Consumers Willing to Spend More Green to Go Organic
Posted on: Friday, 7 March 2008, 12:00 CST
By Brent Burkey, York Daily Record, Pa.
Mar. 7--The long lines clogging Central Market House's walkways near its lunch vendors petered out in the southern end of the building, where Dave Dietz and others peddle local, often organic, produce.
It was far from the busiest part of the market, but Dietz said business hasn't gone down since the economy began its slowdown late last year. In fact, it might have gone up a bit, he said.
Organic food prices can often be close to double the prices for conventionally grown food, although many say that gap is closing. Still, the certified organic eggs at Dietz Produce, for example, were about $3 per dozen.
But, like other healthy choices, such as keeping gym memberships, many don't count eating what they see as healthier food among purchases they could cut when money is tight.
Shopping at the market Tuesday was chiropractor and nutritionist Brenda Tomanek of York, who said it's important to her to spend the extra money and eat organic. In fact, she's probably eating more organic food since money got tight.
She eats at restaurants less frequently to save money. And when she cooks at home, she cooks with organic ingredients.
Steve Prescott of Prescott's Patch, a Hellam Township Community Supported Agriculture operation, said he's getting more inquiries for subscriptions in 2008 when compared with last year.
Community-supported farms, or CSAs, sell subscriptions in which buyers receive a weekly or monthly supply of vegetables or, sometimes, flowers, eggs or herbs. Prescott operates on farmland in Lancaster and York counties and grows food chemical-free.
He credits awareness of organic food choices for counteracting market forces.
The smaller grocers aren't the only ones seeing a fairly insulated organics market.
Giant Food Stores spokeswoman Tracy Pawelski said the company's sales of organic products remain fairly steady despite the downturn.
The same trend is evident with Weis Markets, said Dennis Curtin, company spokesman.
But he said the company is closely tracking its sales of center-store packaged organics, the pre-packaged organic foods that often compete head-to-head with conventionally grown foods. He said that could be a good metric for the future of those more mainstream sales.
"Increasingly, we're putting them side by side," Curtin said.
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Source: York Daily Record
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