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Local Food Crisis
Why do Small Farmers support Canada Cheap Food Policy
I am wondering, why major of small farmers support Canada Cheap Food Policy, it seems
major of small farmers are selling their produce for the same or lower price than
imported food in large grocery chains.
I believe that this is one of the factors why
the Small Farms are failing, because of this practice, they stopping other small
farms from being profitable.
It seems that these farmers are only interested in the
sale and not in being profitable; for example, if the farmer’s Cost of Production
is $1200 to produce beef cow and the farmer sells the beef cow for $600 at Sales
Barn, the farmer is in the hole for $600.
These farmers are missing the point, the
consumers are willing to pay top dollar for good quality local beef. Also they feel
that can’t charge for their labour cost; they work for FREE. I believe this is the
only industry that people works for FREE.
I currently sell around 500 lambs per year at $3.85 per lb (live weight) in Value Added Market compared to $1.60 per lb at the Sales Barn, what is wrong this picture.
To be success in the fast grow Local Food Market, similar farmers need to work together and market their produce together so everyone can be profitable.
Acting Manager - Eastern Ontario Lamb Co-op
Reference- Profitability on Small Farm - COG