Government subsidizing road side farmer markets..

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Our extension offered it after several people asked about it. They gave us and highly recommend the canning "bible" So Easy To Preserve by the University of Georgia.

I got the "putting Food By" book but was concerned that some of the info was not as up to date as possible. The So Easy To Preserve book was last updated in 2006 I think. Very easy reading, very straightforward directions.

The class was great fun just for the sitting around in a kitchen with a bunch of like minded people chatting while we prepared food. And I learned a few things too!!

 

[farmerlor]

I've actually thought about teaching an informal canning class but haven't taken the time to find out about the legal ramifications or liability issues involved.

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

I have WHAT in my yard? :

Our extension offered it after several people asked about it. They gave us and highly recommend the canning "bible" So Easy To Preserve by the University of Georgia.

I got the "putting Food By" book but was concerned that some of the info was not as up to date as possible. The So Easy To Preserve book was last updated in 2006 I think. Very easy reading, very straightforward directions.

The class was great fun just for the sitting around in a kitchen with a bunch of like minded people chatting while we prepared food. And I learned a few things too!!

It's a good book. And really there is no modern information past the self sealing two piece dome lid. If my great-grandmother raised a family of 13 kids by drying, canning, preserving before antibiotics without loss of life she must have been doing it right.​

 

[AngieChick]

Quote:
I was referring to the farm subsidies in which the richest 10% of farm-subsidy recipients receive almost 2/3 of all government payments, while the bottom 80% receive less than 1/5 of the total payments. My apologies that I wasn't clear.

However, I would like to point out that the welfare payments through the USDA are in the form of food stamps, and the schools' portion is in the form of the "free and reduced lunch program" which many times is the only square meal a child gets in a day. It was established because so many children in this country were going hungry. Right now the biggest chunk of food stamp recipients live in very urban areas, the ones I was mentioning earlier who don't have access to any grocer other than a corner store. The only options they have right now on what to spend their money on is yet again processed foods produced by large corporations and big agribusiness. This is in effect yet another HUGE subsidy of big business by the USDA. Yes, it makes a stop along the way and fills some tummies (which is good), but in the end much f the money goes to the producers. Some of the farmers market projects that I noticed would enable food stamp recipients to redeem them at farmer's markets as well as bringing those markets to urban areas. That would help funnel some of the money to smaller farmers, and bring good food to those who need it most. Even if it's only a small portion of it, it could make or break some of the small family farms.

Here is a link to a pie chart of the 2009 budget for the USDA
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=Budget2009-01.xml

And yes, 63% does go to nutrition assistance - which I support. I would like to see schools become able to use some of these funds to get produce locally instead of from just the big producers, which because of all of the rules involved is how they have to do it right now.

And to canning - I just started 4 years ago and am a huge fan! Ball's blue book is a fantastic resource. And if you haven't tried making grape jelly, you really should, it is delicious.

It's great that there is an extension service providing answers and making it safer for new canners to dive in.

 

[gypsy2621]

Before food stamps went to EBT the farmers markets would accept them here in NH .
Now that plastic is used it has stopped a lot of people from accessing the farmers markets, its a shame too.
I swear sometimes its a conspericy.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Good posts Angie!!

 

[mjdtexan]

Ok, I am going to admit that I did not read all five pages. Did anybody ever post the link?

About the canning, I am getting into canning here at the house. I visited another "farmers market" today while doing research for an outlet for our vegetables. The lady there told me you had to be certified to sell vegetables that you have "canned" yourself. I have tried to find out online where to do this but can not seem to find where to do that at.

 

[seedcorn]

I was referring to the farm subsidies in which the richest 10% of farm-subsidy recipients receive almost 2/3 of all government payments, while the bottom 80% receive less than 1/5 of the total payments.

By the pie chart you used, farmers receive 15% of the TOTAL AG BUDGET.......it's called an AG BUDGET but only 15% of the 100% is even slated for farmers........

thank you for the most recent pie chart. It's worse than I thought.

side note, government payments have a ceiling to the most any individual or business can collect--stops the old 20% get 80%. They did that about 5-6 years ago (close as I can remember-anyone that farms feel free to correct me).

 

[me&thegals]

Quote:
I was thinking of doing this for my CSA customers this year and never considered the legal implications. It would be very interesting to hear what everyone has to say!

 

[me&thegals]

Leah-yes I know I'm crazy :

I have WHAT in my yard? :

Our extension offered it after several people asked about it. They gave us and highly recommend the canning "bible" So Easy To Preserve by the University of Georgia.

I got the "putting Food By" book but was concerned that some of the info was not as up to date as possible. The So Easy To Preserve book was last updated in 2006 I think. Very easy reading, very straightforward directions.

The class was great fun just for the sitting around in a kitchen with a bunch of like minded people chatting while we prepared food. And I learned a few things too!!

It's a good book. And really there is no modern information past the self sealing two piece dome lid. If my great-grandmother raised a family of 13 kids by drying, canning, preserving before antibiotics without loss of life she must have been doing it right.​

I'm sure you're right, but there is one other thing to consider. Our food is not the same now as it was back then. For example, today's tomatoes are much less acidic than their heirloom sisters. This would definitely affect the way you would can them.

Angie: I'm happy to report that our state provides about $35/year for low-income folks only for use at farmer's markets. It is incredibly little, but it's better than nothing.

Regarding getting certified, I would suggest checking with your local extension services or your state's licensing website.​