During The Pandemic Small Farms And Farmer’s Markets Are Booming
Some good news out of the pandemic. Small sustainable farms and farmers markets are doing well. I hope this trend continues.
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a strong push towards organic, local farm produce over the past few decades.
The organic movement actually started in the early 1900s. Since the 1970s it has increased in momentum and over the past 20 years the movement has rapidly gained in popularity as we’ve become more aware of what goes into our food and how it affects us.
Now, along the west coast of America, farmers are showing that through innovation and by working together and forming Community
Supported Agriculture (CSA) alliances, local farms can overcome and potentially even thrive amidst the crisis.
One of the issues local farms have had to face is the closure of the restaurant industry in the United States.
Chez Panisse, a restaurant in Berkeley, California, found itself in this situation. Since 1971, chef Alice Waters has based the restaurant’s cuisine exclusively on fresh produce sourced direct from local farms.
Concerned at no longer being able to support local suppliers through her restaurant, Waters set up a subscription CSA which has been providing residents with weekly food boxes made by local farms.
“I’m trying to connect our network with the people who would like to have that food in their home,” she said. “We can sort of skip the restaurant for now. We could help people do the cooking in their own kitchen.”
Long-term relationships between farmers and consumers are a key element of the plan. To achieve this, local grassroots networks and digital markets are quickly being implemented.
Community Alliance with Family Farmers are one of the organizations which has stepped in to help bridge the gap between farmers and customers. They have provided educational webinars as well as software, legislation and funding sources.
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