This L.A. Weekly article entitled “Tighter enforcement snares farmers market cheaters” really got my goat.
Here’s a concept. Instead of fining the farmers for not growing the food on “their” farm, we encourage cooperative food hubs, transparency in retail sales and diversification. Anyone can pursue a cottage food license and make a jam in a home kitchen and sell it, but you can’t sell your neighbors produce? Because it’s not on your certificate? Harsh.
Let’s try to help the local food growers through education, encouragement and support. This public shaming is senseless. There has got to be a better way.
Get out there and talk to your farmers, and then, listen. Be nice. Make smart choices. Encourage local, sustainable agriculture with every food dollar you spend.
And remember to thank Soledad Goat Farms for all the great work they do and the pictures too. (all goat snaps lifted from their facebook page)
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