Monday, May 27, 2013

How a Small Local Grower Regards Organic Food

A San Diego County Grower's Viewpoint

 
 
I live in San Diego County, one of the largest counties in the lower 48 states.  Few people, even in California, know how big our county is, stretching from the Pacific to mountains and desert.
 
Our local San Diego daily, U-T San Diego published a short illustrated article today (May 27, 2013) on a  grower in Ramona, a small town east of the metropolis of San Diego.
 
Page's Organics farm grows a variety of vegetables and wine grapes without using synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.  In 2004,  Tom and Mary Page received "organic certification" for their farm from the federally accredited agency California Certified Organic Farmers.
 
Although neither grew up on a farm, they decided on farming a decade ago and declared, "It's a lifestyle we wanted to pursue," saying, "agriculture  has gotten so out of touch with the land and people's nutritional needs!"
 

San Diego County's Organic Farms

 
 
Although San Diego County has some 5,000 farms, giving it more farms than most counties in the U.S., only 368 are currently organic (7%).  Still, the number has increased by 26% since 2007.  The San Diego County Farm Bureau expects the trend to continue because of rising consumer demand.
 
 

Organic Farming Costs

 

 

Going organic has many costs, aside from the cost of land.  Nevertheless, the cost of getting certified is well worth it to Tom Page who says he spends $500 on annual membership fees and inspections to keep certified.  "It's not that much money when you look into it in the big picture, " for organic produce can fetch 15- to 20 percent more than crops grown the conventional way. 
 
The Pages know from their farm stand and dealing directly with customers that there's nothing like the taste of fresh organic produce!
 

Would that we had many, many more Tom and Mary Pages!

 
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