Family farms struggled to make a profit in the past due to the expansion of corporate farms and sophisticated global supply chains which brought in food cheaply from anywhere on the planet.
Climate change, persistent drought, war, and disruptions in the supply chain are changing the fundamentals though. Going forward just being able to produce your own food may be the difference between having access to affordable, nutritious food and fighting over dwindling supplies.
I’m surrounded by family farms here in the breadbasket of Japan, the Tokachi region, and they’re all doing well these days. Their biggest problem now is finding enough farm labor.
Just got my garden in, a month later than normal. With the cost of food I need one twice as big but just don’t have the time this year:
