by Kristina Bostick
Wildfires, Drought, whatever inane summer blockbusters coming soon to our theaters- the news from California has not been good. But in all seriousness, some fear that the droughts in the state that grows most of our country's food are more of a "new normal" than just a bad spring.
While farmers are the first to feel the pain of prolonged adverse conditions, the impacts are now moving through the food system to retailers and consumers. As this news report from California notes, "A head of lettuce could go up as much as 62 cents, an avocado may increase by 35 cents and a pound of tomatoes appears to be headed for a 45-cent hike, according to a study that examined the effects of California's drought on food prices."
California is importing the items that used to grow well there. Its like Iowa importing corn.
Local food proponents have often said that a day would come where the costs and logistics of trucking and flying food to consumers from far away would become at best cost prohibitive or at worst- impossible. The problem is, it is going to look like a few bad seasons of drought and other problems before we realize we have reached that point.
Meanwhile, the energy and resources spent to strengthen local food systems will pay dividends for generations in a way that paying more and more for the same truck and jet fuel will not.
In Montgomery County, forward thinking leaders set aside land close to growing population centers specifically for agriculture. The Ag Reserve is a marvel- the current long time farm families are doing their bit to feed the region as they have for generations. But there is space and demand and literally hunger (most small farmers in the Reserve partner with local food banks) for more locally grown food. The question of whether we need to produce more farmers and food close by is settled- now we work on the "how".Here's How MCA is working to bolster local food production:
Land Link- Linking Farmers and Landowners for long term leases to expand existing farms and start new ones.
New Farm Pilot- Partnering with the County, we are taking new farmers and giving them the training, and mentoring to get started and then planting them right here in the Ag Reserve.
Producers Listserve and Producers Summits- We are building a stronger community among local farmers.
Two ways you can help:
California is importing the items that used to grow well there. Its like Iowa importing corn.
Local food proponents have often said that a day would come where the costs and logistics of trucking and flying food to consumers from far away would become at best cost prohibitive or at worst- impossible. The problem is, it is going to look like a few bad seasons of drought and other problems before we realize we have reached that point.
Meanwhile, the energy and resources spent to strengthen local food systems will pay dividends for generations in a way that paying more and more for the same truck and jet fuel will not.
In Montgomery County, forward thinking leaders set aside land close to growing population centers specifically for agriculture. The Ag Reserve is a marvel- the current long time farm families are doing their bit to feed the region as they have for generations. But there is space and demand and literally hunger (most small farmers in the Reserve partner with local food banks) for more locally grown food. The question of whether we need to produce more farmers and food close by is settled- now we work on the "how".Here's How MCA is working to bolster local food production:
Land Link- Linking Farmers and Landowners for long term leases to expand existing farms and start new ones.
New Farm Pilot- Partnering with the County, we are taking new farmers and giving them the training, and mentoring to get started and then planting them right here in the Ag Reserve.
Producers Listserve and Producers Summits- We are building a stronger community among local farmers.
Two ways you can help:
- Support your Local Farmer- frequent markets or go the next step and join a CSA.
- Become a Member of MCA- Annual membership is only $25 to support our work to grow farms and food on the edge of our growing cities.
