Article: US study on employment impact of farmers markets and other investments into local food systems
The USDA released its latest Farmers Market Survey last week, showing 7,175 farmers markets across the country, up 17 percent from last year. This news led USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan to declare:
The growth in farmers markets is a sign that the local and regional food system is robust and thriving. More farmers markets mean more opportunities for small and midsize farmers — especially beginning farmers — to diversify their farms, sell their products, and grow their businesses. More farmers markets mean more local economic stimulation to more communities which, in turn, mean more job opportunities. More farmers markets mean more access to fresh, healthy, and local food.
Article: Bare Shelves in Canada’s breadbasket
With the local food movement booming across Canada and the United States, farmers’ markets have been cropping up everywhere, from office buildings to hospital lobbies and even remote communities.
The heart of Canada’s breadbasket, though, is becoming the country’s most unfortunate place to be a foodie: In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, two of the nation’s most agriculturally oriented provinces, reams of requests for new farm markets are being turned down, and some markets regularly have dozens of empty stalls despite the crowds they draw.
Article: From Flour to Pancakes
As I write this newsletter I have the UK daily newspaper in front of me that is announcing that Tesco are about to start the biggest price war in 25 years. This is a reaction to what is happening to the global economy and the fact that consumers are not becoming customers.
Tesco with a 3.4 Billion pound profit last year that was up 10.1% over the year before can afford to start a price war. The result is that in the medium to long term they will gain market share as the other retailers cannot keep reducing their prices to match the competition.
