03/03/06 Organic tree view fruit around US, Pt.3

03/03/06 Organic tree view fruit around US, Pt.3

When compared to other areas of the U.S., the Southeast is still a region that is trying to discover its identity within the scope of organic tree fruit production. According to Curt Robb of the University of Arkansas, part of the difficulty conventional tree fruit growers have had in making that transition, has been the strong traditions of the region's growers in the backdrop of market opportunities that have long been in decline. ROBB: The survivors that are conventional growers have already made a shift to a more direct market, whether it be a local market or more of a regional market. So they are not in competition anymore with the West. We use to see ourselves as having to compete and that way we are not competing. We're just taking care of our own local markets. In addition, the Southeast organic tree fruit grower faces challenges in the form of a lack of federal research and support funding compared to more developed organic regions in other parts of the country. ROBB: We have a much smaller production system in organics. We tend to have very small farm systems & just a few acres. They tend to be isolated in various areas geographically. And they see themselves as independent businessmen, probably direct farmer's marketers, as opposed to growing a wholesale crop. That means making practical adjustments to compete, such as adapting region specific fruit varieties, improving crop regularities and investing in scale appropriate technology. More organic tree fruit views around America will be shared in future programs.
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