What lies behind the fence
"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
operating throughout the United States."- USDA
Industrial Farming VS. Local Farming
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. |
_
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?
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:
Three easy steps to help
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!
Apple Facts
_Learn more about the foods you eat and where they come from!
Frequently asked questions:
Frequently asked questions:
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.
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 I 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.
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.
What is the difference between local and sustainable?
_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!
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!
What is the different between local and global (industrial)?
_According to Sustainable Table, 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.
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 I 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.
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.