
Liquid manure handling equipment; 16 foot, 3 pt custom built propeller agitator; Wright -Rain irrigation pump;
Wright -Rain P150 gun and cart; 2500 ft. of 4' aluminum pipe with carrying wagon; Moulton soft hose irrigation unit
c/w 660 ft of 3' hose, compressor, winch, and 8 hp B&S
hydraulic power unit. (Note: this is a complete liquid manure
handling system and is in excellent condition).
Other tractors: 'Partial Listing Only'.
Ford TW -5 4 wd (1989); new John Deere 5400 4 wd; Ford TW -
25 2 wd C/A; Case IH 885 4 wd C/A; John Deere 4640 C/A;
Case 1490 4 wd C/A; IH 1066 (sharp); Case IH 885 2 wd (1300
hours); Ford 3000 (power steering); Case 580K 4 wd t.l.b.; IH
2500A t.l.b.; Case 580C t.l.
Hwy. 6, 3 km. south
. of Hwy. 401,
North of Hamilton
Farm & Industrial Supply Ltd.
PUSLINCH
Fax (519) 837-0307 (519) 837-0710
1994 AUCTION DATES
February 11th, 1994 Consignment Auction
April 1st, 1994 Antique and Collectible tractors
April 8th, 1994 Consignment Auction
June lOth, 1994
Consignment Auction
August 12th, 1994 '
Consignment Auction
October 14th, 1994
Consignment Auction
December 9th, 1994
Consignment Auction
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WHERE THE DEALS ARE ALWAYS BETTER!
London
Toronto.
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Hamilton
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