The real answer is yes. Some farmers do sell it all and go do something else. This has resulting in fewer farmers but those remaining end up being bigger and bigger. Or sell off your land to someone who wants to build something on it.
Silicon Valley used to be fruit orchards and even into the 1960s there was plenty of evidence of the local agricultural legacy. Almost all of that is gone. A few heritage orchards here and there. Farmers names on streets and buildings.
Of course, this paving over farmland has occurred all over America, not just in the Santa Clara Valley.
Most of these farm sales occur with a generation transition when the heirs to farm property would rather sell it off than continue operating a farm. It happens every day.
Here in Nashville, and other areas I'm sure, it is a trend to START a farm. The "know what is in your food movement" has jump started many of us to romanticize farming into simple way of life. But I want to hear the other side. The more difficult side.
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Silicon Valley used to be fruit orchards and even into the 1960s there was plenty of evidence of the local agricultural legacy. Almost all of that is gone. A few heritage orchards here and there. Farmers names on streets and buildings.
Of course, this paving over farmland has occurred all over America, not just in the Santa Clara Valley.
http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2012/07/20/soul-food-farm-announces-its-closure-it%E2%80%99s-heartbreaking/
They were selling to top markets and restaurants in the SF Bay Area. Their fatal mistake was lack of diversification of their farm property use.
Romanticizing farming as a "simple way of life" does not correspond with real life.