organic v local

[sellickbhoy]

i'm looking at setting up a wee business selling locally grown produce.

however, it seems ORGANIC is the buzzword.

I grow and eat all my own food and it is not Soil Asociation certified organic, but i don't use any pesticides etc - but fact is, i walk to my garden and lift it as needed.

but in my mind, it isn't so much that food is organic that makes it green, its the airmiles - i think sourcing local food is the way to go more than organic - but it seems local doesn't have the publicity that organic has

seems a lot of organic produce shops have produce from all over the globe.

can promoting local, seasonal product win the customer over - or will i struggle unless i go organic????

 

[jmbusiness]

I think people are certainly becoming more aware of the need to source local produce. There was a program series on channel 4 a couple of months ago and they made a point of this issue.

I would hope that 9 out of 10 people who buy organic are also aware that sourcing local suppliers is just as important (in relation to helping the environment).

Whether they would expect your produce to be organic or not I do not know.

But certainly the idea is locally sourcing food is gaining momentum.

 

[MrBaker]

I think organic food, ethically sourced with local produce is a winner that people recognise.

Local produce is probably an attraction that covers a broader range of people

At least from the research that I have done

 

[Mister B]

Local over organic IMO, and you can seriously undercut the supermarkets while your at it.

Good luck to you.

Mister B

 

[sellickbhoy]

I think organic food, ethically sourced with local produce is a winner that people recognise.

Local produce is probably an attraction that covers a broader range of people

At least from the research that I have done

thanks MrBaker

the thing is though, that most of the organic suppliers i've seen will use a large % of imported goods with high air miles. And i would also queestion the "ethics" of how some of that produce is made!

So whilst Organic, Local, Ethical is what we would all want in an ideal world, (actually, no, lots of us are happy to go to mcdonalds and tesco!!) the fact is that even organic suppliers can't rely on local sourcing

so given that Local Organic is not really achievable, is it better to go Organic or to just go local?

I think i've spotted a gap in the market for local - as the organic competitors are more expensive than I can do it for using local suppliers, about 50% more expensive.

 

[Mister B]

Local. As an example, a local guy started buying from all of the local farm shops and selling from the back of his van, in a layby just down the road from the mahoosive Sainsburys. Three months later on, he was selling out of the back of a Luton van. Now, he has built his own little shop just down the road and the biggest queues in town on Saturdays are...to park outside his shop.

Good luck to you.

Mister B

 

[sellickbhoy]

Local. As an example, a local guy started buying from all of the local farm shops and selling from the back of his van, in a layby just down the road from the mahoosive Sainsburys. Three months later on, he was selling out of the back of a Luton van. Now, he has built his own little shop just down the road and the biggest queues in town on Saturdays are...to park outside his shop.

Good luck to you.

Mister B

you've filled me with confidence!!!

Actually, I'm already pretty full of confidence and i think I'm onto a winner here.

I'm just hoping that the "local" tag can carry the same sway as "Organic" (which seems to be getting all the headlines)

 

[MrBaker]

I am opening a bakery and was looking at similar values for sourcing my ingredients and did some research.

Organic is quite big in affluent areas and eg London City Centre but as you mentioned there is generally an inflated price that people have to pay hence appeal is limited to those areas.

Local produce is something can normally be sourced at the same price (or less you said) and will attract more people since they can afford to make an informed choice (which they like to do)...does better in the suburbs

Hope this helps

 

[sellickbhoy]

good to hear - as i am planning on targetting the suburbs!!

 

[MrBaker]

Just to mention one more thing, its all about how you market it

Whilst researching i found that the way you put your product across helps you massively, and I'm not in marketing but from what I saw you dont need those marketing folk with big budgets just a bit of originality and some clever thinking!!

Hell I'll buy from you if your local!! Go for it!

 

[sellickbhoy]

Yeah, i didn't think i'd need some fancy marketing guru type for something so simple and honest. You only need marketing wizards when you are trying to pull the wool over someones eyes!!!! LOL

i might not be local to you yet - but this time next year??? who knows! Beware world, i'm coming to get you!

 

[Cornish Steve]

As always, it comes down to price and perceived value. Plenty of organic vegetables are available at our supermarket, but we won't buy them because they're considerably more expensive. On the other hand, a local farmer's market does very well because shoppers know the produce was grown locally - and it's no more expensive than buying in a supermarket.

I see no problem at all declaring your produce as local, whether officially declared organic or not. Some people may not buy from you, but those looking for value and to help locals would. Know your target market; don't expect to win over everyone.

 

[gingerdad]

Local wins for me over Organic - all our meat and most veg we get from local sources, not so bothered about Organic.

 

[scamperbranding]

Local wins in most cases.
Organic wins when the veg can't be produced locally - for example figs, oranges etc!