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Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@gilanet.com>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Rural Survival
  • Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2003 09:56:56 -0700


http://www.foodroutes.org/whycare3.jsp
Family farms are an American tradition in danger of fading away.

Family farms are an important part of the American tradition of
self-sufficiency, forming the bedrock for communities across the U.S.

Since 1935, the U.S. has lost 4.7 million farms.1 Fewer than one million
Americans now claim farming as a primary occupation.2

Farmers in 2002 earned their lowest real net cash income since 1940.3
Meanwhile corporate agribusiness profits have nearly doubled (increased 98%)
since 1990.4

Large corporations increasingly dominate U.S. food production. Four large
firms control over 80% of beef slaughter, 59% of pork packing, and 50% of
broiler chicken production.5
Family farmers are the heart of Americar's rural communities.

Local family farmers spend their money with local merchants. The money stays
in town where it benefits everyone and builds a stronger local economy.
Independent, family-owned farms supply more local jobs and contribute to the
local economy at higher rates than do large, corporate-owned farms.

Eating locally grown, healthy food strengthens your family and community.

Local farmers who sell direct to consumers receive a larger share of the
profit for their food.




  • [Livingontheland] Rural Survival, Tradingpost, 12/19/2003

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