i havent had the option here (smalltown VT) these last few years, but in Albq i was spoiled. There was a 3-store chain, Sunshine Market, that did local produce, specialty foods, even some deli/bakery, at regular supermarket prices. Their produce wasnt as varied as Whole Foods but it was farm-to-market & less than half the price.
As the son of a subsistence farmer, i also do resent boutique farming (tho not a 10th as much as me Da does). Farmers markets became a thing because it was actually cheaper. the concept was "farm direct to customer - we pass the savings to you". but now i gotta pay $4-5 bucks a pound for tomatoes cuz some of em are purple and aint nothing sells for anywhere near what i consider a farm price.
Only one of my 37 1st cousins has ever farmed. That one, who grew up without plumbing, went to Dartmouth on the Indians-go-free plan, met & married the daughter of a Washington lumber fortune and has spent the last 20some years creating tax shelters for her dough. He's currently raising some weird red Scottish beef cows up the road from here, gives them mead to drink, mani/pedis and hummers from goats & such and charges $50/lb for the ribeye. My dad almost threw the laptop across the room when i showed him the website
