Local
the
the
BerryMan
by Cory Clark
The Berry Man, Inc. is a wholesale produce distributor supplying produce and artisanal products to restaurants, resorts, institutions, caterers, and markets from Big Sur to Santa Barbara to Santa Monica. While sourcing worldwide, special emphasis is on the locally grown. Cory Clark is sales and marketing director of The Berry Man, Inc. and the voice of this sponsored column, The Berry Man.
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CAUSE & EFFECT... HELPING THOSE WHO HELP US
SEEDS OF CHANGE
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s you can imagine, “Organic” is a hot topic in the agriculture industry. I feel lucky to have grown up while being taught the importance of a healthy diet, and I also feel fortunate to be in a business where the product I sell can make a positive impact on people’s lives. There is great debate whether eating organic versus conventional truly makes a difference in one’s health. Several years ago, a report that stated organic foods are not nutritionally different from non-organic; however, something important was left out of the equation. This from the Los Angeles Times: “Stanford’s research showing that organic produce probably isn’t any more nutritious than the conventional variety is mostly remarkable for what it omitted.” Still, you’ve had to be a reader of alternative media to get the real scoop on this study; I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out that eating produce sprayed with pesticides and herbicides designed to kill pests will also be harmful to human health. Another plus for eating organic is the quality. Occasionally, I hear people
It takes a tremendous amount of dedication for a farmer to grow organically argue that organic produce goes “bad” quickly. Crazy! That statement is patently untrue. It takes a tremendous amount of dedication for a farmer to grow organically. You’d better believe he is using every trick in the book of organic farming to keep his crops from being eaten and therefore paying close attention to his product. It’s very easy for “Big Ag” to dust their crops with pesticides and growth promoters, and then walk away until harvest time. At Berry Man, we do our best to source from local, organic, and pesticidefree farms. We are always on the lookout to increase our network of such growers. Organics can cost up to 40-percent higher, so it is cost-prohibitive for many of our customers. A concept we are currently implementing is an “alpha” program. If we can get an organic item for a price that is comparable to conventional, we will only stock the organic product. This way, we will be able to give all of our customers a chance to purchase more organic items at an affordable price. It has long been a goal of ours to grow this arm of our distribution. The fate of organic food currently lies in the hands of the consumer. As the demand for organic food grows, so does the pressure for farming practices to change. In Germany, McDonald’s is launching an organic hamburger to test the market for organic fast food. If it is successful, they will introduce it into the U.S., and other companies will be forced to compete to keep their share of the market. In a positive scenario, the sheer demand for an increased volume of organics, necessary to supply these companies, will send farmers and producers clamoring to be part of the global organic marketplace. Wouldn’t it be interesting if the very companies that have been criticized for their negative impact on health and the environment actually become the B seeds of change? B
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family-owned, little 2-acre farm in the foothills of Carpinteria is the source of organic fruits and veggies available all year at The Farm Cart. Even better, they offer a Farm Box loaded with seasonal veggies for you and yours. For under 20 bucks, indulge fruits, a mix of vegetables for stir fry, root crops, citrus, alliums, and herbs. They also offer weekly recipes to guide you to a yummy dish using fresh-daily-fromthe-field Farm Box goodies.
The Farm Cart is located at 5103 Carpinteria Avenue Hours: Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri., and Sat. from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm Instagram: @thefarmcart_og youngharvestfarm@gmail.com • www.farmcartorganics.com