The interesting thing about that story is the reason those big supermarket chains are “crushing” small farmers: high standards for produce. The chains refuse to buy inferior quality fruits and vegetables, and the operators of the small family farms are having a hard time growing produce that meets the higher standards. Two questions come instantly to mind: 1) Should the supermarkets lower their standards (and presumably lose business) as an act of charity, thus giving no incentive for third-world farmers to develop better farming techinques? 2) What quality produce do New York Times editors buy in Manhattan?