Re: Prices Was: Larry Schultz egg recall

[Guest guest]

And vegetables are worse. I just sold my best no-spray pumpkins for 30 cents/lb

to a coop. But they have a limited shelf-life (like many good foods), so we are

not in a great position to bargain.

The biggest problem I see is that people no longer have time (or inclination) to

cook. So " easy " foods become terribly popular, and people don't want to

experiment with new items. (I really doubt most people will do anything but

carve those pumpkins, even though you can get 6 to 8 really good pies out of

each, not to mention soups, baked squash, etc.)

Ah, well. If I wanted to make money, I'd be a banker.

Laurie

>

> Thanks Alvin. A measly $2/doz. for organic eggs! Huh? You are absolutely right

about Larry and his plight. The only way restaurants and retailers can make

their living is to pinch the producer! Just this week I had a local chef, one

that promotes local sustainable farmers to the moon, tell me that he could only

pay $2.15/# for pastured pork.

[Guest guest]

For those who wonder about this farm environment - I've been there. Larry's

experience in egg production shows in the way he operates his flocks and

packaging. I put our farm eggs into his packaging for a few years and learned a

lot about getting that done with very demanding guidelines. At 30 cents a pound

you get nothing for all of the effort that went into those frosty pumpkins. The

reality in Larry's case is that his only option with that whole flock of hens is

to sell the post recall eggs to a breaker plant for liquid eggs - (I'll assume

that they will pasteurize them) so he can only recover 60 cents per dozen that

may not even cover the cost of delivery to the processor/breaker. I have a

feeling that I may own a bunch of this flock in the near future. I need to

harvest some of our oldest hens for soup at any rate. Anyone for a fall harvest

gathering for chicken soupers?

And vegetables are worse. I just sold my best no-spray pumpkins for 30 cents/lb

to a coop.

[Guest guest]

I buy co-op eggs. I guess I always thought the co-ops were paying the

farmers better because I pay way more there than at Rainbow.

Where can I go to get good farm-fresh eggs (we only eat a dozen or so in a

week or two)? Since they don't have the same issues as raw milk, are they

more likely to come to the metro? I WOH and my DH is not health-conscious

and thinks its a waste to drive to get good food (I can barely force him to

drive twice a year to pick up our grass-fed 1/4 cow and whole hog from a

butcher), so my choices are limited by what I can do during a work day. If

there are places to get good eggs that are in S Mpls, my DH does go to

playgroups there weekly with our kids.

Also, posted she has raw milk. I'm also trying to get more healthy

with that. I've switched to 2% and whole milk from the co-op. Is there a

list of farms that I can drive to to get good milk (since that appears to

still be legal), or is that pretty closed down as well to avoid

harrassment? If I bought a couple gallons at a time, can I freeze the milk

for later use? Will I diminish the benefits? We only use about 1/2 gallon

every two weeks right now...we really don't " drink " milk...mostly use it " in

stuff. " Is the point to actually drink it? That is, if I buy raw milk and

bake or cook with it, is it pointless? Should I just buy pasterized and/or

homogenized milk from the co-op then and save the good stuff for those who

drink it?

I live in St. and work in St. Louis Park, if that helps.

If people want to email me privately so as not to be too public, that's ok.

Is my problem that I participate via email on this list? Are there lists of

resources on the actual group page?

Thanks

e Dorrain

On Thu, Oct 27, 2011 at 10:38 PM, Alvin S <mnorganiceggs@...> wrote:

> **

>

>

> For those who wonder about this farm environment - I've been there. Larry's

> experience in egg production shows in the way he operates his flocks and

> packaging. I put our farm eggs into his packaging for a few years and

> learned a lot about getting that done with very demanding guidelines. At 30

> cents a pound you get nothing for all of the effort that went into those

> frosty pumpkins. The reality in Larry's case is that his only option with

> that whole flock of hens is to sell the post recall eggs to a breaker plant

> for liquid eggs - (I'll assume that they will pasteurize them) so he can

> only recover 60 cents per dozen that may not even cover the cost of delivery

> to the processor/breaker. I have a feeling that I may own a bunch of this

> flock in the near future. I need to harvest some of our oldest hens for soup

> at any rate. Anyone for a fall harvest gathering for chicken soupers?

>

>

> And vegetables are worse. I just sold my best no-spray pumpkins for 30

> cents/lb to a coop.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I would love to learn how to butcher chickens! If that is what you had it

mind...This group has had occasions where it has been done, but I've always

missed it.

Kathy