1. http://eddiemill.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/2008_newoof-farms.doc
2. http://nesfp.nutrition.tufts.edu/downloads/guides/employmentdirectory.pdf
-EM (More)
Farming is emerging as an industry away from the commodity sector; from a competitive crop to a monopolistic competitive sale based on quality, location, and variety. Sold from a farmers market, it's clear food with a story is worth more, your face being there with the product adds value to the fruit or vegetables you're selling. Freshness is worth more; it's harder to find and carries with it a certain exclusivity, "just for you." The time and value spent on this type of farming adds directly to the quality and health and taste which you know. Local is also worth more economically; the dollars spent on food this way are spent and multiply within the existing local economy.
If we change mindsets as an American people, Farming more in local food, it will improve relations internationally. We take the time from driven office-style growth to develop skills, education, and read more. Let conventionally grown commodities in Florida and California or Illinois who provide the bulk of it, the corn market already saturated with excess, not represent us. Local is about sufficiency, a concept that would serve well in international communities to be hearing from Americans. Because it has become clear to me over this last year that growth Economically will not serve everyone equally, nor are they able to. Factory growth, and factory foods, must lead to sustainable growth.
Now recruiting. Jobs, news, and opportunities for change within the field. The back field.
Previous posts on farming, food, agriculture, local ag, sustainable growth, social change in farming:
http://eddiemill.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/tell-me-about-your-home/
Series: http://eddiemill.wordpress.com/2010/01/15/local-in-boston-part-1/
Series: http://eddiemill.typepad.com/
Profile: http://younoodle.com/startups/oberlin_college_sustainability_project (now hiring!)
For useful links, organizations around Boston, and books on the art of the land, I recommend:
The Food Project
Wendell Berry
Michael Pollan
Recent Comments