We have an 'up and down' interest in so-called blackeyed peas, pinkeyed peas and pinto beans. The Extension horticulturist said many of the region's farmers take their vegetables to major farmers' markets at Amarillo, Dumas, Dal-hart, Pampa, Plainview, and Lubbock. On an active day, Roberts said you will see 10 to 20 growers at one of the markets. The recent West Texas Vegetable Conference in Hereford, which Roberts helped organize, focused primarily on how to do business with large retail chains and the effects of retail consolidation on Texas growers and shippers. Individually, our growers are unequipped to deal with the awesome power of large, consolidated chain entities.
Electronic marketing can be very intimidating.
It's a no man's land for the small grower who is not prepared to deal with this. The only long-term solution, to keep small growers in business, is for them to get together to form larger supply centers, or gathering areas, where they can pool products. Roberts suggested that less competition will ultimately result in fewer choices and higher prices for consumers. This is where he sees opportunities for small growers and their family to practice direct retailing. However, having been in that business himself at one time, he said it is extremely demanding and stressful on the family.