Despite all the benefits the public derives from agriculture in New England, farming is in trouble. Farmers are caught in a price squeeze because their operating costs have gone up steadily while the prices they receive for their produce have dropped. The remainder went to labor, packaging, transportation, and all the other costs of moving and selling food. New England farmers have an especially hard row to hoe because of high land values and urbanization. Some states have initiated tax measures to ease the pressure on farmers, but this is insufficient to counteract the development juggernaut.
Consumer choices are a critical part of the answer to that question.
Markets for New England produce have shrunk because of price competition and sustained marketing efforts from outside our region. The same pattern applies to other major northeastern urban centers. Although we have an abundance of consumers, their food dollars support farmers in other regions and countries more than our farm neighbors in New England. Consumers have recently shown a strong interest in ecologically grown produce and a willingness to pay for the value added by production practices that benefit the environment. It is vitally important that customers recognize the environmental and social benefits of buying locally grown produce.