We are lucky because we have a locally owned grocery who buys vegetables from local farmers when things are in season and the NC state farmer's market is an hour away, so we frequent it a few times a year, and the produce available from eithe of these is very different from the California and overseas stuff. Just imagine a real red tomato and several different varieties to chose from.
Walmart has been able to run off the competition because they give customers what they want most of the time. The same goes for the grocery store. The chains win because we give them our money. So we did it to ourselves. Just like the two little old ladies in my church who were lamenting that it is terrible that people have to work on Sunday, I asked them were they going out for lunch after church and they said yes they were, I simply told them that if they stopped patronizing that restraunt on Sunday, see how long it stays open. If the proprietor cannot make money he would not be open for business. The look on their face was priceless. I do not go to walmart anymore, and I have several friends who do not go either. Almost every item comes from offshore. I vote with my feet. I like quality stuff and only if I cannot find it made here do I buy an overseas product. I do not like the fact that Walmart has changed business practices, they once helped small business by placing their products in Walmart stores, they no longer do that. I guess what I am saying is that we like to bash people, but in reality we are as much of the problem as they are, Walmart is just doing what business does. We the consumer have the ultimate say. So if you spend money there don't complain when there are not other choices.
Karl, you are correct about business detente', but crazy things do happen that can interupt the supply chain. LIke the planned labor strike in china during the next olympics.
