EBT dollars at work

[AlohaDave]

quote:

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Originally posted by kalakoa

If coffee is a niche, how do you explain the massive plantations in SA without regulations?

Same way I explain California: if the product is expensive enough, it can still be profitable against high ovehead costs. Kona coffee, California almonds.

This has nothing to do with the mainland. It has to do with food security and about reliving poverty

That would be great. Unfortunately, local production still isn't competitive with import shipping costs, and the America-style economy is all about "cheapest cost".

If what you were saying were true about Foodland & KTA there would be NO farmers markets.

Many "farmers' market" vendors are repackaging the same imports sold at Foodland/KTA.

Hawaii is (almost -- not counting southern Florida) the only State where bananas and pineapple can be grown, yet the supermarkets are selling produce imported from Chile, Argentina, and other SA countries, despite the obvious disparity in shipping costs. Somewhere along the line, domestic production is either too expensive, or doesn't provide a meaningful value proposition -- despite the fact that farms are within an hour's drive of the supermarket.

go back to armchair....

It's certainly more comfortable than that soapbox...

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Your explanation of Coffee still does not fit, if it can be produced much cheaper in South America.

"That would be great. Unfortunately, local production still isn't competitive with import shipping costs, and the America-style economy is all about "cheapest cost"."

Local production is always cheaper than import shipping where there is a large shipping and production chain involved,it's just not the "shipping"

Many "farmers' market" vendors are repackaging the same imports sold at Foodland/KTA."
Such as? Where?

"Hawaii is (almost -- not counting southern Florida) the only State where bananas and pineapple can be grown, yet the supermarkets are selling produce imported from Chile, Argentina, and other SA countries, despite the obvious disparity in shipping costs. Somewhere along the line, domestic production is either too expensive, or doesn't provide a meaningful value proposition -- despite the fact that farms are within an hour's drive of the supermarket."

And how does that relate to food security? It makes us less secure.
It also illustrates how the large commercial growers operate.
In Sa they have hundreds of thousands of acres to grow pineapple and Banana.
But is that a reason not to grow it in Hawaii?

The fact remains "farming is difficult" where ever it is practiced.
You can't live on fruit without health problems in the long term.
The profit margins for farming have always been low for the small-med sized farm and it's hard work. No sitting on your cushy couch pressing buttons.

But, it is very possible in tropical locations, just look at what they did in Cuba to make the whole island self sustainable