ONE person who is looking forward enthusiastically to the opening of a farmers' market in Tavistock is Peter Brixey.
He is a 46-year-old farmer from Bere Alston, whose business has recently been certified as wholly organic — he intends to sell at Tavistock farmers' market as soon as it gets going.
When the trial farmers' market was held on Bedford Square in July, Peter sold out his load of vegetables by mid-day and had to go back for a second load - most of which also sold.
He grew up on a farm in Worcestershire and moved to Devon in 1976, at the age of 22. He began conventional farming in 1989 and decided to convert to organic methods in 1998.
'I wanted to go organic because I didn't like using sprays and fertilisers. I had always used very little anyway, so I took the challenge,' he said.
He had to change something, because with the sharp fall in farm produce prices he was in danger of going bankrupt, as many small farmers have done. Conversion to organic offered an escape route.
The Ministry of Agriculture gave him a half-day's free advice, deciding that was all he needed.
He used Organic Farmers and Growers, one of the five official certifying bodies, to inspect his farm and attest that he was meeting the standards of UKROFS (the UK Register of Organic Food Standards). The latest inspection took place in December and his farm was given a clean bill of health.
He has 38 hectares, all organic since he completed his two-year transition last August. He produces a wide range of vegetables and looks after 70 ewes and 14 small beef cows.
In August he started up a vegetable box scheme, a system that has been working well for other organic producers. It is proving successful for him too. He began with 27 customers and is now up to 50.
Peter's round takes in the Bere Peninsula, Walkhampton, Tavistock and Roborough. He makes the deliveries on Thursday evenings. Customers are guaranteed eight different vegetables. A small box costs £5, medium-sized £8.50 and large £12.
'I could manage up to 100 boxes myself, above that I could have a problem,' he said.
Thursdays are quite tough, as he has to pick in the morning, box in the afternoon, with some help from a part-timer, and deliver in the evening.
At the same time he has been increasing his sales through farmers' markets — Totnes on the last Saturday of the month and Kingsbridge on the first Saturday.
'I very rarely bring anything back, it almost all sells,' he said. He sees Tavistock as a big opportunity and has joined the working party which is trying to get it established. He hopes it will be on either the second or third Saturday of the month, to avoid a clash with Totnes or Kingsbridge.
Going to the markets makes another long day. He leaves at 6am, gets back at 3pm, then has to see to the sheep and cows.
The third part of his business is wholesaling. He picks on Mondays for these customers and delivers on Tuesdays. Customers include Kilworthy Kapers and Tamar Organics in Tavistock.
Lastly, there are the animals. Looking after them takes up a couple of hours morning and evening each day.
So is life better since he went organic?
'Oh yes, it is harder work, because you have to look after the land better, it is like going back to olden days.'
He works 10-12 hours a day, seven days a week, every week, can't remember exactly when he last had a holiday, and thinks he may have had a couple of days off last year.
But it is more satisfying. Also, it has turned a failing business into a succeeding one. 'Selling direct you get a better return because you are cutting out the middleman.'
Growing demand for organic produce has come at the right time for him.
'I am on the up, like most of those who have gone organic. My problem now is to keep up with demand.'
He thought that many other farmers could go organic in order to stay in business. 'Unfortunately, the government has underestimated the number of people who want to convert and has not made enough money available.'
He believed that the proportion of organic food consumed would continue to grow as prices came down, with more producers converting.
'I would love to see prices come down so that everyone could afford to buy organic, but the supermarkets will try to keep prices high. People need to buy more from farmers' markets.'