I was talking with my farming mentor today about a commercial egg operation that's moving into our area, just down the road from us. I am NOT happy about it, though there are a few upsides (jobs, not a condo development sprouting, taxes to the city, etc.). But we got to talking about how these CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) are not sustainable and when the SHTF, which it will either through war, peak oil, climate change, all three, or something from left field, our country is going to be totally unable to feed itself. CAFOs run smaller farms out of business - it's why the farm the egg operation is buying is going out of business. Milk prices are so low that they can't afford to dairy farm anymore - and yet Oregon is getting a SEVENTY-THOUSAND cow operation. (And don't even get me started about how the government manipulates food prices.)
So, what can you do about it? Buy LOCAL. Every dollar you spend at a local farmer's market, directly with a farmer at their farm, with your local CSA, or even at roadside stands supports a localized, resilient food system. It helps small farms, often with younger farmers (the average age of farmers in the US is something like 58, but a lot of the small market farms are run by younger folks) who will be the ones taking us into the next generation of food production. Most small farms also have much better environmental and ethical practices than those who provide your food in the grocery store.
Yes, it's more expensive. I know how elitist it sounds of me, but pay the higher prices. Real food costs are something we've been protected from since before WWII. Subsidies, price control, forcing farmers to dump produce/milk/meat, etc. have artificially gamed the system so that we don't know the real cost of food production anymore. By paying what food is really worth you support real food production and sustainable, resilient local food systems. If food is more expensive, maybe we won't be as inclined to waste it as we are. Right now we waste over 200 million tons of food. So, buy more expensive and learn to cook it in ways that stretch it - multiple meals, leftovers, etc.
This little, impassioned rant brought to you by my frustration with Big Ag and how hard it is to fight against. Remember, YOU can make a difference, help prepare your community for disaster, support young farmers, and encourage your local economy by buying local foods.
