Big Organic Versus Small Organic

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To many naturalists, hippies, granolas, etc., big organic is a big oxymoron. For them the ideal, sustainable farming model remains the small, organic farmer, like Polyface Farm (which was featured in Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma). For others, big organic is simply the most pragmatic, efficient way of promoting the organic process. It’s the best way to get the most organic food to the most people. Is it? I’m not sure which side of the fence I lie on. My gut tells me that compromise in order, but I’d like to analyze the pros and cons of both methods before I start leaning toward one or the other.

Big Organic

pros

  • money and capital to invest in green research and development
  • when bought by big non-organic companies they gain instant access to all that plus patent technology
  • inherent economies of scale makes organic more affordable, breaks down the purchasing barrier
  • a lot more land is devoted to organic a lot more quickly than if only dependent on small farms to do so
  • laborers get to use flame-throwers to kill weeds (they’re just cool, okay)
  • the competition could force cooperation and coordination amongst small organic, causing smaller farms to do better
  • makes organic foods available at urban grocery stores

cons

  • depending on methods of farming, could be as carbon/fossil fuel intensive as conventional farming which is not sustainable
  • pushes farmers toward monoculture organic
  • not upholding the ideals of early organic (see above)
  • if bought by big agribusinesses, they are under their control
  • competition from Big Organic invades Small Organic’s niche, which may drive small organic farmers out of business
  • food quality may not be as good because of freezing/traveling conditions

Small Organic

pros

  • easily sustainable and smaller carbon footprint
  • not as constrained by market forces
  • does a better job of staying true to the “hippie ideal” of small farming
  • feeds local foodshed and promotes local economy
  • fresher produce, higher quality produce
  • there is a farmer-consumer relationship, which means actual accountability
  • don’t necessarily need the government label of organic; saves the farmer money on organic label application fees
  • many marketing schemes available: farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA), subscription farms (” You put up a couple of hundred dollars every spring and then receive a weekly box of produce through the summer”, link.)

cons

  • not easily accessed by urban populations
  • labor intensive
  • without scales of economy the food tends to cost more
  • small in terms of market share (but growing?)
  • no money for big R&D projects
  • may not be able to tap the latest green technology
  • USDA and FDA regulations are designed for big agribusiness, making it hard for smaller farms to successfully apply for licenses, etc.

organicsales98-06These are all off the top of my head. If anyone else has any other pros and cons or would like to argue against any of the points I raised, I’d love to hear them. Do you fall on one side or the other? Is there room for compromise?

I think it would be a sign of progress if we were continually having this Big vs. Small Organic debate rather than the Organic vs. Conventional debate.

April 7, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Health

2 Responses

  1. Barb - April 15, 2009

    I recognize names under your big organic umbrella’s that I purchase quite regularly in my supermarket. I did not know these companies made organic product. All of their products or just certain products? In other words, if I am buying organic & aren’t even aware of it, then this is an additional “pro” to big organic, encourage organic consumption without acknowledging organic (or perhaps this is just an expansion of “available at urban grocery stores”

  2. foodbubbles - April 15, 2009

    I think that organic products usually have labels that demand your attention to that fact. It’s a big “value-added”selling point.

    But, you’re right. If you are buying organic without knowing it, it means that it has become very accessible. Not only is an expansion of “available at urban grocery stores”, but your situation also speaks to the diminishing price premium of organic. Since you may be buying organic without even noticing, this probably means the price differential is hardly noticable.

    Thus, with Big Organic helping out, organics are no longer just for the well-to-do. Getting more people to buy organice is a definite positive. Even it comes from Big Organic, it is helping the environment and ourselves become more sustainable.

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