Order week started at the Ottawa Valley Food Co-op yesterday and for the first time in 3 years we aren’t involved. It all feels very strange. We’ve been thinking about this for a long time and it wasn’t a decision that was made lightly. We’ve had to make some changes that are the best for our farm and our family.
We’ve decided to stop selling our pork through the OVFC. When we added up all the cost, i.e., the 10% fee (gross) that goes to the Co-op, costs to deliver to Pembroke, cost to raise the pork, it just didn’t make cents sense anymore. For example take our bacon, price is $4.20 therefore OVFC gets $0.42 on every pound we sell, minus the cost of smoking the bacon, minus the cost of the pig and minus the extra packaging required for OVFC delivery. When all was said and done we netted about $0.01 per pound and that’s not taking anything for my time. On top of all that is the extra time that it takes to run a second supply of pork and all the extra weighing and sorting and labeling. On OVFC delivery weeks poor Ella ends up basically ignored for two days while Grandma and I weigh and sort and label and try to keep everything organized.
We appreciate our customers who have said we should increase the price to cover the commission. But this would require us to run 2 price lists and would cause even more work because we would have to have a separate freezer with pork labeled with OVFC prices. Also, increasing the price would increase the amount paid to the OVFC. It becomes a vicious circle. I may continue to sell my preserves and hand work as they have a bigger profit margin than food stuffs.
But do not fear!!! We are NOT going out of business. We will still be selling our natural pork from both our farm locations. We also will be returning to the Petawawa Farmers’ Market. The folks in Deep River are talking about a special once a month Farmers’ Market where we would love to go as well. Also, we’ll be at various Taste of the Valley events this summer/fall.
There is a bonus to coming to see us in person -same great quality meat but even more affordable as there is NO COMMISSION. Our customers don’t have to pay the extra 5% as charged by OVFC.
So please, come out to the farm or see us at the Market, we love meeting our customers face to face. We’re open daily 9-8 but don’t forget we are a working farm, so if you are making a special trip or coming from a distance please call and I’ll make sure someone is home for you.
Don’t forget that you can get natural, cage-free eggs from the farm stand location too. Our chickens are fed home-grown corn. If you’ve only ever bought store eggs, you won’t believe the taste difference in truly fresh eggs.
At Home With Us 
I can understand that decision; basically you made nothing. I will definitely keep your experience in mind as we plan our market garden this year. We are planning to sell through farmers’ markets this year with whatever surplus we have, and expand next year if all goes well. We live on a seldom traveled backroad, not a good spot for farmstand sales, but if I can borrow a location (the church parking lot, for instance) that would make sense for selling. I am open to all suggestions and advice!
It’s a little easier to make a profit in vegetables, less overhead 🙂 But definitely make sure you do the math with your hand made goods. Yes, cash flow is good, but you have to make sure you get compensation for your time too. Location does make all the difference. We would not have the business we have if we didn’t live on/beside the Trans Canada highway.
What??? 1 cent per pound? I’m surprised you hung on this long. Are you staying on the board?
Well, to be perfectly honest, we didn’t know it was that bad. We knew it would be low the first few years (and bacon is a loss leader, it’s just a good example) . No I quit the board too. I’m tired of trying to be the only voice of reason to a bunch of people who don’t make a living farming (or self employed at all) and who think ‘Food Inc’ is the Gospel truth. It’s not worth all the headaches (figurative and literal). Did you hear that at the last AGM they didn’t even get enough members (only need 20) out to have an official AGM? Tells you people aren’t worried about the ‘politics’ and just want local food/items.
I DO agree with the fundamental beliefs behind the co-op – our food should all be organic and local. (Is that the fundamental belief??) Actually making that happen, though, is expensive. And apparently very very debatable.
Hopefully your bottom line looks up now that you’re out, and I can’t see you losing customers over it.
I agree with the basis of the co-op too (at least according to the website “mission statement”), but I’m not sure how long it will continue. It’s a very expensive business model. Almost every month they don’t bring in enough money. And ‘certain’ board members don’t want to expand and commissions aren’t ‘high’ enough (but really are too high).
We hope to see our customers at the house. We’ve heard from a number of customers and a few have already come by. We’ve got eggs at my house now too, in case you’re interested.
I would love to see it continue. There’s so much talent and ability around here, but in a co-op structure it reminds me of groupwork in elementary school.
Yup, I’m interested. I see the pork prices – how much are eggs? Maybe one afternoon this week I’ll bring Addie down?
Eggs are $2.25 a dozen for the large eggs. I also have banty hen eggs which are so cute, the little people love them. They are $1 a dozen. Ella loves when I fry her a couple, she feels like a ‘big girl’ getting two eggs 🙂 I’m home the rest of this week (I think) except for skating Thursday morning.
Aha! I wondered why there was nothing available from your Farm this month through the co-op. Now I know! Will definitely be visiting the farm to pick up products at some point, especially now that I know you have eggs too. We absolutely love your bacon and pork chops – nothing better out there! S
Thanks! We’ll be happy to see you.