Poland is particularly suited for organic, sustainable farms. Unlike the U.S. where agriculture has over time been consolidated into large factory farms, Poland's maintained small-scale farms (average of 17 acres) even if they weren't always completely organic.

Still, it's less likely that a Polish farm uses chemical pesticides and hormones on a regular basis, which is probably why it's easy for them to switch to the burgeoning niche market of Certified Organic. The number of organic farms in Poland over the past 12 years has grown from 300 in 1996 to over 13,500 today. Poland is the only ex-Soviet satellite country to resist collective agriculture under Communist rule.

One effect of Communist policy did add to their small farm society: knowing thy neighboring farmer. Though it's part of the local food movement these days to get to know your farmer, for Poland (and other similar countries) it was less trend, more survival tactic. These days, the Polish have more disposable income and can consume more expensive, local food.

In a Christian Science Monitor article, one Polish farmer, Boguslaw Klimczak says he won't apply for European Union subsidies and spends no money on marketing.

“I’d rather not complicate things by growing too big. Plus, I don’t want to take money just for the sake of taking it,” he says. “We’ve filled a niche, that’s what business is about.”

Source: Christian Science Monitor

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