The Rural Voice, 1993-04, Page 37someone market his crop but 60
working together can afford to hire
someone, Zettel says. OntarBio
started out with the directors trying to
do the marketing but later hired a
general manager, Haro Wehrmann, to
take on the time-consuming
marketing function.
Philosophically, the co-op believes
products should be grown locally and
consumed locally with processing
right in the area where the food is
grown, eliminating the complications
of a food system that now sees
commodities shipped all over the
world. In real life, co-op members are
learning how difficult it is to change
established marketing patterns. "It
wouldn't be uncommon for our grain
to be sold to a broker in Michigan
who sells to a processor in
Vancouver. A national distributor
may then package and sell the grain
back to customers in Toronto."
Trying to develop their own
markets for things like the toasted
oats shows how difficult it is to go
against the current of the marketing
system. Most things are distributed
nationally and depend on large
volumes. Trying to establish local
Support Organic
Farming
where it counts!
ONTARBIO
ORGANIC FARMERS
CO-OP INC.
The grower members of OntarBio
invite you to supply your certified
organic crops for processing and
distribution.
The time is right! Join us!
• Cereals, Grains, Beans
• Product Development
• Marketing • Processing
• Handling • Information
A no obligation prospectus will be
sent to you on request.
ONTARBIO
ORGANIC FARMERS
CO-OP INC.
R.R. 1, Durham, Ont. NOG 1R0
Phone (519)-369-5316
Fax (519)-369-3210
markets for small amounts of product
isn't easy.
The certified organic label also is
a marketing tool, one that Zettel
admits is a sensitive one. Organic
food shouldn't be portrayed as down
playing food from regular farming
sources, he said. "We believe the
food supply is basically good. But
designating a kind of food as certified
organic gives consumers a choice —
a choice to vote with their dollars for
an environmental, sustainable way of
farming."
It's really important to let people
know that it's possible to farm and
produce food without a lot of
chemical inputs, he says. "It's not
outrageous to suggest we can farm
without herbicides and fertilizers —
these things are only recent
innovations.
"My feeling is that ordinary
people favour an environmental
approach. If given the option, they'll
choose that."
Members of OntarBio are staking
their livelihood on it, and are
prepared to welcome others who are
making the same choice.0
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APRIL 1993 33