![]() ![]() While there’s plenty of current debate as to whether organic produce is actually healthier to consume, the fact remains that it’s still in demand. “And what we grow may not be organic, either.” ![]() But for some other farm stands, there’s a purely economical logic that is, they can’t make enough money just selling their own product.ģ. But even McClelland says there can be a certain rationale to offering select items from other farms: It provides both convenience and quality to the customer. “I cringe when I see a whole stand’s worth of goods from somewhere else,” says Frank McClelland, a renowned New England chef who also runs a farm. They also say it takes away some of the local flavor-literally-that is associated with farm stands. For that matter, they shouldn’t be surprised to learn that local specialties come from other local farms: The fact remains that many stands are a clearinghouse for all sorts (and all sources) of produce and other farm fare.Ĭritics charge that this approach can border on the deceptive, since consumers come to a farm stand expecting to buy from that very farm. But these days, shoppers shouldn’t be surprised to see out-of-area produce at their area farm stands. South Florida farmers aren’t in the apple business. New England farmers don’t devote acreage to citrus. “It’s fresh from a farm-just not this one.” This story was updated on August 3, 2015.Ģ. At the Avila Valley Barn, the hay rides are just a dollar. Plus, in an age of $100 theme park tickets, stand operators say they offer family fun at a relatively low cost. But stand operators counter that consumers are voting with their dollars-if they didn’t like what was happening, they wouldn’t be buying. “It’s very off-putting to see a farm stand without very much ‘farm’ to it,” says Sara Trunzo, a project manager with the Maine Farmland Trust. They argue that the bigger-is-better thinking can go against the connect-with-the-soil spirit of the classic stand. ![]() At the Avila Valley Barn in San Luis Obispo, Calif., for example, raspberries and blackberries share space with packaged gourmet goods, bakeware, barbecue accessories, cookbooks and even educational toys.įor some eat-local purists and old-school farmers, there’s nothing simple about this. Such “stands,” which can have annual sales in the millions of dollars, offer everything from souvenirs to prepared meals. Individual stands are also thinking big, with many morphing into year-round, full-scale enterprises-like supermarkets in touristy packaging. But it’s not just the farm-stand movement as a whole that’s gaining ground. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |