9485: Growing food

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: NLaleau@aol.com
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Dear Mr. Harper: I'd say it's possible but difficult.For example:
Marmelade 
valley  has a half-dozen rivers and waterfalls. In 1995 it just fed its
local 
population with no surplus. Unfortunately, even if they produced more,
they 
would face major problems in marketing it because the narrow unpaved 12 km 
road out of Marmelade is cut into the  mountain and in  places is too
narrow 
for two trucks to pass... Rockslides break it in rainy season. Coffee 
producers said  their plants were ending  their 20-year lifespan in 1995
and 
production would  sharply  decline. Even  if they found an agronomist to 
consult, and funding for new  plants, they would still face the task of 
getting a real road built  (12 million dollars US I think), and  finding 
conduits for sales. Does this give you the idea? -- Nancy Laleau