Local choice protects farms and food

FOOD SLEUTH

by Melinda Hemmelgarn © 2007 The Columbia Daily Tribune Wednesday, April 11, 2007

[excerpt:]

. . .Local control means that our locally elected officials can make decisions and establish policies that affect our unique communities. These policies might guide the development of real estate and roads, or they might set health standards to protect air and water quality.

If communities deem state standards inadequate to protect or serve local residents, then locally elected officials have the freedom to choose tighter standards. Most Americans would agree that they want a say in the laws that affect them personally. . .

Environmental Commons, an organization founded in 2004 by environmental policy expert Britt Bailey, said that the "local control of our food is being systematically undermined through changing policy and market structure."

Unfortunately, as our food supply becomes more consolidated or owned by fewer and larger corporations, smaller independent food and agricultural businesses have either been bought out or forced to close because they cannot compete with larger multinational competitors. Rural communities suffer as a result. . .

The full article is available on the Columbia Daily Tribune website.