Polyface Farm Products at Ellwood Thompsons- Good or Bad?
Written by Matt Sadler on October 21, 2009 – 8:00 am -Wow…. Polyface Farm products at Ellwood Thompson (ET)! What a good move by ET!
I always wondered how ET would adapt when Whole Foods and other quasi-organic stores moved into the area. I thought that bringing in products from the place that helped define the responsible farming movement was a brilliant idea. Staunton is only 90 miles away so it can be considered local. We can thank Omnivore’s Dilemma in helping us understand the ethical practices that go on there. It’s a winner. We know it. We can feel good about it. It’s safe.
There is something nagging at me about this and I’ve only started to put my finger on it. It’s this idea in branding and our societies comfort in it. It’s the idea that Applebees can survive worldwide because Americans find comfort in them and will go there no matter what. It’s the idea that something says lowfat and therefor we should buy it because it is suddenly healthy. Our world lives and thrives on branding and marketing. I think I saw myself being suckered into spending $4+ for a dozen of really small but good eggs.
I don’t blame Polyface for this. I don’t think they begged for the attention. I don’t want to put down ET for carrying their products. I am just disappointed that I was so quick to purchase something because I was brand aware. Truth is that Central VA is full of farmers trying to do things the right way. They just don’t have the reputation thanks to a extremely popular book.
Am I alone here? Does this bother any of you?
Posted in RVA, Retail | 1 Comment »
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:33 am
I agree that I originally purchased Polyface eggs because of reading Omnivore’s Dilemma. However, I continue to buy them because they are exceptional eggs. They are so fresh and the yolks are amazing.
It would be nice if Ellwood highlighted the story of some of their local suppliers. I’ve noticed that they’ve done that a little in the produce section, but it would be cool if they had a supplier of the month and put the story on their website, for example. Then maybe people would be equally excited about buying other produce and products.