Emily Scott
Professor Kerr
EN 101-23
20 November 2011
Local Farming Advantages
Farming is tremendously affected by the economy in this day and age. According to the ERS, the net farm income forecast for 2011 is the, “Highest inflation-adjusted record since 1974,” (Vogel). With such adjustments, we need to make sure that the farms we want get the funds they need to continue their work. Farming is very useful in society because it provides the food that keeps people alive. When you pick out an apple at the farmers market or grab a pack of Twizzlers at the movies, you are supporting farming. Shoppers should consider the effects it will have on their community and their health when deciding where to buy food. Supporting our local small farms instead of big farms improves local economy, increases the health of the food, and is better for the environment.
There are many ways the local farmer gives back to the local economy. A lot of farmers donate their left over produce to charities. The Farmers Market Coalition is an organization that supports local and small farming through farmers markets. They recorded that, “In 2008, food banks near Hollywood, California receives over 15,000 pounds from farmers at the Hollywood Farmers Market,” (“Farmers”). Over the years, farming methods changed due to new technology. These changes improve the efficiency and environmental effects of farming. Most technology was created to make things easier for the workers, but some new advances eliminated the need for most employees. Most of the new technology that eliminates jobs is used by big farms around the country. Small farms usually do not have the money or the need for such equipment. Small farms create almost 1,200,000 more new jobs per 90 million acres in corn than industrial corn farms (Logsdon). These new jobs will improve local economy.
Since there are more grocery stores than farmers markets, most markets are farther away from a shopper’s house and more of an inconvenience. The amount of gas spent going to the market might outweigh the advantage of the produce. Another disadvantage to farmers markets is that some believe that the farmer’s market produce is more expensive than produce found in the average grocery store produce.
When a shopper buys apples at the local farmers market, they can rest easy knowing that their money is going directly back into the local economy. More specifically, the money is going to the local farmers who provide healthy food and give the shoppers first hand tips about how to cook the produce. In addition, many researchers support the conclusion that the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont have come to about the price of farmers markets produce compared to grocery store prices. The NOFA-VT went to farmers markets and grocery stores to compare the price and found that the price of organic foods at the farmers market was noticeably lower than that at the grocery store while, “Results for conventional items were mixed,” (“NOFA”). This study disproves the popular belief that all grocery store food is cheaper. A new trend in the farming community makes shopping for local produce more convenient. Some farms have started to deliver produce straight to the shoppers’ front door to avoid the extra time and gas mileage spent driving to the farm or farmers market (Aune).
When a shopper buys apples at the local farmers market, they can rest easy knowing that their money is going directly back into the local economy. More specifically, the money is going to the local farmers who provide healthy food and give the shoppers first hand tips about how to cook the produce. In addition, many researchers support the conclusion that the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont have come to about the price of farmers markets produce compared to grocery store prices. The NOFA-VT went to farmers markets and grocery stores to compare the price and found that the price of organic foods at the farmers market was noticeably lower than that at the grocery store while, “Results for conventional items were mixed,” (“NOFA”). This study disproves the popular belief that all grocery store food is cheaper. A new trend in the farming community makes shopping for local produce more convenient. Some farms have started to deliver produce straight to the shoppers’ front door to avoid the extra time and gas mileage spent driving to the farm or farmers market (Aune).
Most food at the farmers market is fresh and healthy. Farmers markets make it easy to be healthy. Some farmers prepare dishes and baked goods that incorporate the farmer’s healthy produce ahead of time so that they can sell them at the market. This allows the local farmer to make a profit while keeping the community healthy and stress free about dinner that night. Another way that the farmers keep the shoppers happy and healthy is by making canned goods, such as apple butter, pickles, or canned peaches. These products can be sold and eaten year round, even when the food is not in season. Canned goods are especially useful in the winter months when most crops are out of season.
Some might say that there is no need to worry about the difference between locally grown foods and imported foods. All food is FDA approved so some believe that there is not a difference between grapes from the grocery store and those from the local farmers market. If the grocery store is more convenient, usually buyers go there to find items on their shopping list. Another problem that some produce shoppers have with the farmers market is that the farmers markets only sell seasonal food. The Farmer Market Coalition says that, “In 2010, about 15% of all farmers markets were open in the winter months,” (“Farmers”). In the grocery store they can afford to keep the price lower because they are shipping the products in from other places.
