At The Community Farm, we see ourselves as pioneers of ethical fruit and vegetable supply. Our Managing Director, Ped Asgarian, explains the lengths we go to, to get it right.
"It’s fashionable for retailers, restaurants and cafes to talk-up their local supply chains, promote seasonal eating, and espouse the importance of supporting their local economies. But beyond the slick slogans, the reality is, we’re living in a society that still doesn’t really understand the complexities of how local supply chains work, or how vulnerable our farmers are in our broken food system. That’s why businesses have a responsibility not just to pay lip-service to the importance of a healthy, local food chain, but to ensure this ethos is genuinely represented throughout their organisation.
Supermarkets have had a markedly negative effect on our wholesalers. Their sheer dominance and tactics of using vegetables as loss-leaders has devalued good produce, and forced many farms out of business. Wholesalers are left with little option but to squeeze farmers or use cheaper, imported produce, just to compete. This impacts dramatically on the flow of vegetables and their provenance into a local area. It’ll be interesting to see the effect Brexit has on this.
At The Farm, we work hard at getting our ethical supply chain right. We liaise with local, organic producers who share the same agro-ecological farming principles of looking after the environment while trying to secure the future of farming. We strive to pay above the market price to farmers for their produce. And we make it accessible directly to our customers at a cost that’s affordable. We don’t go all-out for maximum profit, instead we aim for fairness for those we serve on both sides of the supply chain.
Our wholesale partners understand this, and working with organisations such as Better Food, Yeo Valley and The Ethicurean is key to the success of this relationship. Importantly, these partners all take the opportunity to get their employees on the land here. They experience first-hand what we do. They plant, pick and harvest with us, and connect with our ethos. Our shared values transfer through their staff and businesses, which in turn, has a positive effect on their customers. Their customers know they’re getting quality produce, at the correct price, and that their money is going towards helping people, improving the environment and is providing a future for local producers.
Now that’s a truly ethical supply chain."
- Ped Asgarian Managing Director
Feel good festivities
COMING SOON! Our website will feature a varied range of responsibly-sourced festive produce and gifts, so you can enjoy an ethical Christmas. Visit www.thecommunityfarm.co.uk/boxesNEW! Pick up your favourites from our Organic Farm Shop, Green Park Station, Bath. We’re open Wednesday-Friday 11am-6pm, Saturday 8am-6pm and Sunday 9am-4pm.
Alternatively, visit our Veg Shed at The Community Farm, Chew Magna, to top-up those veg boxes with some super, seasonal produce. We’re open daily, 10am-8pm.
