The price for good health

Three-year-old Simply Mmm in Anna Nagar did receive the kind of footfall it should get in a residential locality, but not enough business for the promoter to sustain the organic store.

Lack of awareness and above-average pricing recently forced G. Ramesh to shut shop. “I had a good number of requests from people, but the price would put customers off. There was no off-take,” says the proprietor who now feels that his business plan was “ahead of the times”. “Probably five years from now, organic stores will have better response.”

Agreed, organic foods are a whole lot healthy and expensive, but that’s the price you pay for health. His piece of advice to those in the business: have a Plan B. Do not rely on the organic food business for your bread and butter.

24 Letter Mantra, a Hyderabad-based organic store, had to shut down its branch at R.A. Puram over a “franchise issue”. According to Ramesh Rangamani, owner of N Stores in Mylapore, around nine to 10 organic stores in the city have shut down within its first year of operation. “That was the scenario a year ago,” he says.

As for N Stores, which is only nine months into the business, Rangamani says, “If I am able to pay my electricity bills and staff salary, it is enough. I am not looking at an investment, at least now.”

A similar view is shared by P.B. Murali, a full-time farmer who runs his weekend bazaar from his garage in Mylapore. “I have been on a cash loss for the last two years. It is only patience that keeps me going,” says Murali, who directly or indirectly helps 50 other farmers with his business.

Others in the organic business also agree that the venture “does not promise any sustainable margin”.

The challenge is to ensure there is a continuous supply of products. Until then, what clever store owners are doing is diversifying their range – be it by having an organic juice counter or selling wellness products, to name some.

Where can I buy organic vegetables?

Restore

Address: No 27/10, 2nd

Main Road, Kasturba Nagar, Adyar

Check these out: Fresh vegetables, wheat flour, rice (red, ponni, brown) Contact: 98844 09566 / website: www.restore.org. Their bazaar with organic vegetables is open on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays

EcoNut

Address: Shop No 2, First Floor, above SBI, next to ICICI Bank, 2nd Avenue, Besant Nagar Check these out: Oil-free snacks, peanut date candy, fruits and vegetables, organic milk Contact: 2491 9592. Drop in on Fridays, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., to shop for fresh vegetables and fruits

Enfield Agrobase

Address: 3, First Cross Street, Kasturbha Nagar, Adyar Check these out: Raw rice (polished and unpolished), boiled rice (polished and unpolished), jaggery (cube and brick form), jaggery powder Contact: 24424766/ 2442 5664/ website: www.enfieldagro.com

N Stores

Address: YMIA Building, Royapettah High Road, Mylapore. Check these out: Organic

juices. Contact: 3918 0135

Organic Farmers Association

Address: Near Hotel Penunsula, 51, Gopathy Narayana Road, T. Nagar Check these out: Around

15 types of organically grown vegetables are sold here at the Sunday market (9 a.m. to noon only) Contact: 94441 46807

Sunday Shandy

Address: 77, New No 177, Luz Church Road. Check these out: 6 – 7 varieties of fruits, organic milk. Contact: Murali at 93806

91203/email pbm50@redifmail by Fridays and place your orders. Every Saturday the organic vegetable bazaar opens from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Ahimsaa Research Foundation

Address: 43 C. P. Ramaswamy Road, 3rd Floor, Flat No. 12 (Above Mehta Jewellery), R.A. Puram Contact: 2466 2667

eFarm

Address: Walkers Path, adjoining Thiruvanmiyur Beach Shop organic vegetables and fruits on Saturdays and Sundays (6.30 to 9.30 a.m. / 5 to 8 p.m.) at the weekend bazaar on Valmiki Nagar Beach.