Thoughts on Imported Fruits

It is a big step for us to experiment with some imported produce, as our basic position is to grow and supply as locally as possible.

We have a kind of higherarchy of preferred sources:

supply as much produce as we can from our own farm (most of the fresh green vegetable are from our own farm - over the last half year around 60-70% of produce on offer is from our own farm - this year we are growing more of our own carrots, potatoes, beetroot, turnips, leeks, black radish, etc.)
Sourced fresh produce from organic farmers in the area (e.g, we regularly source a range of salad vegetables from Bolvári Csaba, Galgahévíz, 12km down the road)
Sourced from other organic farmers in Hungary (e.g. cauliflowers and cabbages from Erdődi Imre, onions from Rábcapkapi, Rózsa Imre, Ringhoffer Martin)
If basic organic veg are not available in Hungary, then we consider whether to import from neighbouring countries. This is unusual, and we did this for the first time in the winter, when carrots and potatoes were in short supply, and we brought in from Marlitch biodynamic farm in Germany (who also donated to us a whole lot of very useful farm machinery!)
Until now, this has been it, except for importing oranges and lemons from Italy in the citrus season. We are wondering now, in the light of ever-increasing competition from the likes of Aldi, Lidl and Spar, whether we should be looking at more imports (e.g bananas, mango, ginger),

Why do food miles count? What we eat has a very major impact on our environment. Around 50% of total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture and our food system (including for example packagine and logistics via supermarkets). As consumers we are each responsible for the environmental impacts of our consumption habits, and it is each of us who have to be ready to explain our impacts to the next generations, and the mess (or otherwise) we leave them. Apart from driving a car and air transport, what we eat is the most impactful on the environment of our daily habits.

So why not just grow our own produce and sell that. To be honest, if we could live off this we would do this, but paying the wages of a team of 7 people year around means that we need enough turnover the whole year to have the income to pay our team. Also, but offering produce from other organic producers means that we can offer a much better range year around (e.g. we sell out of our own onions in about September, and our our own garlic by the end of October, so to have a year-around supply of these we buy in from other Hungarian organic farmers).

What about imported fruits from further afield. This is when decisions start to get really difficult for us, as we on the one hand want to offer a good, wide selection of fresh produce year around, on the other hand we don't want to be part of the problem. One safeguard is to limit the total amount of imported produce to a maximum annual limit of our sales. Also, we rule out any airflown produce - bananas are imported by ship. Also, we as you, our dear consumers, to be responsible in your buying habits (which to a large extent you are ... by already being our customers!). We think of oranges, grapefruit and bananas as luxuries - we only need to eat them occasionally as a treat, not as a regular part of our diet.

In the end these purchasing decisions have to come down to the individual, and the responsibility for our purchases is our own, This is not to say that suppliers have no responsibility - we know we do have. We would love to hear your thoughts on the above - please email info AT zsambokibiokert.hu

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