As new locality-based food systems
emerge, resistance to modern production
techniques embedded in the conventional
food system is also evident. The maximization of productivity and labor efficiency has
been a hallmark of the American agricultural and food system. The result of these
twin processes is an industrial, concentrated, and consolidated food system that
yields cheap and plentiful food. Many view
this model as a panacea for providing food
to a modern industrial workforce, yet it is
becoming increasingly clear that this industrial model of agriculture has hidden costs
to farm family stability, rural community
well-being, and human and ecosystem
health.