Has the Local Food Movement Killed Local Food Farmers?
One of the most frustrating revelations I had as a small farmer selling local food was realizing that many of my best customers were also, very often, my worst enemies.
There is this strange dissonance when you are selling local food that occurs between the farmer and their customers. Particularly when you live in a region pervasive with a strong ‘local foods and sustainable environment’ culture.
You see, most small farmers in the U.S. got a foothold because of a committed group of ‘local food’ buyers who became almost religious in their zeal to buy local food from local farmers using sustainable (preferably organic) methods. “Support Your Local Farm!” was the mantra that started in the mid-1990s and pushed the tidal wave of support for organically-grown, Earth-friendly food we are still seeing today.
Small farmers grow food. Healthy, tasty food. You know, that thing that every single living being on Planet Earth needs EVERY DAY (in fact multiple times a day, ideally) to function.
Don’t get me wrong, these customers were wonderful folks who really ‘walk the talk’ when it came to supporting small, local farms. But the problem is, they were so committed they…
