> value add can preserve food in ways that reduce cost. Thus, freeing up income

I suppose the small income one is freeing will not buy him even a fraction of the meds he may need when all that junk will get to him.

> How can we find a balance

This is a false balance to start with. Healthy cheap food is simple. The problem is that it is not the most valuable form to corporations, so they will not push for it.