Self-Sustaining Family Farms In The US

The tradition of the American family farm is at risk as there are now less than a million people in the U.S. that claim that their main profession is farming. This represents a loss of nearly five million farms since 1935. Self-sustaining family farms are the base of our rural communities. Communities benefit from local farmers as they purchase their products from local merchants that provide jobs which improve the local economy. Shopping at a farmers market is not only eco-conscious but a healthier option for consumers. Regularly sold within 24 hours of being harvested, fruits and vegetables produced locally are fresher and taste better than produce that has been shipped for a long periods of time. Studies prove that fresh produce loses nutrients rapidly. When we consume fruits and vegetables at the height of ripeness we get all the …show more content…
The refrigeration required keeping fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats from spoiling during their long trips burn up even more fuel. Shipping also creates trash with extra packaging causing pollution as well. Conventional agriculture also uses many more resources than sustainable agriculture and pollutes water, land, and air with toxic agricultural by-products. Food at the farmers market is transported shorter distances and is generally grown using methods that minimize the impact on the earth. Many farmers participating in local farmer's markets use organic methods to grow their produce. The consumer can be confident that they are buying a more organic, less chemically grown product. Much food found in grocery stores is highly processed and grown using pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and genetic modification. Some of it has been irradiated, waxed, or gassed in transport. These practices may have negative effects on human health. In contrast, most food found