Poster boy farmers

The Packer's Susie Cable alerted me to a Business Week story about the hot competition to establish and promote ties to local organic farmers by Whole Foods and others. Whole Foods has some critics that say they lean too heavily on large growers and not the small local organic grower, and Whole Foods has a campaign now that highlights their local suppliers. The story notes the dynamics between the entrance of Wal-Mart into the organic market and the now slowing growth for Whole Foods. All of this reminds me of Wal Mart officials who surely knew their supermarket rivals never thought the discount supermarket would take a sudden interest in organic produce. Wal Mart zigged when everyone thought they would zag, and now consumers have to sort it all out.