The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: Jaks on November 06, 2014, 01:17:44 pm
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Greetings all,
New to the group and very early days for me!
I was just wondering if anyone could answer a query i have regarding whether there is any requirements that need to be in place before any excess crop can be retailed to the public?
Like most visitors to the site i expect i harbour grandiose ideas regarding living a life of sustainability but i also have an eye on the commercial possibilities of agriculture and am looking for advice on how the two could harmonise!
Lok forward to hearing from anyone.
Leigh
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I would have thought that it would depend.
This link https://www.gov.uk/farm-shops-and-farmers-markets#legislation-and-licensing-requirements-for-farm-shops-and-farmers-markets (https://www.gov.uk/farm-shops-and-farmers-markets#legislation-and-licensing-requirements-for-farm-shops-and-farmers-markets) may have some relevant info for you.
You may also wish to enquire with your local trading standards or council office.
In theory produce that could be sold, could be tested for residues if chemicals have been used on the ground - I realise that the majority of smallholders wont but I mention it anyway.
If I'm honest, if its an honesty box or ask for a donation job, as long as folk are aware that its 'over production' you should be fine. It would be no different to a farmer selling sac's of spuds from the farm gate.
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Depending where yopu live ...
Garden gate sale rules may apply so long as you don't grow commercially .. they should be laid out on your local authorities website .
I used to take a few boxes of decent cabbages & carrots to a guy who ran a market veg stall in days of yore. . doubt if it can be legally done these days though.
If your hoping to use an allotment have a look at the terms & conditions of occupancy .. Most seem to forbid selling any excess crops and by the gods it seems that there are many on sites who are only too happy to bubble you to the allotment land owners .
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If your hoping to use an allotment have a look at the terms & conditions of occupancy .. Most seem to forbid selling any excess crops and by the gods it seems that there are many on sites who are only too happy to bubble you to the allotment land owners .
We weren't allowed to sell stuff when we had the allotment and we had plenty of plot holders who would have cliped on you if you did. However I did 'sell' stuff.
In the last 2 years that we had the plot I would 'sell' excess veg and fruit at our church after the service on a Sunday with all the funds going back to the church fundraising committee. I wish I grew on a commercial scale as the stuff used to fly off the table every week - rhubarb, spuds, onions, c/kale, half cabbages.
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Where on earth would be the risk in vegetables? The world has gone completely mad!!! (Or is it me?)
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Where on earth would be the risk in vegetables? The world has gone completely mad!!! (Or is it me?)
incorrect pesticide use and/or contaminated soil
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worse than that Pg,
You'd be taking the sale from a monied land owner/farmer & that's still a crime even today .
In the great depression of the 1930's folk were jailed for doing it and given hard labour etc or sometimes even flogged as well if it was a second or subsequent offence .
Look up the number of successful prosecutions of the last ten years or so in South Wales for people taking more than one 2 & 1/2 gallon bucket of mussels or cockles from the foreshore .
In days gone by the monied folk were the law & the lawmakers to most folks detriment, it seems little has changed for it 's always the golden rule ..those who have gold ...rule.
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Where on earth would be the risk in vegetables? The world has gone completely mad!!! (Or is it me?)
incorrect pesticide use and/or contaminated soil
Supermarkets seem able to sell veg and fruit sozzled in chemicals ::)
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Supermarkets seem able to sell veg and fruit sozzled in chemicals ::)
'Sozzled' may be slightly exaggerating :thinking:
The range of products that can be applied to many crops now are getting limited (and in some cases very limited).
Commercial growers are heavily regulated with what they can and can't put on crops. If the growers are found to have over applied a product they can fail any QA scheme check which results in the product being refused and if its a Dept check they can loose part of the farm payment.
Crops will be tested for MRL's on the shop floor too - if found to exceed an MRL the product is withdrawn from the shelves.
Without chemicals we wouldn't be able to have such an array of crops to feed the world.