Generally though family farms are more personally invested in the quality of their produce (and treatment and health of their animals) especially if it is being sold direct locally rather than into some anonymous wholesale system.

For example, when selling locally, we'd hand-pick the best produce whereas the bulk production would be loaded into 30 tonne bulk trailers and sent off to some factory for additional processing. In the U.K. there has been a resurgence of farm-outlets and farmers markets to help local producers reach local customers directly.

People tend to remember details of locally produced products due to its local association and so a bad experience is more likely to cause a direct negative impact on sales the producer understands.

A related benefit of local farmer-direct outlets I overlooked is that there is often much less wastage (more variation in the size and shape of the produce, which reflects what nature provides).

Most bulk wholesale product has to meet minimum and maximum sizes so large percentages of produce (10%+) can be discarded and dumped [1] especially in poor growing years, or because it is the wrong shape [2]. Thankfully there's been recent public, media, and political pressure on the wholesale buyers to reduce this but it is still a significant problem.

Another benefit (for producers) is direct local supply is less susceptible to large wholesale buyers arbitrarily forcing the farm-gate price lower in order to maintain the wholesale pipeline profit margin without regard for the needs of the farmer.

If other industries were as efficient and productive as farms have been over the last 50 years we'd be in a very different world. For example, in the 1970s we had 8 full-time workers and over harvest we'd have another 15 or so (mostly women or students). In 2016 we have 1 full-time and 1 'apprentice' (who is paid about 1/3 of the national minimum wage!) all year round.

So now we're less connected to the local economy and community due to the price pressure.

In the 1970s we were banking enough profit in the good years to carry us through the poor years and still maintain investment in equipment and buildings. Now its a constant battle of attrition to maintain the status-quo.

It never ceases to amaze me that people are willing to pay out ridiculous sums for luxuries like 'smart' phones, TVs, vacations, etc., and yet begrudge paying a reasonable price for a life-supporting essential - especially when it is freshly harvested (as opposed to processed) food.

[1] "Food waste reduction could help feed world's starving" http://www.bbc.com/news/business-28092034

[2] "Wonky fruit and veg" http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8587496.stm