rambles and rants
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rambles and rants |
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| Unintended Consequences? Or is just another example of stupidity? Today the American asparagus crop is wilting fast, thanks in large part to imports from China and Peru. Due to cheap foreign labor and favorable "free trade" agreements imported fresh and frozen produce of all sorts has skyrocketed in recent years. As a result, American production has tanked. Between 1991 and 2006, harvested asparagus acreage for the fresh and processed market fell by over 50% in the Greater US of A. The crazy part of this sad tale is that Uncle Sam has been spending and sending our tax dollars to support the Peruvian agri-business as an incentive to stop their production of cocaine. So, in our zeal to stop drug traffic we are negatively impacting American farmers, small and large, as well as domestic food processors like Del Monte. [Okay, now comes the reader participation part of this rant...You see, right about now I'm hoping you are asking or thinking something like....] Hold it right there, Mike. You mean to say US tax dollars are being shipped off to Peru so that they can grow (cheap) asparagus, and the result is a loss of American farming jobs and a loss of American food processing jobs? A loss of local, state and federal tax revenue, and all the trickle down financial impact on industries who support American farmers? Umm, yep. That's exactly what I'm saying, and it makes me sick. But, knowing a bit more about the situation helps, 'cuz now I look for the "grown in USA" label. Hope you do too. Also hope you take the time to read more: 1 | 2 |
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| primary web site: JJCardinal.com revised 06·29·09 |
