RICHARD Browning doesn’t want to turn his back on organic farming.

As far as he is concerned, it is the right thing to do.

“It’s satisfying and fulfilling,” he said, “but if the credit crunch bites harder and the sums do not add up, then I may have to consider returning to conventional farming.”

He won’t make that decision lightly. Mr Browning has long been opposed to chemical-based, intensive agriculture, choosing instead the local/organic/sustainable road.

Nothing, though, escapes a recession. The recession is here and now. Organic credentials? As it costs to be organic, many will waver.

“The problems began last summer,” explained Mr Browning. “Sales at our organic farm shop were down. They were being affected by people tightening their belts.

“So, last September, I sold our shop – and, yes, that was a direct result of what soon became known as the credit crunch.”

Mr Browning and his wife, Lucy, own Tey Brook Farm in the village of Great Tey, just outside Colchester. They have 400 acres and are growing and harvesting potatoes, onions, swede and cabbages.

“We went organic in 2000 – and our farm is still organic. Environmentally, it is worth going organic and always will be,” he pointed out.

“However, sales of organic produce are dropping off, which is why we are cutting back on potatoes and onions.”

Mr Browning sells his produce wholesale. It is more economical than running a shop, but he wishes it didn’t have to be this way.

“I suppose sales of organic produce peaked about 12 months ago,” he said.

“The organic message was getting through, and more and more people were choosing organic at supermarkets, farm shops and farm markets.

“But non-organic fresh produce is cheaper than organic, so, in times like these, the pursestrings are a factor. When it comes to shopping, people will ‘down-market’ – and they will with food shopping, too.

“Someone who buys everything organic may begin to buy some non-organic at Waitrose and those who shop at Waitrose may go to Tesco, and so on.”

This doesn’t mean they don’t care any more – it simply means the mortgage is on the line.

“We have to think like that, too – this is why we are getting rid of our pigs.”

The ham and bacon from Tey Brook Farm’s pigs used to be sold at Mr Browning’s and other farm shops. Now the meat goes to local restaurants.

“We are not selling enough (meat), so we have got rid of our breeding stock,” he said.

“We have a few fattening pigs left – once they go, that’s it.”

For the time being, at least. Once the green shoots really do start to push into the economy – even the most pessimistic analyst can’t argue it won’t happen – the pigs may return to Tey Brook Farm.

“I can’t see much sign of a recovery (in the economy) at the moment,” he added. “But I hope Tey Brook Farm will still be organic at the end of the recession.”

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Soil Association – a leading organic charity – stressed there was “no simple answer” to the problems the recession was throwing at organic farmers, organic retailers and their customers.

“We are getting a very mixed picture,” she said.

“Some organic growers are having a hard time, others – especially larger companies selling boxed organic produce – are making a profit.

“It all depends on where you live in the UK – the South-West hasn’t been hit as hard as other places – and customer loyalty.”

It also depends on that mortgage.

“No, being organic in this recession does not just depend on whether or not you can afford to be organic,” she insisted. “There are various ways of sourcing organic food other than in supermarkets – cheaper ways. Customers can sign up to companies running organic box schemes or buy direct from the farm shop, farmers’ market of wholesaler.”

That all depends on farmers not turning their backs on organic methods.