/Unitedbank
/Eedition

Have you thanked your farmer today?

Posted by
Walter Geiger
in Opinion
Monday, June 7. 2010
Comments (11)
By Harris Blackwood, Gainesville Times

Mose Coleman didn’t know it, but he started an industry. In 1931, Coleman planted what he thought would be hot onions, but there was something about the sandy loam soil of Toombs County that made the onion sweet. It was so sweet you could eat it like an apple.

Please login or register to read the rest of this story.
Bookmark and Share
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks
Comments
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)
#1 Anonymous on 06/07/10 at 06:02 PM
Thanks all the farmers. they work very hard everyday for what we have.
#2 Anonymous on 06/07/10 at 09:06 PM
Now that we are forcing their migrant employees to return home and farmers will actually have to employ Americans instead, I wonder how that will work for us at the grocery store checkout?
#3 Anonymous on 06/08/10 at 08:40 AM
I thank all the Mexicans for picking the produce I buy at Walmart.
#4 Anonymous on 06/08/10 at 09:14 AM
Just because some farmers hire cheap labor doesn't mean we all do. Many of us take pride in our Country, and refuse to hire cheap labor.

Especially when that would mean taking jobs away from other Citizens whom are our neighbors, friends and those who have always stood by us when needed! A community is only as good as the attitude in the community, and when a community pulls together, there is no room for "cheap labor provided by outsiders".

Call it pride, but there are some of us who would rather eat dirt than give our Countries jobs to foreigners.
#5 Marie Callender on 06/08/10 at 09:29 AM
Although your comment is meant to be sarcastic and funny, I am sure (of which it is neither, mind you), what you say is more resonant to the decay of our nation and economy than you think. The number of undocumented workers and even documented workers that are employed by United States big business farms is alarming according to a Pew Survey conducted in 2007. This doesn't even begin to address the issues with undocumented aliens, abuse of federal funds, unhealthy living conditions, border security, gov't subsidized agriculture, etc.

Furthermore, I doubt the produce you buy at Walmart is picked by Mexicans unless there are Mexicans in Costa Rica (bananas), Guatemala (dried beans), Brazil (nuts and tropical produce), and the Philippines (rice, cereal, and grains.)
#6 Marie Callender on 06/08/10 at 09:33 AM
Very little. According to the USDA over 72% of our nations foods are exported. The work we see being done by immigrant laborers is more than likely exported as the exchange rate is greater and allows for larger political exchanges and relationships with foreign countries. If we were talking about imported foods from Mexico, China, Costa Rica, or even Canada, the story would be much different.
#7 Marie Callender on 06/08/10 at 09:34 AM
Here's a great web portal for anyone that wants to know more about local farmers and their role in big business agriculture.

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/knowyourfarmer?navid=KNOWYOURFARMER
#8 Anonymous on 06/08/10 at 10:05 AM
I understand we need to import in order to supply our demand but are there no peaches, onions, oranges, apples, corn, potatoes, grains, etc. grown in America?

Also, I have a different opinion on what has decayed our nation and economy.
#9 Marie Callender on 06/08/10 at 12:34 PM
You are absolutely right. There are peaches, onions, oranges, apples, corn, potatoes, grains, etc. grown not just in America but within 200 miles of Lamar County. In fact, if more people sourced their food local and cut out the processed foods so popular in the American diet we would see a decrease in obesity and disease as well as an increase in the number of farmers able to make a living. There has to be a change in understanding and emphasis though. I do not see the need to import. I think we need to reeducate ourselves to eat more local and source our foods when they are in season and available naturally.

I am not saying my above statements are the ONLY reason for a decay in our nation. In fact, I barely scratched the surface.
#10 Anonymous on 06/08/10 at 01:17 PM
agreed.
#11 Anonymous on 06/09/10 at 07:09 AM
Isn't capitalism grand? If what was grown is Georgia was sold at walmart you couldn't afford to buy it.
Only registered users may comment on stories. Please login or register to post comments. Your browser must support cookies.
The author does not allow comments to this entry
Copyright © 2008-2011 The Herald-Gazette