Kyle Beeton, a Dickinson student, interviewed a local farmer named Joe Thomas in 1999. Joe believed the largest reason behind farmers struggling or going out of business was the government. The government and big name industries have the ability to buy products at cheap prices and sell them at more expensive prices. “Big box” stores such as Wal-mart, Giant, and Weiss all sell products from farms around the world. On the other hand, local markets such as those in Carlisle give farmers the opportunity to sell their products within the community at their own price and support the local economy. How have the farmers in the Carlisle area been affected by “big box” stores over the past 8 years? Are farmers markets in Carlisle reason enough for farmers to stay in business if they are not dealing with major industries?
– G.M.