Thought experiment

[laterbloomer]

Oct 3, 2021 13:46:57 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Interestingly, I think corporate farms might not take over. I live in a small rural farm area and our farms have done better with the lockdowns and similar. Our farmers are local and can get the foods to the stores easier and in better shape to resale. Farming friends tell me it's been a good 18 months once they figured out how to make the pivot.

The corporate farms aren"t going to take over, they already have. My concern is can local producers still produce enough for the urban centres. I would LOVE to see us go back to our food being locally produced.

[stillmovingforward]

Oct 3, 2021 16:07:31 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Oct 3, 2021 13:46:57 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Interestingly, I think corporate farms might not take over. I live in a small rural farm area and our farms have done better with the lockdowns and similar. Our farmers are local and can get the foods to the stores easier and in better shape to resale. Farming friends tell me it's been a good 18 months once they figured out how to make the pivot.

The corporate farms aren"t going to take over, they already have. My concern is can local producers still produce enough for the urban centres. I would LOVE to see us go back to our food being locally produced.

I think they can. Several of our local grocery stores around me source a large portion of their food from local farmers. What remains to be seen is if the general public is willing to eat more seasonally grown foods and more basic foods. Apples in the fall and winter but not spring, loaf bread instead of 8 different kinds of rolls, etc. And is willing to go without some foods or have them as special occasion only, such as soda or cake flour.

We even have small but commercial 3 flour mills that I can think of off the top of my head within 30 miles of my town. A couple of cheese making farmers, etc. We can eat really well around here. Not sure how big cities would do though. Might need a trade route 

[thyme4change]

Maybe the reality is food would go back to costing a bigger percentage of our income, as would clothing, buy maybe housing would be less. A return to the 50's. 😒

[Deleted]

Oct 3, 2021 23:06:29 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Maybe the reality is food would go back to costing a bigger percentage of our income, as would clothing, but maybe housing would be less. A return to the 50's. 😒

The problem with house prices decreasing is that it would be a disaster for anyone with a mortgage and a low down payment.  We saw that in the last financial crisis.  Even if you were minding your own business and making your mortgage payments on time, you were underwater as your neighbors listed their houses at distress-sale prices and if you wanted to relocate for another job you'd have to bring cash to the closing if you sold it.  I'd be OK with prices leveling out, though.