The solution to this problem is for consumers to organise and buy produce on their terms, by forming food co-operatives.

Buy the food you collectively want in bulk from the wholesalers and then sell it back to yourselves as customers. This removes the overhead of profit (and often labour, the highest cost, if co-op members do shifts at the store) and in many cases marketing, packaging and other costs. It thus allows you to have access to healthy, fresh, local, sustainable, etc. food at a reasonable price.