RSS 2.0 FeedProduce Farmers Seek Protection From The Market
by Doug MataconisFarm subsidies have traditionally been limited to so-called “commodity crops” such as wheat, corn, and cotton. Now, produce farmers are starting to argue that they need protection from the realities of the market as well:
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. — For decades, the fiercely independent fruit and vegetable growers of California, Florida and other states have been the only farmers in America who shunned federal subsidies, delivering produce to the tables of millions of Americans on their own.
But now, in the face of tough new competition primarily from China, even these proud groups are buckling. Produce farmers, their hands newly outstretched, have joined forces for the first time, forming a lobby group intended to pressure politicians over the farm bill to be debated in Congress in January.
Of course, they’ve created a lobby group. Everyone has a lobby group these days. The question is, should the government protect these farmers from competition that is clearly benefiting consumers and the economy as a whole:
Although some farmers may be suffering, American consumers have been big beneficiaries of cheap food imports. On the United States wholesale market, for example, Chinese garlic costs almost half the price of garlic that is grown domestically.
What the produce growers are looking for, the article goes on to point out, is a government-financed (meaning taxpayer-financed) marketing program to help them sell their products overseas. But remaining unanswered is the why their industry should get help with their advertising budget from the American taxpayer.
Ironically, one of the representatives of the produce growers says this:
“We don’t want handouts,” Mr. Mantelli said. “You don’t want to just give people subsidies, because nobody learns from subsidies. But you want to give them opportunities and resources and tools to make their industry better.”
In other words, we want a handout, but please don’t call it that.
