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Epoch Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Local Food Is Critical Infrastructure—and a National Security Imperative
Commentary As a regenerative farmer, I wake each morning to the rhythm of the land—planting seeds, tending crops, and coaxing life from the soil to feed my community. This work is my calling, but it's also my stand against a looming crisis: our nation's food system is a house of cards, teetering on the edge of collapse. Local food is the critical infrastructure we need to secure it, not just for fresher produce or healthier communities, but as a matter of national security. Yet, this truth is being ignored, and we're running out of time to act. Our food supply is dangerously concentrated, leaving us vulnerable in ways most Americans don't see. Four mega corporations, many with foreign interests, control the majority of our meat supply. When a handful of processing plants shut down in 2020, grocery shelves went bare overnight, exposing the fragility of this system. We rely on foreign fertilizers—90 percent of some types come from overseas—when we could produce them on-farm or locally using diverse, regenerative practices. Instead of leaning on these local resources, we overproduce corn and soy, crowding out the variety of crops that could make our food system resilient. We grow monocultures that deplete our soils, while neglecting the fruits, vegetables, and grains that could diversify our plates and strengthen our security. A single trade war, cyberattack on supply chain technology, or natural disaster could bring us to our knees. This isn't speculation—it's a vulnerability we've already glimpsed. Why is this crisis being ignored? Big Agribusiness, with its deep pockets and deeper influence, profits from centralized systems that prioritize scale over stability. These corporate giants lobby for policies that keep us tethered to their control, framing local farms as inefficient or niche. Urban policymakers, disconnected from the realities of rural life, treat food as a supermarket convenience, not a strategic asset. In Washington, the immediate threat of the day overshadows the systemic risk of a food system one shock away from failure. We've been lulled into a false sense of abundance, assuming our agricultural might can always scale up. It can't—not when our soils are eroding, our supply chains are globalized, and our dependence on foreign inputs grows. The antidote lies in local food—a diverse, small network of large and small farms, poised and ready to feed communities when global systems falter. These aren't just farmers' markets or CSAs ( Community Supported Agriculture ); they're a web of resilient producers, certified to supply fresh, nutrient-dense food. Regenerative farms like mine go further, building healthier soil, growing food that's richer in nutrients, and drawing down millions of tons of carbon year after year. But their true power is their resilience. A local farm doesn't collapse under a port strike, a foreign embargo, or a fuel crisis. It's infrastructure as vital as bridges, power grids, or water systems. When an emergency hits, all infrastructure matters, but it starts with air, water, and food—everything else comes after that. Related Stories 4/29/2025 4/22/2025 Yet, we're letting this infrastructure decay. Farmland is vanishing to developers at an alarming rate; between 2017 and 2022 we This fight is personal for me. Every seed I plant is an act of defiance against a system that's forgotten the value of self-reliance. But I can't do it alone—we need a national reckoning. I'm not big on subsidies, but since billions of dollars go to farm subsidies each year, they should go directly to farmers building resilient systems, diversifying our food system, and creating healthy soil. These grants should also support schools, hospitals, and communities buying local, rather than propping up Big Ag's monocropping that degrades our soils into dust. We need our communities to reconnect to their food—find it in their hearts and pocketbooks to support local farmers, volunteer their time, or use their social media presence to uplift the local food supply chain in their own communities. The consumer is all-powerful in this equation. If we want food security, we must support it. Imagine the impact if every family bought just one meal's worth of ingredients from a local farm each week. Imagine schools teaching kids to grow food, or churches hosting farm-to-table dinners. These acts, small as they seem, rebuild the ties between people and the land, creating a food system that can withstand the storms ahead. The 2020 supply chain breakdowns were a warning shot. So are today's fuel price spikes, port disruptions, and climate shocks. Local food isn't a nostalgic luxury—it's a national security imperative. As a regenerative farmer, I'm fighting to keep my community fed and my soil alive, but this is a battle we must wage together. I'm asking you, the American people, to join me. Buy local. Know your farmer. Demand a food system that strengthens our nation. Because when the next crisis hits, our survival will rest on the strength of our local farms. Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Applications sought from orgs to helps SNAP families
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced Monday, March 31 that New York organizations may apply for the latest round of the FreshConnect CSA for SNAP program. According to a news release, this program will help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants in New York gain increased access to weekly shares of fresh, locally grown produce through Community Supported Agriculture initiatives by covering up to half the cost for recipients, while encouraging purchase of local products that supports New York's farmers and producers. FreshConnect CSA for SNAP is one component of Gov. Kathy Hochul's goal to boost demand for New York agricultural products, bolster New York's food supply chain and ensure all New Yorkers have access to fresh, local foods, the release stated. 'All New Yorkers deserve access to fresh, nutritious foods, grown right here in New York state," Ball said in the release. "The FreshConnect CSA for SNAP program is a great example of connecting the dots between our farmers and our consumers, helping to ensure that New Yorkers using SNAP can access CSA shares full of delicious locally grown produce. This program feeds our families and supports our farmers, and I encourage eligible organizations to consider applying.' The FreshConnect CSA for SNAP program helps SNAP participants working with awarded organizations better access CSA shares, according to the release. Funding provided to eligible applicants, such as not-for-profit organizations, Indian tribal organizations, public educational institutions and local or municipal governments will partially subsidize the cost of weekly CSA shares sold to SNAP participants, lowering the cost to consumers while still purchasing the food from the farmer at full price. Up to 50% of the cost of a weekly share purchased by a SNAP recipient with their SNAP benefits may be paid by awarded organizations through this program. Awards for this opportunity will be made on a rolling basis until funds are depleted, the release stated. A total of $250,000 in funding is available through this Request for Applications. Applications may request a minimum of $25,000 and a maximum of $50,000 for the project to be considered. Applications must be submitted by 3 p.m. July 22. To provide an overview of the program for potential applicants, a webinar was held on March 18, and the recording is available at Learn more at
