How to sell through EcoMart

 

Urban Producers Manual

The Urban Growers pages will provide guidance for new and existing urban producers who want to use the EcoMart Northern Rivers Co-op Ltd distribution system. The manual has the potential to become an expanding learning tool for beginning urban farmers.

Please note that this manual must be read in conjunction with the general producer manual .A printable copy can be found here. ProducerManualDocument4Version1.01.pdf (172Kb)

This guide has been adopted in part from the NAASA Organic Standard Manual which can be downloaded here http://nasaa.com.au/dta/pdfs/AAAA NASAA Organic Standard 13 May 2008.pdf (770Kb)

Introduction

The aim of EcoMart is to promote healthy non-polluting urban food production by means of increasing local food security This is in response to the future challenges of climate change and the effects of peak oil. These two combined will test community resilience. EcoMart aims to promote community resilience by means of increasing the supply of food grown locally in an ecologically sustainable way rather then on fossil fuel reliant production from far away. It is not only about food security and more efficient urban land use but also about social cohesion fostered by an increased sense of inter-dependence.

What is urban food production

EcoMart's definition of urban food production is: 

• where the growing of fresh produce occurs on a urban or rural residential property and the production area is less then 1000 m² and is complementary to your regular income or,.

• where the production of processed food occurs in an urban or rural residential dwelling and is complementary to your regular income.

 Urban Agricultural standards and practices

The use of chemical fertilisers and insecticides or the use of any toxin, inside your home or in your garden, should be strongly discouraged, from a personal and public health point of view. Therefore, EcoMart will only accept products from an  urban source which only use organic production methods .

You will find a list of acceptable organic soil fertility and crop protection resources in Appendix II and III

Reliance on reticulated water for growing crops should be discouraged.On site water storage for agricultural use together with water saving strategies should be routinely used by urban producers. See Appendix IV for a variety of water saving methods.

Crops should only be produced from seed and plant varieties not covered by the Plant Variety Act. Ideally only use non-hybrid plant varieties. See Appendix V Seed and plants 

Energy use in producing crops should be as efficient as possible. See Appendix VI for energy reduction strategies.

Methods for recycling materials and on-site composting of agricultural and domestic organic waste would be part of your day-to-day practices. Appendix VI shows a number of recycling and composting methods. 

Prepared foods standards and practices

Much of what is mentioned under “Urban Agricultural standard and practices” applies to prepared foods as well.

In addition, preparation or production areas should adhere to relevant state and local government standards for commercial food preparation. If it is to difficult or costly to provide a licenced facility then you may be able to hire such a facility in your locality.

Regulatory requirements demand accurate labelling of your prepared products. Producer name and address, date of production and use by date together with a list of ingredients will be required