Organic food is food that has been produced to standards designed to keep the production more natural. Fewer chemicals are involved and most pesticides have been banned. Consumer interest in organic foods is largely due to the following four factors:
Health: - Organic foods sold in farm shops are unprocessed. This means that they do not contain all the hidden fats, salt and sugar that are usually added during processing.
Environment: - Many scientists believe that organic agriculture is easier on the environment. The lack of other pesticides and chemical fertilisers means that farmers must use other methods to control pests and keep the land fertile. The soil quality remains high and there is little risk of chemical run-offs contaminating local water supplies. Organic farms usually have a higher biodiversity, both among the crops grown and the wildlife supported.
Taste: - Consumers of organic food believe that it tastes better as the food is known to have a fresher more natural taste and texture.
Animal Welfare: - The UK has strict rules on the treatment of farm animals and the environments in which they are kept. The routine dosing of animals with antibiotics and hormones has been strictly banned. Animals also have to be kept in certain environments where they are free to scratch and have access to sunlight and water, among other things that foster a healthy environment.
Free range is a method of farming where animals are permitted to roam freely instead of being contained in a particular manner. This allows the animals to have as much freedom as possible and allow them to live out their natural behaviours in a reasonable way. One of the most common free range products is eggs. There are many nutritional advantages which show that eggs from hens raised on pasture may contain:
• 1⁄3 less cholesterol
• 1⁄4 less saturated fat
• 2⁄3 more vitamin A
• 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
• 3 times more vitamin E
• 7 times more beta carotene
Despite the many advantages and reasons for buying organic and free-range products, consumers who do so know that it is more expensive. But the change to organic can be accompanied by other lifestyle changes (such as eating less meat and less processed food), which can make up for this extra cost to a certain extent. The main reason for the increased cost for these food products is the environmental clean-up costs, and the extra employees that are needed for labour.
The farm Shop Business
The products sold in farm shops usually depend on the type of farm. Their own produce is usually sold, although they can also provide a wide range of other products such as: -
• Fresh fruit and vegetables, or fresh meat and meat products
• Processed products for example cheese, yoghurt and cream
• Cooked foods such as home-baked cakes and jams
• Foods which are fresh, frozen or a mixture of both
• Occasional craft goods
•Seasonal markets e.g. Christmas trees
A farm shop is an excellent way of adding value to a farm and farm produce. The shops are usually open at times that suit consumers, for example at weekends and on summer evenings. Food retailing is a low margin business and farm shop profits are very variable. The average farm shop has a net income in the range from approximately £12,000 to £25,000.
