Whatever happened to unbiased BBC reporting? Over the last few months there has been a regular avalanche of negative coverage of UK organic farming, with the main conclusion, frequently featuring as a news headline,UK organic farmers on their knees, reverting to conventional, and furthermore, does organic really matter?
Even when positive interviews are recorded- such as Renee Elliot's recent upbeat support for her superb organic store, Planet Organic (31/01/09)- this is snuffed out in the general rush to report the bad news- coupled with an apparent determination to devalue organics at the expense of local food.
Eden Farms is not experiencing a sudden demise in demand- if anything, the complete reverse. Our customers are coming back for more, and we are attracting new interest all the time. It is very important to them that our food is seasonal and local, but it's also vital that it is organic! At a time when over 60% of produce sold is contaminated by an assortment of toxic residues from sprays, when allergies and cancers are increasing in the general population, when wild bird stocks are in danger of extinction, the implication from the BBC - is organics a fad that has lived it's time?- seems singularly inappropriate and inaccurate.
Yes, there are stock farmers who are struggling with the high price of organic feed, and sadly some have given up- but there are also plenty who are carrying on. It does real disservice to organic farmers to hear the message repeated again and again- organic is too expensive for consumers during the credit crunch!
In my previous blog I showed that customers shopping at our local supermarket were actually paying more for some conventional veg than we are charging for organics. Over the last few weeks I have had customers on Farmer's Markets expressing concern that we are going to stop farming organic, thanks to the BBC negative new reportage.
Well, we have already lasted through 2 recessions, and at present our customers seem very loyal and appreciative of what we do.
So come on, BBC, lets have some positive coverage of organic farming, we are providing healthy vegetables that consumers want to eat, and although seasonal and local is very important to our customers, so is the fact that our food is organic. Don't lets confuse the two!
