From 1995 to 2002, American consumer food prices have gone up 32%

[AP]

Small farmers are going out of business because of low prices, food is being dumped on the third world by huge producers, but the American consumer hasn't seen any price competition at the retail level.

In other words, all this WTO bullshit and all this legislating, has been shifting huge profits to huge agricultural companies.

Oh, and 60% of US farm subsidies have gone to the largest 10% commercial ag companies and almost none to small farmers.

(Info thanks to today's Working Assets Radio)
http://www.workingforchange.com/radio/index.cfm?CFID=11535&CFTOKEN=13413709

[AP]

1. The guest describes WTO agreements as anti-free trade monopoly

protection policies.

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[AP]

2. Link to live show...on now.

http://www.kalw.org/kalw_stream.ram

[SoCalDem]

3. Produce in Calif is very high priced

It used to be fairly reasonably priced during the peak season, but no more..

The "agri-mega-farms" pay their workers "shit-for-wages".. They set up sweetheart deals to use water in amounts they should not be allowed, and at prices that cause the rest of us to pay "their" share, then the chem run-off pollutes ....and they ship the best stuff OUT of Ca, and we pay premium "off season" prices almost all year long..

The open air farmer's markets are about the only place left to get decent produce, and they are not really much of a bargain anymore:(.. It sucks..

I can remember as a kid, when a particular fruit was "in season", it was abundant and priced "just right".. We would gorge on peaches, or melons, or cherries, or apples, or whatever, and then we would patiently wait until it was "that" time of year again..

Now you get the same cardboardy, mushy fruit all year long, and pay through the nose..