When I was young, my family grew a year's supply of vegetables every year on, in total, about an acre. This was in addition to what was supplied to local retailers.
So if you're saying that this process was somehow deficient because we didn't have sufficiently rich, mineral-laden soil like California has, then I agree with you: I simply do not understand the problem.
.
Just saying that the needed level of production is not possible.
In addition Ca valleys produce all year around, except for corn.
.
When I was young, my family grew a year’s supply of vegetables every year on, in total, about an acre.
***************
How you reckon them people in the East survived before they had transports for all them
CA grown veggies/fruits/nuts? Somehow they managed to survive. Hell I remember about a 1/2 acre
plot, growing, picking, canning/perserving and we didn’t starve.