Joy
I wanted to provide further clarification on pesticide residue and feeds. The FDA has set residue tolerances on some pesticides in feed & feed ingredients. If that tolerance is exceeded, the feed is considered adulterated. Other pesticides do not have an FDA residue tolerance, so any amount would be considered an adulteration. (We are licensed by the FDA as a medicated feed facility). If a consumer does not accet FDA's tolerances, they would probably want to go organic, BUT, even a percentage of organic foods show up with pesticide residues.
And isnt that just another problem with pesticides? They do not stay where they are put. And I'm sorry, but trace residue on organic foods does not serve as an excuse to dismiss concerns about pesticides in general or the higher levels present on non organic foods.
Natural, to me, means unadulterated: non gmo (!!!), not poisoned with fungicides, pesticides, and/or grown in depleted soil with tons of manufactured fertilizers. What was the source for your claim of what most people believe "natural" means? Sadly, the verbage has to regulated now since it was abused, which is in no way the fault of your particular company, as far as I know. And I assume the only one of your feeds that is free of gmo products is the organic one?
Editorial is a nice way to get info out, but the way you wrote was a bit dismissive of the concerns people have. I found myself mildly irritated and looks like others were, also. I do not own chickens so they can eat the exact same thing they would be getting in factory farms: I have them because I want eggs from a chicken that does NOT eat that food. I have resigned myself to trying to grow my own blend of feed so I can avoid corn and soy.
I do have a bit of advice: the best way to get a customer to change the product they use is to provide a sample of your product. It is the best form of advertising that exists, IMO. I often bypass products because I do not want to spend money on an unknown that ends up in the trash. Offer a one or two pound sample size for a reasonable price. Take the added expense from the advertising budget. Pet food companies, and retail stores have all found this practice worth the expense. Next time you go shopping, pay attention to the sample food booths: publix, sams, bjs, whole foods,
petco,
petsmart, etc....
Also, even if I can afford a high quality brand not offered locally, the shipping costs put it out of my budget. Offer shipping cost deals for groups who get together to make a bulk purchase (co-op) and help people find a group to join. Create a map that shows three things: your existing commercial outlets, existing co-op groups, and proposed co-op groups. Use different icons to differentiate. The online form you use for co-ops proposals should include their contact info for you (not the public), as well as monthly feed needs, and which of your lines of feed are desired.
