What Lies Behind The Fence...
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"In the past year, there has been a 17% increase of local farmers markets bringing the total to 7,175 operating throughout the United States."- USDA
"In the past year, there has been a 17% increase of local farmers markets bringing the total to 7,175 operating throughout the United States."- USDA
vs
_Health Issues
-Overuse of antibiotics lead to antibiotic resistance Antibiotic Issues -Routine of antibiotics is used to promote growth and prevent disease -Due to crowded and unhealthy conditions, routine use of antibiotics in industrial facilities is believed to lead to antibiotic resistance in humans. Environmental Issues -Contribute to numerous issues such as damage to water, air and soil. -Over-application of manure can lead to contamination of water. Animal Waste Issues -High livestock concentrated areas result in too much manure in one area for the land to handle. -Liquid manure is often sprayed onto land and crops as raw untreated sewage. Water Waste Issues -Use huge amounts of water for liquifying manure, flushing barns, and drinking water for animals. -Contaminates water sources with excess nutrients, hormone, and antibiotic residue and harmful pathogens. Soil Issues -Excess nitrogen in manure can evaporate as ammonia. -Undigested feed may contain trace amounts of heavy metals and salts that accumulate in manure storage units. Hormone Issues -Hormones are used to achieve leaner beef, increase in growth using less feed, and to reduce the cost for producers. - Consumption of hormone treated beef, may cause girls to reach puberty earlier, thus making more susceptible to breast and other cancers. Genetic Diversity Issues -Reduces genetic diversity in animals because they only raise a few selective breeds. Fuel Issues -Intensive livestock production contributes 80% of agriculture's greenhouse gas emissions. Transportation Issues -As the distance food travels increases, so does the role of chemicals and processing to reduce spoilage before the food reaches the marketplace. Animal Welfare Issues -Industrial animals are crammed together in confined areas or cages without access to sunlight, fresh air, or open pasture, increasing potential for rapid spread of disease. Economic/Community Issues - Many communities are left with the cost of environmental damage. Worker Issues -Subjected to an array of hazards such as respiratory infections, sprains, bruises, severe head trauma, fractures, electrocution, and repetitive motion injury. | _Health Issues
-Foods are produced without the use of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and other hazardous inputs. Antibiotic Issues -Antibiotics are only administered to sick animals which are pulled from the herd before treating it so the other animals don't get any of the treatment. -The meat is not sold under that label. Environmental Issues -Sustainable farmers recognize the importance of protecting the natural environment and act as stewards of the land. Animal Waste Issues -Only raise what the land is capable of handling. -Manure is used as fertilizers for crops which reduces or eliminates need for commercial fertilizers and crops. Water Waste Issues -Protects water sources -Conserves water Soil Issues -Applies animal manure at a rate that the land can handle. Hormone Issues -No hormones are administered to animals. Genetic Diversity Issues - Help preserve genetic diversity by raising a wild range of animal breeds. Fuel Issues -Use efficient application of manure and crop rotation to minimize fuel consumption. Transportation Issues -Sell their product locally through farmers markets, local stores, or community supported agriculture (CSA) programs. -This prevents environmental damage and human health problems caused by transportation generated pollution. Animal Welfare Issues - Sustainably raised animals are treated humanely, and are permitted to carry out natural behaviors such as rooting in the dirt and pecking the ground. Economic/Community Issues - Support local economies. Worker Issues -Owners provide a safe working environment. |
So ... you wanna buy local?
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Do you want to become a more active consumer?
Do you want to be more aware of what you are eating?
Do you want to be more informed on where your food comes from?
_Three easy steps to help
jump-start your slow food journey:
jump-start your slow food journey:
_1. Educate yourself. - Do the research!
There are plenty of online resources along with books and other
articles that will tell you everything and anything that you want to
know about the food we eat. Researching things like: fast food, the slow
food movement, local/organic/sustainable farming, industrial farming,
Monsanto, Purdue are just a few examples that will give you a greater
insight on the food that many Americans are buying, cooking and serving.
2. Pay attention to food labels. - Read then while you are grocery shopping. Do they contain pesticides or were antibiotics used? Are they genetically modified foods or were they locally grown? Addressing and completing step one is critical in order for you to be able assess the food labels efficiently and effectively.
3. Take a closer look at where your food is coming from! - If your food is being shipped from thousands of miles away overseas, you most likely do not want to eat it - it probably contains chemicals that your body does not want. Visit your local farm (again, research as step one suggests) and purchase food from there. Get to know the people and local farmers in your community!
