Farmers’ produce goes for a pittance because of supply and demand clashing with growing seasons. For example, when peaches are in season the market gets flooded with peaches because all the peach farmers are harvesting and shipping peaches at the same time. Thus peaches are dirt cheap during peach season. Farmers would get a lot more for their peaches if they could spread them evenly throughout the year but nature doesn’t work that way.
As for the “layer above” farmers (distribution and retail), that all depends on what country you’re in and how agriculture is managed. So you’ll need to give a specific example if you want to discuss further. Under capitalism (at least in my country), farmers are free to sell their produce directly to consumers at farmer’s markets or even beside the road outside their farm.
I’m certain that the area you live in is absolutely wonderful and just, but that is not the case for every area. There are companies that do profit from the starvation of others, which is exactly what this post is about.
So you gushing over your area and its markets does not mean that everyone is so lucky, nor that starvation for profit does not exist.
Baby Formula Controversy: One of the most well-known controversies involves Nestlé’s marketing of baby formula in developing countries. Critics argue that aggressive marketing tactics have led to the decline in breastfeeding, which can have serious health consequences for infants in areas with limited access to clean water and proper hygiene.
Water Privatization: Nestlé has been criticized for its water bottling practices, particularly in areas where water is scarce. The company has faced backlash for extracting water from local aquifers and selling it at a profit, often in regions where access to clean water is a significant issue.
Palm Oil Deforestation: Nestlé has been implicated in the deforestation of rainforests in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia for palm oil production. This has led to habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and contributions to climate change.
Child Labor: There have been allegations of child labor in the cocoa industry, which supplies Nestlé with a significant portion of its cocoa. Despite efforts to address the issue, child labor remains a persistent problem in the cocoa-growing regions of West Africa.
Labor Practices: Nestlé has faced criticism for labor practices in its supply chain, including low wages, poor working conditions, and lack of worker rights in various countries.
Environmental Impact: The company has been criticized for its environmental practices, including pollution, waste management, and the use of non-renewable resources. For example, Nestlé has been involved in controversies related to plastic waste and its impact on marine life.
Land Grabbing: Nestlé has been accused of land grabbing in various countries, where it acquires large tracts of land for agricultural purposes, often displacing local communities and small farmers.
Yes I read all that on Wikipedia. What’s lacking is an explanation of how you’re equating the crimes of one company with capitalism as a whole, in order to justify taking away the right of farmers to personally own their farms and equipment and sell their produce at the side of the road.
There are always going to be pockets of the market that aren’t completely consolidated under exploitation, but those pockets are usually in places where the COL is much lower than the average income.
But even in that scenario, local farmers selling produce at a market will still compete against commercialized distributions that push the price lower and limit the market to the privileged bourgeois who have the money to shop for their produce at a market with higher prices and have the labor to spare on themselves and their own needs.
And yet the tins and jars are on the shelves year round, because somewhere that produce is getting made used or shipped to generate a profit for the food corporations.
Farmers get as raw a deal as any other worker, they are not the target of this meme in any way shape or form.
Farmers’ produce goes for a pittance because of supply and demand clashing with growing seasons. For example, when peaches are in season the market gets flooded with peaches because all the peach farmers are harvesting and shipping peaches at the same time. Thus peaches are dirt cheap during peach season. Farmers would get a lot more for their peaches if they could spread them evenly throughout the year but nature doesn’t work that way.
As for the “layer above” farmers (distribution and retail), that all depends on what country you’re in and how agriculture is managed. So you’ll need to give a specific example if you want to discuss further. Under capitalism (at least in my country), farmers are free to sell their produce directly to consumers at farmer’s markets or even beside the road outside their farm.
i.e. Nestlé
Is that specific enough?
When I go down to the farmer’s market, none of the produce there is being sold by Nestlé, yet I live in a capitalist country. How is that possible?
I’m certain that the area you live in is absolutely wonderful and just, but that is not the case for every area. There are companies that do profit from the starvation of others, which is exactly what this post is about.
So you gushing over your area and its markets does not mean that everyone is so lucky, nor that starvation for profit does not exist.
Or perhaps those areas have other problems not mentioned here?
They do have a lot of problems which are not mentioned here, but they definitely have the mentioned one as well.
Which is not described or explained, it’s merely alluded to with a vague mention of everyone’s favourite bogeyman, Nestlé.
Oh, you still need more information. Sure.
Baby Formula Controversy: One of the most well-known controversies involves Nestlé’s marketing of baby formula in developing countries. Critics argue that aggressive marketing tactics have led to the decline in breastfeeding, which can have serious health consequences for infants in areas with limited access to clean water and proper hygiene.
Water Privatization: Nestlé has been criticized for its water bottling practices, particularly in areas where water is scarce. The company has faced backlash for extracting water from local aquifers and selling it at a profit, often in regions where access to clean water is a significant issue.
Palm Oil Deforestation: Nestlé has been implicated in the deforestation of rainforests in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia for palm oil production. This has led to habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and contributions to climate change.
Child Labor: There have been allegations of child labor in the cocoa industry, which supplies Nestlé with a significant portion of its cocoa. Despite efforts to address the issue, child labor remains a persistent problem in the cocoa-growing regions of West Africa.
Labor Practices: Nestlé has faced criticism for labor practices in its supply chain, including low wages, poor working conditions, and lack of worker rights in various countries.
Environmental Impact: The company has been criticized for its environmental practices, including pollution, waste management, and the use of non-renewable resources. For example, Nestlé has been involved in controversies related to plastic waste and its impact on marine life.
Land Grabbing: Nestlé has been accused of land grabbing in various countries, where it acquires large tracts of land for agricultural purposes, often displacing local communities and small farmers.
Yes I read all that on Wikipedia. What’s lacking is an explanation of how you’re equating the crimes of one company with capitalism as a whole, in order to justify taking away the right of farmers to personally own their farms and equipment and sell their produce at the side of the road.
There are always going to be pockets of the market that aren’t completely consolidated under exploitation, but those pockets are usually in places where the COL is much lower than the average income.
But even in that scenario, local farmers selling produce at a market will still compete against commercialized distributions that push the price lower and limit the market to the privileged bourgeois who have the money to shop for their produce at a market with higher prices and have the labor to spare on themselves and their own needs.
And yet the tins and jars are on the shelves year round, because somewhere that produce is getting made used or shipped to generate a profit for the food corporations.
Farmers get as raw a deal as any other worker, they are not the target of this meme in any way shape or form.
I guess you’d prefer to continue speaking in vague generalities. Carry on!