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- From: "Blue Moon Farm" <bluemoon AT iclub.org>
- To: <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: [Market-farming] Chinese garlic
- Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 12:41:32 -0500
Chinese garlic has presented problems for
U.S. and Canadian growers for some time, now. Several years ago, Canada
enacted a tariff on Chinese garlic for the months that Canadian-grown was most
likely to be available. The Chinese response? Dump tons on Canada in
the days just before the tariff becomes effective each year.
The U.S. has a 266% tariff on Chinese
garlic to protect American growers. The
Chinese response?
Tons of Chinese garlic come into Mexico,
and through the miracle of false labeling becomes Mexican garlic, which can
then, under the NAFTA aggreement, come across the Mexican-U.S. border tariff
free. How else to explain the low prices seen in the market. Any one
who has raised garlic knows you can't buy decent seed, tend it well, cure it and
clean it, and then sell it for .25 a head and stay in business, regardless of
what your economy of scale is.
Our customers willingly support our
business because they understand the importance of sustainablity in growing
methods, and a part of sustainabililty is localness, whenever possible, and a
living wage for the grower. For people who shop cost over quality, then
Sam's Club is where to get your garlic. When you find out it sucks,
remember you get what you pay for. If you subscribe to David Stern's
axiom, "Cheap food ain't good and good food ain't cheap," then seek out local
growers at your Farmer's Market, find out what they grow and why and pick out
your favorite. As the long nights of winter approach, buy a braid or two
to get you through until the 1st green garlic of spring announces that
winter has been survived again. David, as the Director of the Garlic Seed
Foundation, has mentored many of us small U.S. and Canadian local garlic
growers, and labored long and hard to get us a fair shake. He also
encourages and supports scientific research designed to learn
what characteristics distinguish varieties of garlic and what varieties do
best where. I know he would welcome your inquiries
and support. www.garlicseedfoundation.info
Leo Keene Zone 6
Blue Moon Farm
Sustainably Grown Garlic 3585 Poosey Ridge Road Richmond, KY 40475 www.bluemoongarlic.com |
- [Market-farming] Chinese garlic, Blue Moon Farm, 02/21/2005
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