Family-run Organic Farms Under Threat

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Tuesday, 20 January 2004

In today's Independent, Patrick Holden describes how the world of family-operated organic farming is facing decline ..... as they are driven out of business by supermarkets and multinational food giants.

Small farmers are falling victim to the financial muscle of their large rivals who are eager to cash in on the £1bn a year market for natural produce.

The trend has propelled organic food into the consumer mainstream, enabling more people to have access to organic food, but the ethics and practices of the new owners are frequently at odds with the beliefs upon which many organic farms were founded.