But its presumably cheaper[1] to grow salad in the east coast and pay that $3.40/gal than it is to grow the same salad in the west coast. Otherwise a smart farm

But its presumably cheaper[1] to grow salad in the east coast and pay that $3.40/gal than it is to grow the same salad in the west coast. Otherwise a smart farmer would make salad in the west coast and saturate the west coast market with his own offerings. There are great arguments for eating locally. One of the main reasons for those agriculture tariffs that stop poorer countries flooding the markets with cheap produce, which allows local farmers to compete. Otherwise your salads would be even more ridiculously sourced from China or something. [1] admittedly it could still be more expensive but happen anyway due to comparative advantage that I can't explain well enough this late.