Sustainable Food Procurement Initative - Co-operative organic links across Europe
Case Study: Co-operative organic links across Europe
Organisation: Eostre Organics and El Tamiso
Background to El Tamiso:
El Tamiso - "The Sieve" in local dialect - is an organic producers' co-op based in Padova, in the Veneto region of north-east Italy. The co-op was founded in 1984 by a group of farmers and advisers, with support from a number of people interested in working in organic agriculture and natural food. Having established strong direct sales in the city of Padova, through market stalls and other outlets, El Tamiso took the bold step of moving to the city's wholesale market in 2000, allowing it to take advantage of the huge distribution network centred on the Italian fruit and vegetable wholesale markets.
El Tamiso now has 50 producer members, an operational staff of around 12 and an established network of customers served from the wholesale stall. Around 50% of produce is traded between members of the co-operative, many of whom have their own direct sales channels. Other important outlets include the co-operative's own market stalls in Padova and other cities in the Veneto, and the kitchens that serve Venice's primary schools.
Produce from El Tamiso's own members is supplemented from other co-operatives in Italy and imports from further afield where necessary. El Tamiso have also introduced a wide range of processed products, often using their members' produce. This has further developed the market for their members' produce and increased the range they are able to offer their customers.
Background to Eostre Organics
Eostre Organics is an organic fruit and vegetable producers' co-operative for East Anglia, established in 2003 and partly inspired by the approach and success of El Tamiso. The co-operative includes a school in London among its customers that are predominantly in the private sector and is exploring opportunities to supply other schools and hospitals in the public sector.
The 12 founder members of Eostre encompass a wide variety of organic farms from a 1 acre glasshouse and 2 acre Suffolk small-holding, to a 26 acre fenland market garden and 900 acre Norfolk estate. The co-operative partnership with El Tamiso allows Eostre to supplement its wide range of locally grown produce with Italian produce of similar organic and co-operative origins.
Like El Tamiso, Eostre provides its members with secure and direct markets for their produce, through market stalls, box schemes and wholesale to shops, restaurants and processors. Eostre also provides a channel for trade between its members, allowing them to offer a full range through their own market stalls, farm shops and box schemes.
Eostre believes that organics is not simply a label, but represents a commitment, from all participants in the food chain, to a truly sustainable system that benefits the entire community. Enshrined in the co-operative's charter is a belief that co-operatively traded organic food of the highest quality should be available to all members of society.
Sharing Experience
The link between El Tamiso and the East Anglian growers was forged through the work of East Anglia Food Link (EAFL), an NGO working on the sustainability of the food system. EAFL's research into public sector catering and organic, local and co-operative trading systems across Europe led to the development of relationships with producer groups, buying co-operatives and community groups across the UK and Europe.
EAFL arranged for two East Anglian producers, Paul Robinson and Grahame Hughes to visit El Tamiso and to study the working of the co-operative, from the central wholesale stall to their outlets, such as the market stall in Padua and schools in Venice. The visit was a source of great inspiration and encouraged the growers to follow this European model, to create a formal co-operative in East Anglia that could build on the networks developed by EAFL, Grahame and other growers.
The visit to Italy was followed by a return visit from key members of El Tamiso. More recently, El Tamiso have looked to the experience of Eostre and its growers. They are particularly interested in introducing the concept of organic box schemes to the cities of the Veneto.
Co-operative Trade
Alongside the flow of experience, a direct trading link has been established between Eostre and El Tamiso, allowing Eostre to supplement its members' produce and offer a complete organic alternative to conventional fresh produce outlets and wholesalers. The trading link allows Eostre to import produce that is not only certified organic but also co-operatively and fairly produced and traded. Eostre and El Tamiso are members of each other's co-operatives. This is because much of the produce is sourced by El Tamiso directly from its members, it often arrives at Eostre fresher than the alternatives offered by international distributors.
The flow of trade has so far been only from Italy to the UK, but El Tamiso are looking into the possibility of importing products such as potatoes from Eostre. An initial difficulty has been that established distribution channels are not set up for exports from the UK.
Logistical Details
Eostre buys produce from El Tamiso through most of year, with a break during the late summer and autumn, when there is ample local production and no Italian citrus. Initially just one order, generally of two full pallets, was dispatched each week, but this has increased to two weekly orders with the growth of Eostre's markets.
In order for El Tamiso to source the necessary produce from its growers and other suppliers, to pack and dispatch, orders have to be placed by Eostre's operations manager, Grahame Hughes, well in advance. This requires more advanced planning than other sources, but once established the pattern works well. Another important consideration is that the economic viability depends on making up at least 2 complete pallets of produce.
Communication is an issue, with very little English spoken by El Tamiso's staff. Ordinary orders are managed by Grahame, but Eostre is fortunately able to call on the necessary language skills when more complex messages must be communicated. Grahame likes to visit El Tamiso every year or so, to discuss possibilities outside the normal ordering routine and to maintain the strong personal relationship.
A Shared Ethos and Mutual Benefits
El Tamiso and Eostre share a set of principles that goes beyond a commitment to organic production. Both believe that the food system should offer fair returns to producers and fair prices to consumers, and that the co-operative development of direct markets, such as market stalls, can bring such benefits to both.
The relationship between the two co-operative has been enormously valuable to both, not just in terms of trade and the exchange of experience, but also in drawing inspiration from a sense of shared co-operative values. The trading relationship has undeniably posed challenges but these are far outweighed by the benefits.
Page published: 20 January 2005