As local farmers face financial burdens getting their products to traditional community markets and must search for innovative ways to turn their farms into profitable enterprises, national problems with agriculture hit individuals in unexpected ways.
Agribusiness in the United States affects every edible product, from corn-derived soda sweeteners to farmers’ market apples and corn, and is affected by everything from climate changes to fuel prices and a growing demand for ethanol. Even people around Boston unfortunately find they are challenged to get fresh produce because the benefits of markets are not great enough to bring farmers into cities.
In Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick has made smart strides toward improving chances for farmers, by awarding millions to innovative agriculture projects and advertising farmers’ markets and a tomato festival. Still, these moves are not enough, and farmers must reinvent their businesses, branching away from the products they grow to wineries and other tourist-attracting venues. Produce farmers should be able to pursue the livelihood they have in the past, without undue concern for crop failure, risk taking or overseas competition. Just as the federal government assists farmers of products not universally recognized as food — cotton and corn for ethanol, for instance — it should move toward ensuring fruit, vegetable and dairy farmers have a fighting chance in the market.
As the national farm bill, which is reconsidered by Congress every five years, winds its way through the House and Senate, lawmakers should make significant changes to the legislation that now favors big business over local growers and makes it difficult for small farmers pushing healthy food to compete in the marketplace. In the 2007 fiscal year, the government gave $14.8 billion in subsidies to farmers — $7.4 billion to corn, cotton, soybean, wheat and rice producers, according to an Oct. 4 New York Times report.
Massachusetts growers and other small farmers deserve funding that allows them to meet a public demand. Until then, people seeking farm-fresh produce will need to seek out rural roadside stands.