2. Pay attention to food labels. - Read then while you are grocery shopping. Do they contain pesticides or were antibiotics used? Are they genetically modified foods or were they locally grown? Addressing and completing step one is critical in order for you to be able assess the food labels efficiently and effectively.
3. Take a closer look at where your food is coming from! - If your food is being shipped from thousands of miles away overseas, you most likely do not want to eat it - it probably contains chemicals that your body does not want. Visit your local farm (again, research as step one suggests) and purchase food from there. Get to know the people and local farmers in your community!
Get to know more about the food you eat!
Presenting .... Apple Facts!
... and a little more about sustainability:
_Learn more about the foods you eat and where they come from!
What exactly is local food?
While local is a flexible term, the basic concept is simple: local foods are produced as close to home as possible. Buying local in places such as farmers markets and local farms supports a more sustainable food system because true sustainability goes beyond methods used in food production to include every step that brings food from farm to plate.
why should you care?
Think about it! Local is better than going through the long process. Food normally has to travel thousands of miles to just get to your plate. The idea of "local is fresher" is something that more people aren't familiar with. Why? Maybe because most people are used to going to the supermarket and buying whatever is offered there, regardless of how far it's traveled or the process that was used on it while growing on the farms.
Local vs. Sustainable: What's the difference?
The more information one finds out about local farming and fresh food, the idea of sustainability comes into play. Just because something is local and fresh, but not sustainable doesn't make it bad. A good way to think of it is basically that sustainable just makes it better. Sustainable involves food production methods that are healthy. They don't harm the environment or the land surrounding it. They respect workers, are humane to animals, provide fair wages to farmers, and support local farming communities.
why should you care?
Our bodies aren't made to take in the chemicals that we have in so much of the food we see daily. So the fresher and less contaminated the food, the better. Local is good. Sustainable is great!
Local vs. Global (Industrial)
(Taken from sustainabletable.org)
Industrial food production is entirely dependent on fossil fuels, which, when refined and burned, create greenhouse gases that are significant contributors to climate change.The biggest part of fossil fuel use in industrial farming is not transporting food or fueling machinery; it's chemicals. As much as forty percent of the energy used in the food system goes towards the production of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. By adding transportation, processing and packaging to the food system equation, the fossil fuel and energy use of our current food system puts tremendous stress on the environment. Food processors also use a large amount of paper and plastic packaging to keep fresh food from spoiling as it is transported and stored for long periods of time. This packaging is difficult or impossible to reuse or recycle. In addition, industrial farms are a major source of air and water pollution.
Small, local farms are run by farmers who live on their land and work hard to preserve it. They protect open spaces by keeping land in agricultural use and preserve natural habitats by maintaining forest and wetlands. By being good stewards of the land, seeking out local markets, minimizing packaging, and harvesting food only when it is ready to consume, farmers can significantly reduce their environmental impact. In fact, studies show that sustainable agricultural practices can actually increase food production by up to 79% while at the same time actively reducing the effects of farming on climate change through carbon sequestration.
Industrial food production is entirely dependent on fossil fuels, which, when refined and burned, create greenhouse gases that are significant contributors to climate change.The biggest part of fossil fuel use in industrial farming is not transporting food or fueling machinery; it's chemicals. As much as forty percent of the energy used in the food system goes towards the production of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. By adding transportation, processing and packaging to the food system equation, the fossil fuel and energy use of our current food system puts tremendous stress on the environment. Food processors also use a large amount of paper and plastic packaging to keep fresh food from spoiling as it is transported and stored for long periods of time. This packaging is difficult or impossible to reuse or recycle. In addition, industrial farms are a major source of air and water pollution.
Small, local farms are run by farmers who live on their land and work hard to preserve it. They protect open spaces by keeping land in agricultural use and preserve natural habitats by maintaining forest and wetlands. By being good stewards of the land, seeking out local markets, minimizing packaging, and harvesting food only when it is ready to consume, farmers can significantly reduce their environmental impact. In fact, studies show that sustainable agricultural practices can actually increase food production by up to 79% while at the same time actively reducing the effects of farming on climate change through carbon sequestration.
why should you care?
Overall, it's your body so it's your choice. The food industry is being taken over by major corporations who have a need for money as their first concern rather than what they need to do to that food which eventually effects us, the consumers. If we cared a little more, started purchasing local and from fresh farms, maybe we could make a difference. We can see the change we need to see and can treat our bodies the way they were meant to be treated, with natural food uninhabited by chemicals and pesticides.