Genesee County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan

APPENDIX D: INDUSTRY PRACTICES
The health conscious more educated consumer has also increased the demand for local
community retail farmers markets. The past 10-15 years, there has been a phenomenal
growth in retail markets. This is a place where not only are they purchasing directly from
the farmer, but it puts them more in touch with their heritage that they have lost touch
with to a great degree. They are able to receive a high quality product and at the same
time be able to ask questions about the crop and how it was produced. The more
progressive farmers are now providing home recipes for their crops, providing that
additional service.
These markets for the most part are not expensive structures, but strategically located,
heavily advertise, temporary markets. Consumers may visit a market once, maybe twice
a week. The markets are organized where each day of the week, certified farmers will
congregate at a particular location. Each day of the week the market will be located in a
different suburb to take advantage of the entire retail demand and their buying patterns.
The community than shops that day and most farmers are sold out by midday. “Every
week, spring through fall, several sites throughout Fairfax County become bustling
marketplaces for farmers, residents and employees of our communities. Mere paved
surfaces spring alive with the abundant sights, sounds, smells, and colors of an open air
produce market. The markets are a return to a way of life once commonplace for many
of our parents and grandparents.” (www.co.fairfax.va.us/parks/farm-mkt.htm) Those
markets that conduct seasonal festivities, advertise and promote have generated strong
retail trade.
The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 has had the most profound impact on the
production practices of fruits and vegetables than any other piece of legislation. Simply
put, the reregistration process with the new tolerance levels and reduction in benefits will
and has reduced the number and types of pest management tools for the agricultural
community. Some of the more traditional farm chemicals like the organophosphates will
no longer be available for use.
For example, a majority of the apple growers on the east cost have not expanded their
production, but are just maintaining what they already have. With the foreseen loss of
some of their primary pest management tools, apple growers which have previously gone
to the dwarf tree root stock in the past are now reverting back to the mid size trees. The
primary reason, the pest management tolls for blight that the dwarf trees are very
susceptible to, are being lost. So the apple growers are going to the more disease
resistant trees.
In addition to the FQPA of 1996, the use of methyl bromide, a soil fumigant, has to be
completely phased out by 2005. Methyl Bromide is used in the production of tobacco,
and fruits and vegetables. Methyl Bromide is very efficient and effective in the control of
soil nematodes and other soil pests, especially in hot moist climates like Florida. To date,
there are no similar comprehensive alternatives. For example, methyl bromide is a must
for strawberry growers in Florida. If no alternatives are developed, this could create
opportunities for growers farther to the north where the cold winter climates destroy
potential pests.
Copyright©, 2000: Agricultural & Community Development Services, Inc, Columbia MD 13