Fewer tomatoes means prices are going up. But for one local organic grocery store, the Syracuse Real Food Co-Op, business is still rocking – even though tomatoes cost three dollars more today than they did a year ago. Business is surviving because customers come here for what they want.
“A lot of food is better,” said Brian Looper, who was stopping for coffee at the Co-Op Wednesday morning. “Definitely the coffee is better here than what you get somewhere else.”
Even though store management says, for the most, business is doing okay, customers have changed their shopping habits.
“We've seen frozen sales go down,” Syracuse Real Food Co-Op Information Manager Ryan Gorham said, “Some produce, in bulk especially, (has) gone up. It seems like a lot more people are staying home and cooking more meals at home.”
Sales have been driving customers to make purchases. Purchases that would be cheaper at a non-organic, conventional grocery store.
“Whatever's on sale kind of seems to be the most common for the month,” said cashier Matt Siebert.
Sales can only do so much and can do little to offset higher prices caused by Late Blighte. Gorham said tomatoes cost $1.99 per pound a year ago but are now 4.99 per pound.
“The Late Blight affected tomatoes and potatoes the most and many, many farmers lost their entire tomato crops this year which is thousands of dollars in loss,” Gorham said.
The higher price doesn’t seem to stop some shoppers from buying organic.
“I think That's worth it to me because I think you're getting higher quality produce,” said vegan Matt Gasda.
Other shoppers are not so sure.
“As the price increases we might not be able to get organic every single time but I don't think it will stop us from buying organic,” Kelly Hixon said.
Despite the high prices and the prospect of loosing customers, the management remains optimistic.
“They're gonna sell either way. They might not sell as fast,” Gorham said.
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