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Re: Help! Model Ordinances, Direct Marketing Farmer Surv



Noah Ranells wrote:
> 
>      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
> >--
> >
> >Atlanta International Communications,Inc./Sales Reps. & Consulting Svcs.
> >See our web site! Updated 07-14-97 http://www.mindspring.com/~atlintlcom
> >Indust., Commercial, Muni., and Agri. Waste Processing Systems & Eqpt.
> >7500 Spalding Lane, Atlanta, Georgia 30350
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> >New equipment lines, systems, and project inquiries always considered.
AH, a few refreshing voices of reason, professionalism, and common sense
.YESSSSSSSSS!!!!
-- 

Atlanta International Communications,Inc./Sales Reps. & Consulting Svcs.
See our web site! Updated 07-14-97 http://www.mindspring.com/~atlintlcom
Indust., Commercial, Muni., and Agri. Waste Processing Systems & Eqpt.
7500 Spalding Lane, Atlanta, Georgia 30350 
phone 770-392-1313  fax 770 392-0078 email: atlintlcom@mindspring.com
New equipment lines, systems, and project inquiries always considered.


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