Consolidation in Organic Agriculture - CCOF

estrictions on corporate involvement in agriculture(although it was overturned by anappellate court in August, 2003). Fed upwith factory hog farms and the applicationof toxic sewage sludge to farms, two townshipsin Pennsylvania went further andpassed ordinances that declare corporationsare not ‘persons’ under the US Constitution.Mandatory payments to commodity promotionboards, or “Checkoffs”, have beenruled unconstitutional for pork, beef, grapeand mushroom farmers (the pork and beefdecisions are currently still being fought inthe court system, but are widely expected tobe upheld). Many independent farmers feelthese funds help agribusiness at theirexpense, and courts have agreed that theyviolate producers’ First Amendment rightto free speech and association.The 2002 Farm Bill included provisionsthat require labeling the country of originfor perishable agricultural commodities, butthe program has been placed on hold until2006. Surveys have consistently found thatmore than two-thirds of consumers are willingto pay more for meat and produce fromtheir own country. 12Regulations that ban Wal-Mart Supercentersand other “big box” grocery storeshave been enacted in Oakland, Martinez, SanLuis Obispo and Arroyo Grande in California,and in at least 18 other cities in the US. 13Finally, many efforts are underway to createa more decentralized food system, involvingboth the creation of alternative structuresand addressing the political power of oligopolies.In Chicago, for example, an initiativeto create a regional organic food systemadvocates new consumer food cooperatives,farmers’ markets and community gardens,as well as increasing farmland protection,reducing subsidies to agribusiness andincreasing public funding for sustainablefood systems. 14Consolidation in food and agriculture hasmany negative consequences for the majorityof those who grow, harvest, process and eatfood. These include lowering incomes andpurchasing power, limiting choices, andharming human, animal and ecosystemhealth. However the importance of foodmakes it likely that as more people becomeaware of these consequences, the power ofcorporate agribusiness will be more effectivelyconfronted.ABOUT THE AUTHORPhil Howard is a postdoctoral researcherat the Center for Agroecology and SustainableFood Systems at UC SantaCruz where his research addresses the roleof consumers in fostering sustainableagriculture. He is a co-author of the“Consolidation in Food Retailing andDairy” study conducted for the NationalFarmers Union.1 Heffernan, W.D. 1999. “Biotechnology andMature Capitalism,” Presented at the 11thAnnual Meeting of the National AgriculturalBiotechnology Council. Lincoln, Nebraska.2 Hendrickson, M. & W.D. Heffernan 2002a.“Concentration in Agricultural Markets,”National Farmers Union.3 Hendrickson, M., W.D. Heffernan, P.H.Howard & J.B. Heffernan. 2001.“Consolidation in Food Retailing and Dairy:Implications for Farmers and Consumers in aGlobal Food System,” National FarmersUnion.4 Heffernan, W.D., M. Hendrickson & R.Gronski. 1999. “Consolidation in the Foodand Agriculture System,” National FarmersUnion.5 Fesperman, D. & K. Shatzkin. 1999. “ThePlucking of the American Chicken Farmer,”Baltimore Sun, February 28.6 Hallman, W.K., W.C. Hebden, H.L. Aquino,C.L. Cuite & J.T. Lang. 2003. “PublicPerceptions of Genetically Modified Foods:A National Study of American Knowledgeand Opinion,” Rutgers University.7 Odabashian, E. 1999. “White Liquid Gold,”Consumers Union, West Coast RegionalOffice.8 Baker, L. 2002. “The Not-So-Sweet Successof Organic Farming,” Salon, July 29.9 Forster, J. 2002. “Look Who’s GoingOrganic,” Business Week, October 9.10 Weir, T. 2003. “Wal-Mart’s the 1: America’s50 Largest Supermarket Chains,” ProgressiveGrocer, May 1, 35–48.11 Hendrickson, M.K. & W.D. Heffernan.2002b. “Opening Spaces ThroughRelocalization: Locating Potential Resistancein the Weaknesses of the Global FoodSystem,” Sociologia Ruralis 42(4): 347– 369.Quote p. 361.12 Umberger, W.J., D.M. Feuz, C.R. Calkins& B.M. Sitz. 2003. “Country-of-OriginLabeling of Beef Products: US ConsumersPerceptions,” Presented at the Food &Agriculture Marketing Policy SectionConference, Washington, DC.13 DeFao, J. 2003. “Oakland Bans MegaGrocers: Wal-Mart Blocked by City CouncilVote,” San Francisco Chronicle, Thursday,October 23, A19.14 Slama, J. 2002. “The Land of OrganicOpportunity: Steps to Building a RegionalOrganic Food System Serving Chicago”Sustain.