Curtis Stone on the obstacles modern farmers face

Larry King: You’re outspoken about the need for more farmers in the country.

Curtis Stone: Yup.

Larry King: What kind of farmers?

Curtis Stone: Look I think young farmers; the Young Farmers Organization is someone… the coalition is someone I’ve supported for a long time. Effectively what they do is take a deeper look at how we’re growing things here in this country, and unfortunately farmers are faced with a totally different set of challenges than they were generations ago. Land access is a problem. Water is a problem. Student debt is a problem that never used to worry farmers before, but as technology’s grown and the way that we sort of approach agriculture. It’s now very big business. So if you’re a young, independent farmer you find it very difficult to make your way in the world. Especially considering you might have to buy a farm, right? So what’s happening unfortunately is a lot of people that would historically take over a family farm, choosing a different path, and no one’s coming into the industry…

Larry King: Corporate farming now, right?

Curtis Stone: It is. And I think that’s a little dangerous. I think it’s good to keep young, small independent farms. I think they’re very important for the country.

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