3 ms·
In the modern world, fruits and vegetables are mostly about low cost of production, and robustness for transportation, and finally consistent appearance. Local
by beat 11y ago
In the modern world, fruits and vegetables are mostly about low cost of production, and robustness for transportation, and finally consistent appearance.
Local, seasonal, "heirloom" vegetables are a whole different ballgame. But they're seasonal, they're not always pretty, they don't travel, and they aren't cheap.
- Retric 11y agoYou can grow arbitrary veggies locally in a greenhouse for year round consumption. It's not as cheap, but compared to unsubsidized meat prices it's less costly than you might think. PS: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/greenhouse/hydroponics/economics.html http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/greenhouse/hydroponics/ec... Suggests an extra ~17 - 37c/lb for tomatoes.
- beat 11y agoSure, if you don't mind gardening and have space. But at commercial scale? Much harder. Our CSA farm has commercial greenhouses for their tomatoes and cucumbers, so they can have a good supply of those even when weather becomes a problem. They seem to build a new greenhouse every years. But scale? That's a handful, a little ten acre farm selling directly to consumers.