Social responsibility: We charge twice as much as the other guy--and oh, yeah, we don't deliver either...

Proof that there are niche markets to be served everywhere (also known as 'there's a sucker born every minute'): check out this article on a "beyond organic" farm in Virginia that makes its customers come to the farm to buy their produce, meat, and poultry. Mother Jones is as lefty as they come, but they do write about some interesting things.

I'm always intrigued by how supposedly 'compassionate' writers unquestioningly swallow the argument from outfits like Polyface (the farm above) and Whole Foods Markets that their higher prices are actually socially beneficial (although farmer Joel Salatin has a new twist with his responsible/irresponsible pricing schtick). I get the feeling that while somewhere in the back of their minds, these writers may realize how many economically disadvantaged people rely on the Wal-Marts of the world to stretch a buck, this way they still get to feel like they care about those people while safely avoiding actually running into them in the aisles while searching for organic Atkins-friendly pasta.