Stronger ties with MC farmers urged

Editor:

If we’ve learned anything this past week watching America’s economic foundations unravel, it’s that economic viability is essential to our survival and well-being as individuals and collectively.

Kristin Farry’s letter in last week’s Eagle hit the target squarely.  Not only our economic success and open space conservation, but also our safety, depends increasingly upon forging local relations amidst the distance and lack of quality control pervading globalization – and our food supplies!

By strengthening consumer-farmer relationships, we’re able to know who produces our food and how it is produced. Is it naturally-grown? Are minimal, or no, pesticides/insecticides applied?  (Remember, DDT might be banned in this country, but not in other nations of the world.)

Brad Jarvis’ efforts to reintroduce and foster a strong farmers market are to be applauded. This is one aspect of what I’d like to see as planned economic development for Madison County – “development” that does not change the landscape but expands the “Buy Local” concept – in farming, forestry, recreation, the arts, etc. It’s all about strengthening what we already have, and doing it in a rational and well-advertised manner.

Farmers shouldn’t have to produce value-added products; I sincerely hope many do so.  Not only do I buy as much of my food locally as possible; I also want to buy my fibers locally, my jams, my pies, and many other “mostly finished” products.

Ms. Farry noted that 60 years ago, families spent 50 percent of their income on food.  No surprise there.  A pound of raspberries sold wholesale for 17 cents a pound in 1967; in 2006, the price was 37 cents a pound. My brand new car (1967) cost $650. I don’t think I can find one for $1,300 this year!

Madison has the elements of a vibrant economy where farmers, foresters and other extremely talented people can enjoy a decent income and consumers can get amazing quality for their dollar. A little coordination and publicly available information of who has what and where (a year-round farmers market, including producers of other products, would be a real dream) would aid immeasurably.

Kim Smith
Brightwood