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livingontheland - Re: [Livingontheland] Demand Choice - Demand Labeling

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Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: Pat Meadows <pat@meadows.pair.com>
  • To: "self-reliance, networking, and simple living, for small farm sustainability, rural independence and security." <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Demand Choice - Demand Labeling
  • Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2005 09:15:39 -0500

On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 18:30:01 -0700, you wrote:

>Demand Choice - Demand Labeling
>http://www.truefoodnow.org/shoppersguide/labeling.html
>
>Currently, at least 46 different genetically engineered foods are being
>sold without labeling or pre-market safety testing. These genetically
>engineered foods are present in up to 70% of processed food products, from
>major soy-based baby formulas to some of the most popular corn chip brands,
>found in supermarket shelves every day.
>

Would it be too drastic to also say 'Avoid processed foods'
or 'Cook basic foods from scratch' ?

There are a myriad of benefits from cooking and eating whole
natural foods, not the least of which are health benefits.
I don't always manage it, sometimes I'm in too much pain or
too tired to even think about cooking. But it's not an 'all
or nothing' situation. The more you can do it, the more
your health and wallet will benefit.

Then, to complete the circle: BUY LOCAL FOOD whenever you
can.

What you cannot buy locally, can sometimes be bought
directly from the farmer: I buy, for instance, wheat and
soybeans directly from farmers. They're not local, but at
least I am bypassing the middlemen and processing. This is
good too, not least because the grower is actually getting a
decent price for the fruits of his labor.

The specific version of 'Ten Reasons' below was adapted for
Vermont, by a University of Vermont extension person, but
the same principles apply to all areas.

Cheers,
Pat

---------------

TEN REASONS TO BUY LOCAL FOOD
(adapted from 'Growing For Market' newsletter)
by Vern Grubinger, University of Vermont Extension

Vermont is blessed with a variety of farms. While known for
dairy, there also many farms that raise fruits and
vegetables, flowers and herbs, and animal products of all
kinds. Our farmers are dedicated to stewardship and
committed to quality. And while they love what they do, they
aren't doing it for entertainment. They need to make a
living. Consumers that value fresh food and a working
landscape should support local farmers by buying their
products. Here are ten reasons why.

1) Locally grown food tastes and looks better. The crops
are picked at their peak, and farmstead products like
cheeses and are hand-crafted for best flavor. Food imported
from far away is older and has traveled on trucks or planes,
and sat in warehouses before it gets to you.

2) Local food is better for you. The shorter the time
between the farm and your table, the less likely it is that
nutrients will be lost from fresh food.

3) Local food preserves genetic diversity. In the modern
agricultural system, plant varieties are chosen for their
ability to ripen uniformly, withstand harvesting, survive
packing and last a long time on the shelf, so there is
limited genetic diversity in large-scale production. Smaller
local farms, in contrast, often grow many different
varieties to provide a long harvest season, an array of
colors, and the best flavors.

4) Local food is safe. There's a unique kind of assurance
that comes from looking a farmer in the eye at farmers'
market or driving by the fields where your food comes from.
Local farmers aren't anonymous and they take their
responsibility to the consumer seriously.

5) Local food supports local families. The wholesale prices
that farmers get for their products are low, often near the
cost of production. Local farmers who sell direct to
consumers cut out the middleman and get full retail price
for their food - which helps farm families stay on the land.

6) Local food builds community. When you buy direct from a
farmer, you're engaging in a time-honored connection between
eater and grower. Knowing farmers gives you insight into the
seasons, the land, and your food. In many cases, it gives
you access to a place where your children and grandchildren
can go to learn about nature and agriculture.

7) Local food preserves open space. When farmers get paid
more for their products by marketing locally, they're less
likely to sell farmland for development. When you buy
locally grown food, you're doing something proactive to
preserve our agricultural landscape.

8) Local food keeps taxes down. According to several
studies, farms contribute more in taxes than they require in
services, whereas most development contributes less in taxes
than the cost of required services.

9) Local food benefits the environment and wildlife.
Well-managed farms conserve fertile soil and clean water in
our communities. The farm environment is a patchwork of
fields, meadows, woods, ponds and buildings that provide
habitat for wildlife.

10) Local food is an investment in the future. By supporting
local farmers today, you are helping to ensure that there
will be farms in your community tomorrow.

-----------------------
--
ContainerSeeds.com - vegetable, herb, fruit and edible
flower seeds for successful container growing.
http://www.containerseeds.com





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