Winston-Salem farmer Vern Switzer is featured in this NPR story on black farmers’ rally for a discrimmination settlement from the federal government:
After 30 years of farming, Switzer hoped he’d own 100 acres and spend most of his time teaching kids to farm. Instead, he owns just a fraction of that, and he blames the Agriculture Department.
Time and again, Switzer says, USDA officials gave him the runaround, delaying and denying his loan requests. They said he didn’t meet the standard for a government loan.
According to Switzer, the Agriculture Department says it uses the same standard for everyone.
“But that’s a lie, too,” he says. “I know farmers, white farmers, that can get a loan quick, fast and in a hurry.”
‘Farmer Vern’ is my favorite Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market vendor. I look forward to scuppernongs every year.
