Let’s face it. Not all good farmers are equally good at business and the business between farmer and broker can be stressful.

Brokers are the middle people. Meddling people actually, who facilitate getting farm product to market. Meddlers are, well, a--holes. Not all of them, but most of them.

Meddlers are not advocates for their farmers. They all have a similar game plan. Grind down one farmers price against another farmers price resulting in a race to the bottom where only the broker comes out on top. Rinse and repeat. None of this should come as a surprise but that doesn’t lessen the sting.

It can break a farmer’s spirit when scant loyalty and appreciation is given for their battle to produce a quality product. Family farmers are genuinely grateful to practice an honest trade. But when the crop comes in, it must go out and most of the time it must pass through an a--hole.

Respect for the retailer who annually tours and inspects the fields, paddocks, and orchards of their farmers. Who will bypass brokers and deal with the farmer directly. Retailers who take the time and effort to nurture supply chains and marketing channels. They are out there and they are good. Very good.

#VoteWithYourWallet