1-12-2012-click on image -farm market

                                                                                         

       today being the 11th of january. and looking through my archives found a couple of pics i thought were worthy of mentioning as it applies to an item i heard today and have been hearing quite a bit. that is the need of farmers to fulfill the need for locally grown produce. organically grown is experiencing a growth period as people become more concerned about what they are eating . a variety of items can be found at roadside markets ranging from hand crafted items like carvings to produce , plants , and used household items. the flea market is another source for local farmers to market their produce. it takes less fuel to get to market, and produce is less subject to chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides as well as herbicides that make the soil sterile. now we have genetic engineered corn and we all have ate products made with genetically engineered corn as it is now everywhere.
    recently i read an article that told of a farmer who planted a field of corn beside a neighbor who used genetically engineered corn , and was told that he needed to sign an agreement to sell all his corn or be sued for stealing the patent rights of the corn. monsanto was behind this .

Monsanto's Harvest of Fear | Politics | Vanity Fair

    dont know if this is exactly the article but it tells somewhat the same story. now as a farmer you have to be aware of where you plant crops so as to not infringe on the patent rights of a seed company. it only makes sense to buy locally when you hear stories such as this. more smaller farmers growing organic pesticide free and herbicide free crops is what we need to break the backs of large agri business concerns who have unlimited power of life and death in their hands . as food is our  most important commodity we all need . 

    a farm market was an integral part of malabar farm when the farm was in its hey day. vegetables would be brought in from field and washed and cooled in spring waters in troughs along the road side where they had covered shelters to protect the produce and the workers selling it from the sun of summertime. my understanding is that sales were brisk. i have also sold produce along the road i would buy from local farmers and resell for profit. i was overwhelmed as it became a chore to keep up with demand of good produce. it is a short lived season. lately my focus has been on raising red raspberries and black berries  for a pick your own operation.