Well said!!! I do ask one question. I have observed that fair is always proclaimed by the winner and unfair by the loser. What does fair price mean, or how is it defined? Does fair in the case of food mean you as a producer can drive a BMW or a Chevrolet. Does fair mean some of your customers complain about prices so you in return can afford health care?? Or does fair mean your prices are high enough for you to make enough money that your children want to come back to the farm. Or even better that your income makes your farm a sellable business. How do you determine a fair price and how does that relate to net income in a world where individual corporate compensation is more than most farms are worth??
Just curious as to what all the costs, hours, and risk taking involved in farming equates to fair compensation. My problem is that fair is determined by how close my prices compare to the local markets and that is not fair. John Belisle BelleWood Acres -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of David Barclay Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 6:28 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Apple-Crop: Organic vs. non-organic discussion Bonnie, Certainly I'm not implying that farming in the 21st century is going to be a walk in the park. I'm simply saying that there were regulations 50 years ago, - there are regulations now and there will be new ones in the future and farmers have prevailed and survived. I'm not sure where you farm but in New Jersey the last two generations of farmers have learned to live with some of the fiercest state rules and regulations in the country. Am I happy, - no, - but there are still opportunities. As an example, - OSHA came down hard on farmers in the 1960's. My Dad and Uncle thought these rules would doom the farming community. Well it was not so bad after all because OSHA had bigger fish to fry policing the big manufacturing companies, etc. and let agriculture be. And, - think about it: We in farming are producing the most important commodity on earth, - FOOD. When over population and inflation cause rationing of budgets people will come begging to us for food at any price. I don't think that is such a bad prospect for those who stick with farming, - as long as we stick together. My Dad taught me to "give the customer the best quality always for a fair price." We still strive to achieve this and have been mostly successful for 50 years. David Barclay Colts Neck, New Jersey -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements <[email protected]>. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements <[email protected]>. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
