When COVID hit it became glaringly obvious the food system was broken. We knew to some degree it wasn’t working, but it took the gears screeching to a stop in our economy. Overnight, milk was being dumped, produce was being left to rot, animals being killed because there wasn’t room to keep them. It wasn’t set up to support us in times of crisis. Food was being wasted while the number of people who became food insecure increased.
What happened?
Simply, our food system has become so global we have neglected that our farmers here locally, in our backyards, are working tirelessly to compete for your dollars in a market that is controlled by corporations who can sell an alternative but similar product at a fraction of the cost. Without a local market and an option to be competitive, many farmers are forced to sell out of state. But it is also more complicated than that.
Did you know farmland is being bought and developed into subdivisions in our community?
Did you know the majority of local produce in grocery stores is at a minimum 150 miles away?
Did you know that most cattle grown here are shipped out of state?
Did you know food distributors that sell to restaurants and institutions buy very little local produce or meat?
Our farmers would love nothing more than to feed us. But there must be demand and a lot more community and local government support to make this happen. Farmer’s markets are great but they are just one piece of a much bigger puzzle. Thankfully, this work is starting to take place.
October 3rd we hosted a Black farm tour and invited community leaders to learn more about what these incredible farms are doing and to better understand how we can support them. The love, passion, and dedication these farmers have is humbling. These farmers are unequaled stewards of this precious land we have and it is truly moving every time we witness it. It’s a reminder of our connectedness to everything and everyone. A big heartfelt and humble thank you to Fisher Farms, Nix Farm, and Butler Farm.
We have more farms to keep visiting and tons of work to still do. Alachua County is a very special place and we deserve to have the very best there is to offer. The work continues to make our local food system one of abundance and resilience. Our farmers are the solution and we must protect them.
#stillfarming #Blackfarming #buylocal #demandlocal #keepfloridagrowing
Tending to very friendly cattle at the Nix family ranch near Rochelle; Lennon Jr. & Sr. at Fisher Family Farm in Jonesville; a tractor ride through the Nix ranch.
