2007年VOA标准英语-Family Farms Sell Directly to Restaurants, Cons

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles, CA
09 July 2007
 

Around the United States, small family farms are struggling to stay afloat financially.  VOA's Mike O'Sullivan reports that some have teamed up with big companies, while others have returned to traditional farming methods, as consumers and restaurants demand high-quality produce.

Philip McGrath

For family farmer Philip McGrath, a move to organic farming, free from synthetic¹ fertilizers and other chemicals, has opened new markets.

His small farm in coastal² Ventura County in California caters³ to high-end restaurants and consumers who are more concerned with quality than with price.

He says big agricultural companies work in this area, but some farmers like him sell directly to consumers. "And now it's mainly big ag [agriculture] that's here, working with family farmers growing things on a contractual basis, and a few of us doing what I'm doing, which is called direct marketing⁴.  And direct marketing is growing just stuff for local clientele."

A vegetable stand at the farmers' market

Todd Aarons is executive chef at a local gourmet⁵ restaurant. He buys produce from Philip McGrath. "By us dealing⁶ with local farmers, we're really getting the finest produce that's picked -- not necessarily for it's production so much, but more for its flavor, because that's what really sells at farmer's markets and to the chefs at the restaurants, where they're really looking for flavor."

At the Santa Monica Farmers Market outside Los Angeles, chefs and other consumers buy directly from farmers.

Amelia Salzman has written a book of recipes with ingredients found at this urban farmer's market. "You know, it's a wonderful mix of chefs, the best chefs in the city, and actually from outlying areas of southern California, all flock to this market.  That's one element.  Then there are home cooks.  There are office workers who come on their lunch break.  It's a great mix of southern California life."

George Schnur, a retired⁷ engineer, sells exotic fruit from his farm near San Diego. "And I try to educate people about the different fruits.  And I have a lot of steady customers that have been my customers, probably for over 20 years."

Farming is labor⁸ intensive, and local farmers face the problem of a tight labor market, with immigration restrictions⁹ slowing the flow of workers from Latin America.

Farmers also face rising waters costs, increasing urbanization and government regulation.

Edgar Terry is a fourth-generation family farmer who grows vegetables and strawberries for big produce companies.  He also sells directly to consumers at a roadside stand.  He says it is not easy to keep a farm alive. "I think some days I should have listened to my mother and went to work somewhere else on a nine-to-five job and drew a paycheck because there are a lot of complexities¹⁰ and a lot of variables every day of the week, and all the regulations in the state of California, and immigration laws and all the compliance¹¹ issues that we're having to deal with.  It's getting maddening."

These farmers say there are easier ways to make a living, but they are carrying on a family tradition and they farm because they love it.  

They say new outlets¹² for their produce may keep their family farms alive as viable¹³ businesses. 

1 synthetic   

adj.合成的，人工的；综合的；n.人工制品

参考例句：

• We felt the salesman's synthetic friendliness.我们感觉到那位销售员的虚情假意。
• It's a synthetic diamond.这是人造钻石。

2 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

3 caters   

提供饮食及服务( cater的第三人称单数 )； 满足需要，适合

参考例句：

• That shop caters exclusively to the weaker sex. 那家商店专供妇女需要的商品。
• The boutique caters for a rather select clientele. 这家精品店为特定的顾客群服务。

4 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

5 gourmet   

n.食物品尝家；adj.出于美食家之手的

参考例句：

• What does a gourmet writer do? 美食评论家做什么？
• A gourmet like him always eats in expensive restaurants.像他这样的美食家总是到豪华的餐馆用餐。

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

8 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

9 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

10 complexities   

复杂性(complexity的名词复数)； 复杂的事物

参考例句：

• The complexities of life bothered him. 生活的复杂使他困惑。
• The complexities of life bothered me. 生活的杂乱事儿使我心烦。

11 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

12 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。