Farms provide a lot for businesses and communities across the country. There are local farms, and there are industrial farms, each of which has their own methods for producing food for their distributors and consumers. These different farms have different values and different product output. With all of the differences around industrial vs. local farms, understanding what each type offers will provide clarity on which ones will pique your interest. We’ll be comparing the differences between industrial farming and local farming practices.
Local Farming
Local farming places emphasis on the planet. Local farming practices are all about being environmentally-friendly while still doing what they can to be economically efficient. They prefer to use plant-based fertilizers rather than fuel-based ones in an attempt to maintain the fertility of the soil in which they grow their crops longer. Local farmers feed their crops naturally-friendly without the use of chemicals. This lets the food extend their shelf life when they reach stores.
Local produce does end up being more expensive than industrial produce. However, the quality of produce you get can make the extra cost worthwhile.
Industrial Farming
Industrial farming has a vastly different set of procedures from local farming. For industrial farms, production is the number one priority. This results in more crops being produced in the same amount of time as what local farms would provide. Industrial farms also tend to have lower prices on the produce they grow, making it easier to purchase in bulk.
However, the quality of produce from industrial farms might not be up to the same standard as local farms. There are many chemicals that are used on industrial farms, and they play a role in the overall quality of the produce industrial farms churn out. These chemicals are used to help aid the growing process and protect the crops from various environmental factors. But the produce doesn’t tend to have the same flavor as crops that were naturally-grown.
Industrial farms also require more energy and water than local farms, and their practices could be a hindrance to the environment in the long run.
To Summarize Industrial & Local Farming
Each of these farming practices has its upsides and downsides. However, the weight of the positives versus the negatives should be taken into consideration when choosing what farming practice to support.
Baywater Farms Has The Right Produce For You
Baywater Farms is a family-owned and operated farm servicing Baltimore, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware beaches, and the Eastern Shore. We are capable of meeting the demands of your produce distributor, restaurant produce supplier, CSA produce supplier, or wholesale produce supplier while maintaining the integrity and character of a small farm. When you work with Baywater Farms, you work with an experienced, ethical, and local farm dedicated to providing the highest-quality heirloom produce.