I always look forward to the Roxbury Farm newsletter. This week’s note was a rebuttal by an op ed in the New York times entitled “The Organic Fable,” which describes people who eat organically as “an upper middle class … and oblivious, in their affluent narcissism, to the challenge of feeding a planet …”
Regarding Mr. Cohen’s statement that organic food is
expensive, I partly agree with that statement but this is largely
because organic farmers are not part of the greasing of the wheels
whereby industrialized agriculture is a constant welfare recipient
of farm subsidies. Secondly, organic farms are far apart and
bringing these foods to market is more costly. Organic farmers
only receive a small premium at the farm gate. The extra cost is
eaten up by distributors and retailers. Mr. Cohen, instead of
chastising, you should thank the people that are willing to spend
the extra dollars to eat organic. They helped create a completely
new industry that will eventually be able to compete in price with
conventional food. Their willingness to pay a premium infused a
demand for research and manufacturing of new tools and products
used in organic weed, insect and disease management.
Growing food organically has become a lot easier over the past
20 years. Our costs have decreased and our yields have increased.
If you don’t believe me, come and take a look at our farm as we
are confident that our yields are equal or higher than our conventional
neighbors. Yes, it takes more labor, but don’t we all want
more jobs that are meaningful as well?
Check out the rest of Week 14′s newsletter here.
