level

At the most basic level

matter

The apparent message is "let's-support-local-business", a kind of community boosterism. Butbuying close to home may be more than a feel-good,it's-worth-paying-more-for-local matter.

The apparent message is "let's-support-local-business", a kind of community boosterism. Butbuying close to home may be more than a feel-good,it's-worth-paying-more-for-local matter

Hard to boutique that.

I wonder if the 45.3 million Americans living beneath the poverty line—14.5% of the country’s population and almost 18% of North Carolina’s—agree.

To be sure, Big Agra has been linked to large-scale water depletion, to water and air pollution, even to rising levels of obesity. Yet the “negative externalities” are often exaggerated, such as when they don’t take into consideration the taxes these enterprises—or the taxes consumers of their foodstuffs—pay. In any event, it would be nice if critics acknowledged that inexpensive food frees income that is saved and invested, spent on other goods and on improving the environment and health.

To many folk

It may not be politically correct to say so, but Big Agra is far more productive than are small “family farms,” particularly organic farms

spend less than 10% of their disposable income on food,

large, super-efficient enterprises

By trying to remind people that the U.S. is the economic power it is today in large part because of the historical success of its agricultural sector, which was organized along market lines almost from the start—directed by enterprising, commercially-minded farmers operating in a system that protected and promoted private property rights. For much of our history as well, federal and state governments supported agriculture by fostering and disseminating scientific knowledge, and by encouraging export markets. Governments have also generally sought to enhance the safety of food production and processing, and with them the reputation of American farmers and processors.

For Chapel Hill is the buckle of the Research Triangle foodie belt, a virtual Valhalla for hard-boiled locavores, iron-fisted organics, no-nonsense vegans, and determined devotees of slow food. Boutique farmers, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups, local farmers’ markets and pricey gourmet restaurants are in. “Factory” farms, fast food, dollar meals and supermarkets are out—at least among food snobs and “aware” students.

guilt-ridden anguish