Comments on: More and more small farms in Virginia. http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2006/11/small-virginia-farms/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:29:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Harry Landers http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2006/11/small-virginia-farms/#comment-11152 Harry Landers Tue, 07 Nov 2006 16:16:49 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2006/11/small-virginia-farms/#comment-11152 <em>Whole Foods recently announced a heightened focus on buying local produce, including a $10 million budget to promote local agriculture, following pressure from author Michael Pollan, who has called into question the wisdom of industrial organics.</em> That's a real key. Whole Foods stock just took a big hit after they forecast a dip in sales and reduced earnings in 2007. Why? Big box stores, like Wal-Mart, are now heavily into sales of organic food. If the corporate mega-farms and Wal-Mart can sell the same thing that Whole Food sells and organic food is just a commodity, Whole Foods loses. But... if Whole Foods can learn a lesson from "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and find a new focus, based upon decentralization of purchasing, such that their individual stores are able to formulate partnerships with local farmers, they can thrive. What if Whole Foods could create a model for "in-store farmer's markets"? That's how they can compete with the big boxes and provide a service to producers and consumers. Whole Foods recently announced a heightened focus on buying local produce, including a $10 million budget to promote local agriculture, following pressure from author Michael Pollan, who has called into question the wisdom of industrial organics.

That’s a real key. Whole Foods stock just took a big hit after they forecast a dip in sales and reduced earnings in 2007. Why? Big box stores, like Wal-Mart, are now heavily into sales of organic food. If the corporate mega-farms and Wal-Mart can sell the same thing that Whole Food sells and organic food is just a commodity, Whole Foods loses.

But… if Whole Foods can learn a lesson from “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and find a new focus, based upon decentralization of purchasing, such that their individual stores are able to formulate partnerships with local farmers, they can thrive. What if Whole Foods could create a model for “in-store farmer’s markets”? That’s how they can compete with the big boxes and provide a service to producers and consumers.

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