FALL 2006. From the Organic Trade Association:

Encouraging more farmers to produce organic ingredients.

A terrific piece by the OTA that explains why organic products, organic bedding and textiles in particular, can be not only a bit more expensive, but also sometimes in short supply! Here's an abstract:

"As sales of organic products continue to grow at a steady pace in the United States, manufacturers, growers and marketing cooperatives, and others, are recognizing the need for additional farmers to get on board.

According to the Organic Trade Association's 2006 Manufacturer Survey released in June, U.S. sales of organic products grew 17 percent overall in 2005. Even so, fifty-two percent of respondents reported that a lack of dependable supply of organic raw materials has restricted their company from generating more sales of organic products..." read the entire article visit http://www.ota.com/news/whatsnews.html

We've said it again and again...it's always disappointing when occasionally organic bedding pieces become unavailable, and it's hard to tell our customers they must wait.

The lack of dependable supply is a feature of the organic textiles market, and an ongoing problem for all of us in the organic bedding business. Rest assured we absolutely support the efforts of the OTA and all partners in encouraging the growth and development of certified organic farms in the United States.

It could help if more interested people encouraged Washington to end the assinine programs that pay obscene sums to farmers to retain idle land, and instead convert that idle land to organic cotton and wool, and organic food, production.

While this is a unique business right now, so too are our customers and friends who love and appreciate organics as much as we do. Together, perhaps we can be part of bringing health and balance back to our fragile ecosystems.




Onward, Susan