08-25-2014, 05:52 AM
Charter Schools can grow those kind of crops because they don't have to make a profit.
A Puna farmer could also grow those vegetables, but when he walks into a store to sell them and he has to ask 30% - 60% more than his mainland corporate farm competitors, and he's going to have trouble finding buyers.
I watched a farmer walk into a 4 star restaurant kitchen on Maui one time offering a giant bag of the most beautiful local mixed salad greens I've ever seen. There were probably enough servings in the bag for at least ten very large salads for which the restaurant would charge $10 each. The chef asked how much the salad greens cost, and when the farmer said $5.75 - - the chef replied he wouldn't go any more than $5.00 because that's what he paid his mainland distributor.
I thought the farmer was going to cry. Seriously.
A Puna farmer could also grow those vegetables, but when he walks into a store to sell them and he has to ask 30% - 60% more than his mainland corporate farm competitors, and he's going to have trouble finding buyers.
I watched a farmer walk into a 4 star restaurant kitchen on Maui one time offering a giant bag of the most beautiful local mixed salad greens I've ever seen. There were probably enough servings in the bag for at least ten very large salads for which the restaurant would charge $10 each. The chef asked how much the salad greens cost, and when the farmer said $5.75 - - the chef replied he wouldn't go any more than $5.00 because that's what he paid his mainland distributor.
I thought the farmer was going to cry. Seriously.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves