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ORIGINAL: Marini

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic
Well, I think the best way to support small organic farms is to buy what they produce, and not regulate and tax the farmers out of existence. I don't remember Paul Harvey talking about the farmer spending two hours in the lab, and three more at the computer, submitting test results.
I've seen the documentary previously.

Now you have given me an idea.
I think the small farmers should pay the lowest tax rates possible.

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

That's true, TJ. A rock star decides to start a vinyard, a corporate raider retires to grow avacados, an internet billionaire decides to buy a ranch, and raise high quality livestock.

Such an endeavor can come with a lot of risk, and perhaps it is only the truly wealthy who can step forward, and lead the way.

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Unfortunately, economies of scale and the relative income govern the laws of supply and demand.
I agree and it's a damn shame.

Lower average income = less likely to buy expensive goods - including local farm produce.
That is often the case.
I am lucky to live near an area that has several "one day tent set up" farmers markets, in which local farmers can sell their produce.
One is in a local park, the other is on a streetcorner in downtown Alexandria, and the other is the parking lot of an apartment complex!
And the people COME and support them!
When I saw the trucks/stands/1 day farmers market in the parking lot of an apartment complex close to me set up one Sunday, I thought this is how things should be. [;)] The farmers are bringing the produce almost to their front door!"!

In times of recession, people cannot afford the luxury of local farmers markets and organic fruits & veggies.

I would love to buy local farm stuff - I just can't afford to.
What we buy these days is the cheapest we can afford and sometimes that is sketchy.
Organic or local farm stuff??? Just out of the question. Unaffordable.
I need to feed the family for a week until next payday - not just 2 days and starve the rest of the week to eat "healthy" and local. As much as I'd like to, it's just not economically or financially viable to do so.

Years ago, when I was on a fairly decent wage and the food prices were reasonable, I would always support our local farmers and grocers.
I would even drive down to the local (~ish - 50 miles away) docks and buy fresh fish and seafood from the smaller fishing boats.

These days, I can't afford to do that.
Just the cost of going to those same fishing docks is just about all I have to feed the family on - so I can't go there any more.
I buy the cheapest sliced bread. It's cheaper than I could make it for by a long shot.
Fish and seafood is just waay to expensive here - so I don't buy that any more.
I buy supermarket veggies at less than 30% of what it would cost in a local greengrocers store.
On the odd occasion I buy meat - it's the cheaper cuts and not a lot of it. It's just far too expensive.
I rarely buy pre-processed foods though and try to eat as healthily as I can.
We make most things from scratch. Time consuming but healthier and more tasteful.

So, like many people, being able to afford to support the local farmers just isn't an option.
Unless they can dramatically slash their prices to match mega-growers for the supermarkets, only the better-off can afford to buy stuff at local farmer prices.

Example:
Lamb prices are around £75-£80 a lamb weighing around 40KG. That's roughly £2 a kilo.
Apart from the head, most of it is saleable as meat and even the fleece is worth something.
In the supermarkets, it's around £9+ per kilo even for bone-in shoulder or leg.
If you want a better cut or boneless, it's almost double the price.
At a local farmers store, prices start at £12-£13 a kilo for the cheap cuts.
Is it actually better lamb for that price?? I don't think so.
The supermarkets buy their lambs at half that price but on a contract that says they will buy x many lambs over y years - guaranteed.

The same sort of thing applies to veggies.
One thing I will say though (and have commented before), many of our supermarkets in the UK do buy local produce and sell locally at better prices than a lot of stuff that has travelled hundreds or thousands of miles.
And in the UK, we have no GM stuff in our food products. That has been outlawed for the moment.

Is there anyway a large group of local citizens can arrange to have the local farmers come into the city/area you live one day a week?
It's just a matter of getting a permit from the city.
Our local farmers markets park their trucks, and set up stands or literally sell right off their trucks, in several locations 1 day a week.
No storefront, no frills and nothing fancy!One is in a public park, and another one is in a parking lot at an apartment complex.
They sell straight off their trucks for reasonable prices, everyone wins.
If the locals/and farmers want it, the people can make it happen.
All you need is permission from your local municipality, then a place to park their trucks, and customers to buy the produce.