FIVE TOP THINGS to consider before going organic

摘要

When you heard at the coffee shop that organic Honeycrisp apples were returning a bin to the growers this spring, it was probably true. Even other organic apple varieties have been averaging a premium of $150 a bin on top of the already high prices for Washington apples. So how can you get in on this bonanza? Demand for organic tree fruits is growing faster than production, but before you leap into organic production, organic consultant Harold Ostenson has some words of caution. Past experience showsthat growers looking at going organic as a way to keep their heads above water could make their situation worse unless they are making the transition for the right reasons. "If you don't have everything lined up in your conventional operation, you're going to fail at being organic, and you're not going to get the prices you hear about in the coffee shop," he warned.