Where is Our Fresh Produce?

I know it’s winter… and I know we live in the middle of Montana, at the end of the delivery route for fresh produce. But, please, tell me why the produce shelves and bins at neighboring supermarkets are so empty? Can’t even find good greens – from anywhere – these are from last year!

The bad news is that we get 70% of our produce (fruits and vegetables) and nuts from California. And the worse news is that California’s 2022 growing season has been hit with everything nature can deliver: drought, rain, floods, frost, snow, hail, fires, earthquakes, fungal infections, insect infestations, etc., etc., so at times there’s almost nothing left to ship.

The good news is that we can do something about it! As climate change continues to cause extremes – in temperatures, rainfall, drought, wind, and snow – it is critical that we bring our food production back home. We can grow our own!

The technology is here: high tunnels and hoop houses extend the growing season, and “deep winter” solar greenhouses produce winter crops.

The time is now – we can’t be held hostage by “Big Food!” Let’s bring our food home.

More reading:

Climate Change and California Lettuce – It’s Here!

What we thought was science fiction is turning out to be fact! What will we have to eat?