Bee Organic – building the local organic food system

• Taking Back the Middle

> Producer-controlled distribution models

> Farmer to consumer connections

Taking Back the Middle

Since 2006, COG PWW has been building a mix of market opportunities for organic and transitioning producers that includes institutions and direct-to-consumer mechanisms.

The emphasis of this work is having the producer "take back the middle" from the distribution chain by becoming both producer and seller, thereby allowing producers to become “price setters” (versus “price takers”). Such strategies generally result in producers receiving a higher price for their crops than selling through wholesalers, processors or other intermediaries.

Recognizing that it is difficult to both grow good food and market it, COG PWW is working to support producers in realizing the possibilities. This work has been a part of the national Growing Up Organic project.

Producer-controlled distribution models

Research was completed during the fall and winter of 2009 on the feasibility of a variety of producer-controlled distribution systems. This research was funded by the Metcalf Foundation.

Models explored included:

• Community Shared Agriculture (CSA)
• Producer networks selling through online farmers’ markets
• Multi-stakeholder cooperatives

Read the full report Taking Back the Middle: Local and Organic Producer-controlled Distribution Systems.

Farmer to Consumer Connections

As a result of this research, COG PWW is moving forward to help build the direct farmer to consumer connections that allow producers to "take back the middle." We were involved in supporting the development of the Local Organic Fair Trade (LOFT) farmers' cooperative and the Farmers' Field Growers Collective, which supplies The Commons Market in downtown Kitchener via an online pre-ordering system.

We are more than happy to work with other farmers, organizations and institutions in order to connect more people to more local organic food. COG PWW offers presentations to workplaces, community centres, neighbourhood groups, and farmer groups who are interested in exploring these models. Contact us if you are interested in being a part of such a project.