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Re: Startling statistic

Margaret,

My explanation may not have supported my premise that there isn't any cause and effect between organically growing fruits and vegetables and the increase in sales of these items in produce departments. Even if a person has the desire and can plant a garden of vegetables or fruits, the lot size and available labor are serious constraints. A family who plants vegetable or fruit gardens using organic or inorganic inputs, will still have to purchase produce from external sources.

The increasing availability of organic produce will cause sales to increase if there is no or a small financial premium that would negatively influence volume movement through wholesale/retail market distribution channels. Obviously bad weather conditions at any point - the production sites, in the transportation channels, or at the retailer impacting customers access - will reduce sales volumes. We consume food 24/7/52, but in most areas, the vegetable and fruit growing activities are restricted to the late spring, summer, and early fall.

The number of people who choose to use organic or inorganic inputs in their gardens would seem to suggest they would be likely to purchase organic produce if it was the same quality and reasonably priced in comparison to produce regularly available. I am not aware of any imported produce that is labeled as organically grown. Most foreign countries that export produce to the USA lack the pesticide regulations that USA producers must comply with to market their crops, especially as certified organic items.

I am not aware of any research that suggests that a person who grows vegetables or fruits in a home garden decreases the total volume of produce purchased by the family when viewed over 12 months. They may, however, become more discriminating purchasers who are very selective in the quality and price per value received than gardeners who are non vegetable and fruit growers.
Individuals who have large lots and where someone who is a full-time homemaker, may grow and preserve fruits and vegetables for use throughout the year. However, those that are truly sustainable are the rare exception when compared to families with both adults working full-time outside the home.

It is a stretch, in my opinion, for the garden writer community to associate the low seasonal volume of sales of organic inputs for gardening with the growing year round sales of organic produce.

Claude Sweet
San Diego, CA

Margaret Lauterbach wrote:

You have a valid point, but homeowners with tiny lots could grow veggies if they'd follow suggestions in "The Bountiful Container" by Rose Marie Nichols McGee (who is on this list, but a modest lady) and Maggie Stuckey. That is, if they have sunlight. Margaret Lauterbach


Jeff,

Just to interject a different perspective, have you considered the different size lots of home owners will influence their type of gardening?

Soaring housing prices have reduced lot sizes over the last 30 years in Southern California. There are lots of rather small lots in San Diego which do not allow the home owners to plant vegetable gardens and fruit orchards. Even if they do, their limited space precludes them from being able to produce their families needs for all of the fruits and vegetables they consumer even in the height of the warm or cool growing seasons. Some vegetables and fruits just consume too much space and are not suited for high intensity growing concepts like square foot gardening.

Many home owners still are avid gardeners who enjoy their landscape, water, and flower gardens. Such individuals would depend on their local produce store, farmers market, or retail grocery store exclusively for fresh fruits and vegetables. 


The selection of good quality and competitively price organic produce
has been steadily growing in recent years. Display space largely depends
on having a consistent supply for extended periods to build a strong
customer demand. Increased supply has allowed mainstream retailers to
offer organic items at competitive prices. Previously organic produce
was the providence of specialty retailers with large inventories of
nutritional additives.




In my perspective, the increased number of growers forced wholesale
prices to drop to move the larger volumes. Thus the retail consumer
was offered a choice without paying an excessive price premium for
buying organic.



Claude Sweet

San Diego, CA







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