Corporatization of American Agriculture

[VanishingPoi]

Corporatization of the food system is no longer being driven by profits gained through greater economic efficiency. The economic efficiencies of large scale farming operations were probably exhausted by the 1950s and even earlier in most non-farm sectors of the food economy. The motives of further corporate consolidation are market power and political power. Market power can be used to extract profits by exploiting both consumers and producers. Consumers’ food choices can be limited to maximize sales of the most profitable products. Contract growers can be pressured to minimize production costs through production practices that degrade the land and natural environment and diminish the quality of life in rural communities.

http://web.missouri.edu/ikerdj/papers/SFT-Corporatization%20of%20Am%20Ag%20(7-10).htm

[VanishingPoi]

Food choices can be limited to maximize sales of the most profitable products - Think Almond milk (mostly filtered water and about 2 cents worth of almonds).

All left and right has been had by the food industries. Think certain dried fruits. Eat a sugar cube in your trail mix. It is probably better for you.