"Truck farming" used to be a common term in most rural areas referring to people who grew vegetables and took them to markets. The terminology has faded away (as well as many truck farmers) as our food system has mostly large scale industrial agriculture with products transported by train and tractor trailers. The "modern" truck farm now often takes the CSA model (community supported agriculture) in which families pay a lump sum of money at the beginning of the season to a small local farm in exchange for weekly "shares" of produce throughout the season. This model helps provide farmers essential funds at the beginning of the season when expenses are especially high. Many small scale farmers also still rely on weekly farmer's markets and wholesale to restaurants and grocery stores to distribute produce.
While I find the changes in terminology fairly fascinating, the most important thing is that small scale farmers DO still exist and are slowly increasing in numbers. I'm not sure we will ever return to the number of true truck farmers there once were (or that this even makes sense anymore), but diversifying production methods is definitely a step toward strengthening our local food systems, communities, and economies.
So.....in the spirit of truck farming.....a few pictures from the farm. All of this talk of truck farms was inspired by the old flat bed Ford on the farm. While it isn't actually used for transporting produce to market, it does come in handy around the farm for many uses.........and leaves me wondering - is this a new definition for "truck farming"?
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