Small agricultural cooperatives sourcing produce from local farmers have been springing up all over the country, the Ethical Co-op is just one of these. A group of friends in Cape Town started this organisation to access organic and ethically sourced produce more freely and easily, and it has turned into a country wide success.
Anique van der Vlugt of the Ethical Co-op explains that sourcing from small scale farmers means that they are more directly affected by adverse weather such as the extreme heat and wind that the Cape is experiencing at the moment. “The availability of produce is a little unpredictable at the moment, for example, even though we should have gotten carrots from one of the farmers, his entire crop was burnt from the extreme heat. The farms in this area all seem to have enough water, but are still seeing unfavourable effects from the heat and wind.”
“I think having a relationship with the grower is something that people are looking for again. When you know where your food comes from, it has a story,” says van der Vlugt.
Many small scale farmers do not have the kind of capital required to accept payment on the 90 day or 120 day terms that bigger retailers offer. Supplying co-ops that pay within the week of delivery is an opportunity for them to keep their operations running. “On our website, we state where the produce comes from, and the prices are listed on the items, so it’s almost like an online produce market. It helps farmers to determine how they should be pricing their produce, and allows us to see what customers want so we can try to meet the demand accordingly,” explains van der Vlugt.
The Ethical Co-op try to maintain a certain level of transparency with their customers, as well as their suppliers. This trust is important in an organisation such as this one as it ensures fair practice between all the parties involved, and contributes toward the end goal of fair trade food.
For more information:
Anique van der Vlugt
Ethical Co-op
Tel: +27 21 447 0328
Email: anique@ethical.org.za