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Just so I understand your thinking, are you suggesting that larger farms and chains are able to operate under a lower standard of quality and safety than smaller operations?
If so, what is the mechanism that makes it work that way? Are smaller operations being held to a higher standard than larger operations? With only so many federal inspectors available, don't you think it would make more sense to concentrate their efforts on the larger producers?
Most of my comment refers to the fact that the multi-nationals purchase food from countries where there may not be high standards and much oversight. But, yes, I think that some huge domestic producers can get lax, as well, and callous about profit at all costs.
The nation was rightly HORRIFIED by the video showing the California slaughterhouse employees beating and moving sick cows with bulldozers. I followed that story a bit and the two workers shown in the video were illegal immigrants from Mexico. Most don't speak English and they're not well-trained, if they're trained at all. They're also unlikely to report problems or abuses because of their illegal entry. This didn't make the news but it is a big problem in the large-scale ag. industry.
I agree that we have a severe shortage of inspectors and inspections. I posit that it's easier -- and probably more important -- for small operations to self-police. They know their workers better. One scandal or incident of tainting would devastate a small producer; the large producers are owned by large, diversified companies. If they can regularly save money by cutting corners and using cheap labor, then the fine they might receive if something goes wrong is easily absorbed by the company and a drop in the bucket.
You'll be happy to know that I heard a report the other day that backyard gardens are coming back into fashion and that seed suppliers are seeing 100% increases in sales due to the high cost of fruits and vegetables.
Additionally, with high gas prices it is likely that people are going to be looking for things to do at home and gardening is a popular choice as people tend to want to improve their surroundings when they spend more time at home.
That's excellent news!!! Growing vegetables at any level (containers, hydroponics, backyard garden) is such a satisfying endeavor! My next-door neighbors have three adorable children ages 5 and under and they are fascinated by my gardening, LOL. Just this morning, they came by and asked me if they could help water my plants. They love to come by when I'm outside puttering around the garden and I've given them plants to take home. It's such a good thing to teach children!
It would be wonderful on many levels if backyard gardens did enjoy a big comeback!
you should also add to that that urban farming and community gardens is on the upswing. I think that would be a VERY good business venture. I think cities should start designating areas in their downtown for local farmers to sell their goods. Sort of like the Pike market in Seattle, all local, all organic.
Neighborhood gardens in urban areas are SO beneficial! They instill good relationships among neighbors, pride in the neighborhood, and a common project to involve everyone!
planned communities = central planning = communism. RIP America
I'm not proposing centralized governmental planning, I'm referring to private development that creates a self-sustaining community. I actually believe this will become quite popular as the cost of energy continues to rise rapidly.
Buy 1500 acres and start your own community. Andres Duany is generally regarded as the father of new urbanism and has many published works describing communities that work and are highly desirable.
I don't see it as communism I see it as capitalism meeting a growing, yet unfulfilled demand.
Neighborhood gardens in urban areas are SO beneficial! They instill good relationships among neighbors, pride in the neighborhood, and a common project to involve everyone!
Wow, thank you for posting this, Wild Style! What a poignant story! The video is a few years old, apparently, and it was interesting to hear them warning about food shortages and high prices if oil were to hit $90/barrel!
The one lady said that the food on the average American's plate every day travels 1,500 miles. This is, indeed, a problem!
And then Team Metro comes and fines you 50,000.00 for keeping livestock, overgrowth, junk and trash, and whatever else they can dream up. Think it is silly? I have seen it happen.
I think one thing that could work is building a green house in the backyard and employing hydroponics to grow food. If I can find it, I will post this article from the New York Times about a proposal this professor from NYU has come up with. Basically what he is saying is, build 3 to 5 towers on governors island in NYC and employ hydroponics. He said that amount of towers would be enough to supply all the food for everyone in the city. Making the city more self sufficient and bringing down food cost because you don't have to transport the sutff for miles. Will they do it, I don't know. But it is a great idea. There is also another article from Chicago Sun about Mayor Daily's plans to promote urban farms in the City of Chicago.
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Yay!!!
They love to come by when I'm outside puttering around the garden and I've given them plants to take home. It's such a good thing to teach children!