The average American meal travels about 1500 miles to get to the consumers mouth (“Buy Local”). This means that the average food in a meal uses preservatives to keep it from becoming rotten during the voyage. Preservatives are not good for anyone’s health. Dr. Danielle Hall has a Master of Science in psychology and a Ph.D. in psychology from Walden University. She says that even though the FDA approves the produce which has preservatives in it, “Food preservatives are associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,” stomach cancer, and esophageal cancer (Hall). Even though these negative aspects of preservatives have been presented, there has not been much of a protest or change in food and how it comes to the table. This problem is not solved because there are not many attractive solutions. One of the solutions is to stop bringing in food from across the country so that there is no need to have as many preservatives in the food. The large farms which ship their food cross country would lose business and might have to shut down. When the large farms shut down, the transportation workers, packaging workers, and farmers would lose their jobs. Even though this sounds like a bad beginning, this solution for eliminating preservatives through buying local food is a good option for shoppers. There were not as many people working in the large farms as local small farms as stated above. The people who were laid off when the large farms shut down could find a job at one of the growing local farms that would be booming with business now that there was no competition by the large farms.
Most small local farms help the environment by being organic and not producing excess waste. When small farms need to sell their goods, they will most likely drive down the street and set up a vendor at the local farmers market where shoppers can hand pick the goods that they would like. The farmer would then take this produce and put it in a bag. Large farms, on the other hand, use tons of oil and excess packaging when they are getting the goods to the grocery store. When large farms ship goods across the country or across the world, our reliance on foreign oil increases at the same time as our air pollution and carbon footprint increases (“Buy Local”). Not only do these large farms need more oil than small farmers do, but they also create more waste. When shipping fragile goods like peaches, the large farms need a lot of packaging to prevent bruising during the trip. This waste also increases our negative impact on the environment. Another environmental problem is manure. Manure is bad for surrounding encroaching residential areas and bad for the environment. Big farms have more animals per acre whereas small farms give the animals more room. Therefore, big farms cause more pollution in our community than the small farms.
However, not all local small farms are saving the environment by abstaining from wasteful practices. Some small farms believe that in such harsh environments, the crops would not be able to survive without pesticides. Pesticides are also used on farms that have a particular crop that seems to get eaten by insects more than the other crops. Other farmers are running organic farms but have not applied for government recognition. These farmers most likely cannot pay for the government fees but are still set in their beliefs that there should be less pollution in the world.
The Economic Research Service for the United States Department of Agriculture said, “Together, rural residence and intermediate farms received 65 percent of conservation payments, a combined $1.6 billion in 2009,” (Vogel). This means that a lot of small farmers in America are willing to go green. These small farms usually have a harder time getting the profit needed to pay off their costs of production. Most small farms have a better chance of making profit when getting government aide and not using pesticides than when using pesticides and hoping for a good year. Other farms are green from the start and do not need the extra incentive. Not many large farms are environmentally aware. Rural residence farms only earn about twenty dollars per acre. Commercial farms earn an average of one hundred and four dollars per acre but receive only 35% of the governments’ conservation payments (Vogel). Large farms have more profits but do not use this money to give back to the environment.
Big farms increase efficiency while lowering the awareness of farming in the community because of the small number of people employed by large farmers. The farming traditions and culture disappear with big farms because the farms are less prevalent in everyday life. Sustainable Table, a website that encourages healthy food choices, says, “…Alternative to the problems associated with factory farming… sustainable farmers have a strong connection to their communities… demonstrated commitment to preserving the surrounding land,” (“Buy Local”). There are about two million farms in America right now (“Demographics”). With this many farms to choose from, you have to be intelligent in which will you support.
Works Cited
Aune, Sean P. "50+ Places to Buy Groceries Online." Mashable. November 29, 2011. http://mashable.com/2008/06/05/online-grocery-shopping/.
"Buy Local." Sustainable Table. November 15, 2011. http://www.sustainabletable.org/getinvolved/materials/BuyLocal.pdf.
"Demographics." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. December 1, 2011. http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/ag101/demographics.html.
Vogel, Steven. “Farm Income and Costs: Farms Receiving Government Payments.” United States Department of Agriculture. November 15, 2011.
"Farmers Market Q & A." Farmers Market Coalition. November 20, 2011. http://farmersmarketcoalition.org/joinus/faq.
Hall, Danielle. "The Disadvantages of Food Preservatives." Live Strong. November 29, 2011. http://www.livestrong.com/article/319627-the-disadvantages-of-food-preservatives/.
Logsdon, Gene. "Small Farms Create More Jobs." The Contrary Farmer. November 23, 2011. http://thecontraryfarmer.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/small-farms-create-more-jobs/.
"NOFA-VT Pricing Study." Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont. November 22, 2011. http://nofavt.org/pricestudy.
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