Why is State of Progress in rural America now in 2007?
Right now there are two very different views of agricultural progress being supported in America. We have supermarkets that can feed and nourish thousands for affordable prices using industrial growing systems that cover our rural landscapes. We also have farmers markets and CSA’s (community supported agriculture) that are growing on small scales and bringing their food to the closest towns and cities to sell. The industrial farming models that are used to supply supermarkets create high yields and ship their products great distances to reach the stores. For the sake of regularity, the foods are picked early and carted off, decreasing nutritional value and taste. The industrial farming model damages eco-systems by using engineered seeds, chemical pesticides, herbicides and feeds, massive scales and large petroleum powered machines that create imbalances and compact the soil. Farmers markets & CSA’s are bringing food fresh from the vine at the optimal time directly from the farm while i
