Share #13 August 26th & 28th

Crop List: Green Beans, Cabbage, Fennel, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Pickling Cucumbers, Cucumbers, Sunflowers, Turnips, Sugar Snap Peas, maybe Cosmic Mix, Radish and/or Shell Peas

The Cosmic Mix is taking a bit of a hiatus this week. Our new crop had poor germination because of the high heat. The old crop needs a bit of a break to regrow...so we are inbetween! For some items the garden has crossed over the peak. Tomatoes, sunflowers, squash and cucumbers will slow down a bit although the sunflowers, squash and cukes will keep producing until a frost. The tomatoes are tucked in the greenhouse and will keep going until we shut off the propane! The shorter days are starting to affect how quickly the plants grown. Many of the late summer treats are starting to appear...beans, fennel and cabbage! These things are ready earlier then usual thanks to an incredible growing year.

I heard a podcast the other day that resonated with me. Being interviewed was Charlotte Smith, a bit of a farm guru, who helps farmers with marketing, pricing, time management and so many other things that if done improperly can be the difference between a successful farm and one that fails. I usually listen to her podcast...but this time she was being interviewed by another podcaster. 
The interviewer was trying to understand why anyone would want to pay more for locally produced food...and also...WHY is it more expensive?
Smith made some great points in support of local food around health, that I've shared here before. What really got me thinking is...why is local food more expensive?
I have said that I wish I could feed the world for free, but my family also deserves a home, vacation, clothes, a retirement and other things standard in this country. We have examined our pricing and know we can't sell for less then we do...so how is it possible that grocery stores undersell us? Especially since much of the produce is coming from half way around the world? And Cosmic Apple has no middle people (grocery store employees, long distance truck drivers, wholesalers) so it really should be cheaper, right??? Wrong. Smith took the time to explain some of these reasons...I'll summarize!

Huge cooperate farms have economy of scale on their side. They may be farming 1000's of acres and pay the same in government fees and licensees that we pay to farm 50 acres. When purchasing supplies they have more buying power and can buy in bulk. We pay retail for everything, while they are having semis or pallets delivered at a discount.
#2. Grocery store food is kept at an artificially low price. Cooperate farms are getting subsidies, so they can sell products below production cost. After the Depression, Roosevelt said no American will ever stand in line for food again. He pledged to keep food cheap. This was the end of the average American family farm making a good living.  Before this moment farmers were very esteemed in society, farmers fed people...kind of important! Farmers were respected and treated like doctors and lawyers. Things began to change. Food subsidies began and targeted 7 big commodities, instantly making it hard for diversified farms, making a living became harder on the farm. To this day big commodity farms get checks every month from the government to subsidize food production. Small diversified farms aren't eligible for the breaks the big ones get. Policy changes are long overdue.
Her third point is something we rarely acknowledge...because the truth can hurt, and none of us want to face the fact we could be contributing to slavery. Slave labor is still used to produce food. It has been proven that we are sold food grown with slave labor in American grocery stores. Tomatoes are a big culprit. (Do a simple internet search or see these sources here, here and here.) I truly believe everyone would rather pay the true cost of food then admit to be benefiting from slaves...cooperate food doesn't think so. They don't advertise "grown with slave labor", but they sure don't put an end to it either. They are guilty of benefiting from slavery. We have to vote with our dollars to shut this system down. Human lives depend on it. It's atrocious and I don't want that energy in my food. I don't want humans suffering so I can eat a tomato in January.
The final point is a good reminder...many countries in Europe spend 50% of their income on food. Americans average around 4%. Spending just 10% of our household budget on food in America is considered crazy. We have been trained to believe food should be cheap. We have to change our thinking. Cheap food has long term costs, environmental, social and human health are all jeopardized by our dependence on cheap food. Environmental- it's cheaper to spray LOTS of chemicals then it is to pay humans to weed. Social- slavery is still happening. Human health- you can pay your farmer now (thank you!) or pay your doctor later.

When you buy from a small farm you are paying what food really costs. You are paying a local farmer, a member of your community, to make a living, pay a mortgage, send a kid to college or replace an old car.
I know you are here because you have already chosen to support local food, and you know it's more expensive but worth the cost. YOU are the change we need in this world. I'm here because I believe in local food too! I share this info with you, even though you are already here, because it's good for all of us to continue our education around food. We eat everyday! Sharing why we care about local food with peers is important to do when folks ask why it matters or roll their eyes at a "spendy" tomato.
Thank you for being here, caring and playing a part in making the world a better place one bite at a time.

​Lunch on the Farm this week: Peruvian Quinoa Stew; Polenta with Tomato Balsamic Sauce
Recipe Ideas: Turnip, Radish, & Fennel Sauté; Salmon with Cabbage, Cucumber, & Fennel Salad; Caramelized Fennel with Beans, Carrots & Chile Soy Drizzle; ​Cabbage with Indian Spices

Recipes

We have lots of extra goodies available at your pick up. If you want something specific, please email me and I will make sure it is in the cooler, reserved just for you. Dinner just got easier!
The coolers at your site are stocked with a selection of Lifeline Cheese and Cosmic Apple Pork and Beef (listed below). I don't send every cut every week, they simply won't all fit!
​Pork Available: Grandpa's Sausage, Breakfast Sausage, Pork Chops, Shoulder Roast, Spare Ribs, Boneless Loin Roast, Hock, Leaf Fat, Tenderloin and Back Fat
Beef Available: Stew Meat, Sirloin Tip Roast, Round Roast, Flat Iron Roast and Beef Fat
Hunters and Huntresses: We have pork fat for your wild game sausage making. Let me know if you want to order any and I can send it to your pick up location.
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WASH YOUR VEGGIES!!
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Bring Bags to pick-ups!

If you can't make it to pick up your veggies, send a friend!
Missed shares are forfeited for the week. 

Members get 10% off at the Farmer's Markets!
The Driggs Market: Fridays 9-1
The People's Market: Wednesdays 4-7
Jackson Hole Farmer's Market: Saturdays 8-12
Farm To Fork Market: Saturday, October 4th, 2-5, Center for the Arts

Questions? Comments? Recipes to share? [email protected]