News
Latest organic buying groups news...
Food4Macc Direct
The first of several buying groups has been established in Macclesfield offering lamb from Ladderstile Farm, North Rode. The group already has 11 committed members who bought 8 half lambs in the first trial month. Boxes, weighing 8-10kgs, cost £65 but if members commit to a minimum of two boxes (1 half lamb each season) they can benefit from a 10% discount. Members pay upfront and collect the lamb from a central drop off point in town. This buying group has already made a big difference to Peter Brocklehurst, who has farmed Ladderstile for 30 years, by increasing his direct sales by 50% and giving him almost double the income per lamb than if he sold it at market. He's also really appreciating the direct feedback from his new customers and will be offering farm visits to the members.
Food4Macc Direct is also setting up a chicken buying group with free range chickens. The trial will start in January. Assuming this is successful, members will then receive a large chicken for £10 each month. Recipes are being provided for using leftovers and there are plans to arrange a special chicken dinner with a local chef.
New turkey buying group near Tavistock, Devon
A new buying group has developed at Wonnacott Farm near Tavistock. Following attendance at the Soil Association Organic Buying Group event in Swindon earlier in the year, Rosie Yells attended her local Transition Tavistock meeting which led to a farm walk with 15 families, also an apple pressing event and finally 14 new turkey customers. Rosie observed that "For this to work the producer and consumers need to meet each other half way, eg. the customer needs to understand that they have to have some flexibility on choosing the weight of the bird. Also for it to work for the producer, a coordinator needs to collate the orders, weights, payments and submit one order form. There has been quite a lot of work involved in making the links and setting up the system, however it does pay off in the longer term, and has already resulted in new customers." She also commented that at the moment she isn’t short of a market through the usual routes ie. abattoir, wholesaler, supermarket and mail order customers. However, she can see the flaws and vulnerabilities of them and wants to try other approaches in spite of the extra time involved.
