– In the last six months, we have noticed a decrease in sales, says Torstein Kollevåg at Sølvane gard in Kandal in Nordfjord. Every other week they travel around and meet customers who have ordered their goods via the Reko ring. A Reko-ring is a sales channel where buyers order goods directly from the manufacturer via local Facebook groups, and with fixed delivery locations. During the pandemic, this was a hot market, but now farmers and local producers are out in the cold waiting for the next customer. In one year, turnover has at worst been halved. – After the pandemic, there has been a general decline, so it is a bit heavier now, says egg producer Bjørn Petter Rygg from Hyen in Nordfjord. Change the algorithms All buying and selling goes through Facebook. Changes in social media get much of the blame for the decline. – We saw a marked change when they changed their algorithms some time ago, says Irene Dalland, who works with the Rekoringane for Norwegian farmers and smallholder associations. Before the activity in Reko-ringane appears directly in your news feed. This is no longer the case. Now you have to seek out the groups on your own initiative. Dalland believes that this has had a negative effect. – It has undoubtedly had an impact on people, because they forget that we exist. Also in Førde in Sunnfjord, local producers sell goods via the REKO ring. Torun Lucassen is very satisfied with the goods he gets there. But the explanation is not just about bad algorithms. During the pandemic, people simply had a better time. – Shopping through Reko requires a little from the customer. You must get an overview of what is available, think about how much you have ordered and turn up. People are busier now, says Dalland. With the rise in prices elsewhere in society, people also have less to worry about. We buy less food It is not just local food that we buy less of. The sale of food and beverages has fallen as a result of rising prices and higher interest rates. – Purchasing power has been weakened by high inflation and rising interest rates, so it is necessary for many to be more frugal in 2023, says chief economist at Sparebanken Møre, Inge Furre. Will look at other solutions Now the producers will look at other solutions to reach customers. – It is not certain that it will be on Facebook, and it is not certain that it will be on weekdays. Maybe we have to look at a Saturday offer, says Kollevåg at Sølvane gard. But the most loyal customers still show up when the farmers show up with their trunks full of locally produced goods. – You don’t get such good yoghurt at Coop Extra, so there’s no point in going there, smiles Torun Lucassen. Eivind Kandal and Torstein Kollevåg at Sølvane gard want to make themselves more visible to customers. Photo: Arne Stubhaug / news
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