The Trouble with Tariffs — Episode 2

When you think about tariffs and trade agreements, you probably don’t think about chicken. Or quail. Or ground beef bags.

But the truth is, even though Central Park Farms sells meat within a super small local radius, what happens between Canada and the U.S. directly affects how we run our farm and sometimes, how much it costs to keep doing it.

This week on The Central Park Farms Podcast, I opened up about how cross-border trade issues have quietly shaken our business. A few highlights:

• Our quail processing arm, which has supported bird of prey rescues for years, dried up practically overnight because of U.S. market instability.

• The price of simple things like hay, equipment parts, and even our dog food packaging has jumped.

• My off-farm income through Marketing for Farmers, another way I help keep things steady, has taken a big hit due to shifting funding and diminished speaking opportunities south of the border.

All of this to say: we’re navigating a tough season and not for sympathy, but for transparency, I think it’s important that our customers know how many moving pieces there are in bringing food to your table.

And if you’re ever wondering how you can support a local farm without spending a dime? Share the podcast. Tell a friend about us. Leave a review. Every little bit helps.