Thank you so much for these insights. So important and in need of reform. And of course, as you note, energy and fuel prices are embedded throughout these "food systems." I am curious, and expect there is analysis of this, ie what % of food cost is energy cost, from the growing to the processing and to the typical long distance transportation of commodity food products along the circuitous route from the farm to the table?
Another piece of this problem... Kids do not even know where their food comes from. If you tell them that the hamburger they just ate came from a cow, they will argue and accuse you of lying. Some don't know what a chicken is. I won't go on.
I will never look at a pint of blueberries the same again. But seriously, the problem is the lack of anti-trust enforcement. Every company believes in competition and capitalism until they can become large enough to become a monopoly (and not the good game type of Monopoly). As you pointed out, a few large companies now call all the shots and can set prices and policies to maximize their profits. In theory government can act as a counter balance to maintain a level playing field. In reality large companies can use their wealth to buy politicians and the very government agencies that are designed to protect the public and prevent monopolies from forming in the first place. This will continue until we get big money out of politics. In the meanwhile I will cut out the middle man and go straight to the u-pick blueberry field. Unfortunately I can't do that for the rest of my grocery shopping (u-pick Cheerios?).
Your vegetarian friend in Vermont here (back home from the Hudson Valley)..
I struggle to even read articles about meat, however, I appreciate the research and explanation of the farm to table process. I miss the local flock of sheep who disappeared in my absence.🥺🐑🐏🐑
I have a friend who is a photographer of old barns in Michigan, she finds the most beautiful buildings, but they seem to be inactive farm landmarks for the most part. Hundreds of them. 🐄🐖🐐
Thank you so much for these insights. So important and in need of reform. And of course, as you note, energy and fuel prices are embedded throughout these "food systems." I am curious, and expect there is analysis of this, ie what % of food cost is energy cost, from the growing to the processing and to the typical long distance transportation of commodity food products along the circuitous route from the farm to the table?
Don’t know exact numbers but growing every day. The longer the supply chain, the more Cargill makes btw…misaligned incentives…never a good thing.
Another piece of this problem... Kids do not even know where their food comes from. If you tell them that the hamburger they just ate came from a cow, they will argue and accuse you of lying. Some don't know what a chicken is. I won't go on.
Agree and I see this with folks who stay and visit at our farm all the time…
I will never look at a pint of blueberries the same again. But seriously, the problem is the lack of anti-trust enforcement. Every company believes in competition and capitalism until they can become large enough to become a monopoly (and not the good game type of Monopoly). As you pointed out, a few large companies now call all the shots and can set prices and policies to maximize their profits. In theory government can act as a counter balance to maintain a level playing field. In reality large companies can use their wealth to buy politicians and the very government agencies that are designed to protect the public and prevent monopolies from forming in the first place. This will continue until we get big money out of politics. In the meanwhile I will cut out the middle man and go straight to the u-pick blueberry field. Unfortunately I can't do that for the rest of my grocery shopping (u-pick Cheerios?).
Well said
Your vegetarian friend in Vermont here (back home from the Hudson Valley)..
I struggle to even read articles about meat, however, I appreciate the research and explanation of the farm to table process. I miss the local flock of sheep who disappeared in my absence.🥺🐑🐏🐑
I have a friend who is a photographer of old barns in Michigan, she finds the most beautiful buildings, but they seem to be inactive farm landmarks for the most part. Hundreds of them. 🐄🐖🐐