07/03/2012 / GREECE
The "Potato Revolution": Greeks start buying potatoes straight from farmers
As incomes fall and retail prices rise, Greeks have found an ingenious way to pay three times less than they usually would for potatoes.
The craze, which some are already starting to call the “Potato Revolution,” began in the northern town of Katerini two weeks ago. A group of local activists set up a website to allow people to order potatoes directly from local farmers, and then pick them up in a parking lot on the weekends. Their project was an instant hit. In the past two weeks, they’ve already sold 100 tons of potatoes, and inspired agricultural students in Thessaloniki to launch a similar program. Dozens more cities across Greece are planning to follow suit.
Since the farmers sell the potatoes for a higher price than they would be able to sell them to distributors – but for less than what supermarkets charge customers – both the farmers and their customers win.
Every little bit helps for crisis-hit Greeks. Austerity measures have led to pensions and salaries being repeatedly slashed, as well as to a steep rise in unemployment – one in five Greeks are now jobless. On top of this, the government has raised taxes in a bid to curb its debt.
Contributors
“We thought, why not cut out the middleman?”
Elias Tsolakidis is a member of the Pieria Volunteer Action Team, a group of volunteers who launched the potato project in Katerini.
We first got the idea a month ago, when we heard about desperate farmers protesting against how little vendors were willing to pay for their potatoes. Instead of selling them to middlemen at a loss or letting them rot, they decided to just give them away to people on the street for free. So we thought, why not cut out the middleman?
Farmers here used to sell their potatoes for 0,12 cents a kilo, even though it cost them nearly twice that to produce. We set up a website for people to order potatoes and come pick them up in a parking lot, straight out of the farmers’ trucks. The farmers sell them for 0,25 cents a kilo – nearly three times less than they cost in the supermarkets! So both farmers and customers benefit.
“A funny thing happened – the local supermarkets started slashing their prices”
So far we’ve had two pick-up days: on the first, two weeks ago, the farmers sold 25 tons of potatoes to more than 500 people. On the second, last Saturday, they sold 75 tons to more than 1,100 people. I never dreamed we would have such success! All sorts of people came to buy the potatoes – some of them were poor or unemployed; some were better-off, but wanted to help support the initiative. I believe the potato sales have gained such popularity because we’re all united now – there are no real social classes any more; everyone is struggling.
A funny thing happened – as soon as people starting buying these cheap potatoes, all the local supermarkets started making potato “offers” where they slashed their prices from 0,70 cents a kilo to just 0,35 cents… But that’s still more expensive than what we’re offering.
We’ve been getting calls from people in cities all around Greece – even in the capital – who want to set up similar programs. It’s very exciting. The demand is huge. Soon, we’ll be offering more than just potatoes – we’re currently polling local citizens on the products they need the most. We’re considering flour, rice, oil, and more…”
Comments
Reply to comment | The Observers
Submitted by green stinger (not verified) on Thu, 16/05/2013 - 17:42.Heya just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren't loading properly. I'm
not sure why but I think its a linking issue.
I've tried it in two different browsers and both show the same outcome.
Using their wits like Odysseus :-)
Submitted by rebelsprite (not verified) on Thu, 29/03/2012 - 17:38.At last, a story that makes me smile. GOOD FOR THEM!
interesting
Submitted by james (not verified) on Sun, 18/03/2012 - 22:22.so, the society is no longer looking to be tasked, and have decided to live a little? Take a chance? Looks very pro-Active....hope they succeed. So, the Potato, and not the Olive....saved Greece?
~james
Greek government response....
Submitted by Travis123 (not verified) on Fri, 16/03/2012 - 07:35.I'm sure there is some Greek bureaucrat searching furiously to discover what law they're breaking. . . .
When that bureaucrat looks
Submitted by Me (not verified) on Sat, 17/03/2012 - 05:23.When that bureaucrat looks into the mirror he will find the one who perpetrated the crime.
potato revolution
Submitted by KZeconomist (not verified) on Thu, 08/03/2012 - 03:15.it is a perfect way to encourage free market and discourage monopolistic markets(store&shops....) in Greece. this strategy will support LABOR, because they took great pains to breed\grow. Greece is starting from the beginning. it is up to them to make the economic history again by getting away from middlemen\brokers.
What is happening is not
Submitted by Unregistered user on Wed, 07/03/2012 - 17:20.What is happening is not limited to potatoes. Infact groups of producers around the country are creating their own cooperations to sell directly to consumers eliminating middleman due to necessity. Among other products are :Olive oil and olives from south Greece and Crete, meat from central Greece, wheat and rice from north Greece. This may sound to you as primitive, but it may shed some light on our situation and the race to survive.
Potato nation
Submitted by Alex Stroganov (not verified) on Thu, 08/03/2012 - 09:44.It's not just survival. With the removal of middlemen and corporate supermarket chains, people can once more take charge of their own destinies. I'd urge citizens across all nations to pick up the spirit of this initiative, and start supporting your local "association". It benefits both farmer and buyer, and keeps money in the local community.
Bartering goods directly, and the tradition of farmer's markets is a long one, that was only diminished by the greed of corporate food chains.
All people have to do is say no to the coporates, and yes to local produce, and they take back the power in societies.
Great to see the greeks getting on with crushing those who dumped them in trouble in the first place, the virtual debt cabal, including banks, speculators, and greedy corporations.
Vive le Greeks!
In the US the FDA would come
Submitted by Nobody (not verified) on Fri, 30/03/2012 - 23:04.In the US the FDA would come in and destroy all the potatoes because they were inspected and could possibly be organic. Then the IRS had come in and nail them for taxes and confiscate what's left. Then I am sure that Homeland Security would come in and declare the people terrorists and haul them off under the new NDAA laws.