One at a Time
Written by Mary Ellen Burris on April 23rd, 2012.
Filed under: Mary Ellen Burris
You’ve doubtless noticed the gradual appearance of single “dosage” for various products. Those I’ve noticed are laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent , coffee, rice and mashed potatoes (!) It’s an interesting trend, driven by empty nest households, singles and a desire of folks to have more done for them.
I began to think about this when laundry detergents showed up on my office table (where new products seem to land.) First came Method with its pump dispenser (pump once for small loads, two for medium, four for large). Then came laundry Pods, by Tide (the one landing on my desk) and the merchant for laundry tells me that most of the national brands are adopting this system. The Pods are funny-feeling, soft little squishy squares…one pack for a regular load, two for large or heavily soiled loads. Dishwasher detergents such as Finish are now packaged in individual units, one per load. I’ve used these for some time now, finding them really more convenient than pouring out the powder (or liquid) into the dishwasher dispenser.
Milk is a key family item for our customers, so a number of years ago we asked long-term supplier Upstate Farms to produce and bottle Wegmans Organic Milk. At the time, the company had some of their member farms taking a risk transitioning from conventional milk production to organic. Why so risky? It takes 3 years for land that’s pesticide/herbicide free to be certified as organic land cows can roam and graze on. The cows are also raised on 100% organic feed. Organically raised animals must not be given hormones to promote growth or antibiotics for any reason and have access to pasture during seasonable climates. During this transitional period, the farmer produces organic milk but receives conventional milk prices until they are certified by one of the governing organic agencies. So it’s a big step. With all that’s involved, we feel very fortunate that some of the members of Upstate Farms Cooperative choose to take the leap. Many of these member farms have been in the family for generations, with a lot riding on the decision.
I believe that people are genuinely happier in the spring, and why not? Flowers are blooming, trees are budding, and gardening is in the air. I know that some of you reading this who love it are already thinking about what to plant in this year. I also know that a lot of people do not have a garden, but are thinking about starting one. If that’s you, it’s easier than you think to be successful. You don’t even need a lot of space to create a garden and have good yields from your plants. We recommend using our 4’X4’ cedar raised bed made in the USA to maximize your backyard garden.
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