Resolve to Evolve

Photo courtesy of http://egoscueportland.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/join-the-revolution.jpg

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's Eve weekend and that you're all ready to jump headfirst into 2011.

I'd like to challenge each and every reader to evolve in 2011.  This isn't a Charles Darwin lecture -- this is about evolving as a consumer; become more informed and educated about the food you choose to eat, where it comes from and who produces it. All of us, producers and consumers alike, regardless if you live in the country or the big city, should make educated decisions about what we put on our plate. So I strongly encourage that if you hear gossip about a certain food, agriculture practice or eating lifestyle - check it out for yourself.  Form your own opinion - don't just take someone's words as truths.

At Food For Thought, we strive to facilitate learning about food and agriculture production.  Many of our previous posts have done just that.  Below are some of the posts that explain a little more about certain agriculture practices and foods - I hope you enjoy them!

Basil Blues
Getting to know your BEEF
Cotton is King: Part 1 and 2
The Story of Wheat: As Told by a 3 Year Old
Amber Waves of Grain

Additionally, you can check out these resources for more information on nutrition and food safety in the United States.

Nutrient Rich Food Coalition
Tips on Choosing Produce and Keeping it Fresh and Safe from Plant to Palate
Food Safety Education - Meat and Poultry Hotline

I hope that you'll all join me in becoming a healthy, informed consumer!

Until next time,

~ Buzzard ~

A Year in Review: Food For Thought

It's been a big year for Food For Thought and to thank all of you, I thought it'd be interesting to review some of the happenings:

• This year we've had 7,238 visitors to our blog.
• Our top two posts receiving visits were: Getting to Know Your Beef and Temple Grandin Lecture
• Most of our traffic is direct refferal and of course Facebook.
• Our visitors are from 104 different countries.
• Our top five states are: 1. Kansas, 2. California, 3. Missouri, 4. Texas, and 5. New York.
• We continue to keep up with a twitter account that I encourage you to follow.
• We hosted a speaker for the Upson Lecture Series - Dr. Temple Grandin

We'd like to thank you for a fun year of blogging and bridging the gap between producers and consumers. We've all enjoyed seeing Food For Thought gain interest and look forward to a successful 2011!

Publish Post

Food Safety and Some Political Mumbo Jumbo

I wish I followed politics more. Maybe before I begin following I should wish to care more first. Don't get me wrong, when there are specific issues that affect things I am really passionate about, I jump on the computer and do my research to form an opinion. But I have a feeling no one would put me in the category of well-rounded in the political arena. My facebook says my affiliation is, "currently looking for a worthy party," and while this statement has some truth, I'm not actively looking either. I should make this a resolution for 2011. I'll keep it in my top 5.

There are some political issues I like to read up on. The current U.S. food safety bill (Food Safety Modernization Act) would be one of them. It won't officially be signed until January of the new year, but even when it is signed I'm not sure it will change much. It is estimated that it will cost somewhere in the ballpark of $1.4 billion in the first five years of installment. Unless you have been in a hole for the past few years of economic turmoil, I don't think we have that money just sitting around.

When I do choose to research some of the hot topics in political changes, I need the information to be pretty cut and dry. I found some good information for the recent food bill on the FDA's website. While most of the information is good, I won't speak for one of the opening paragraphs...

"The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) gives FDA a mandate to pursue a system that is based on science and addresses hazards from farm to table, putting greater emphasis on preventing food-borne illness. The reasoning is simple: The better the system handles producing, processing, transporting, and preparing foods, the safer our food supply will be."

Thanks for that. It probably cost a lot of money and some poor intern's whole work day to get that paragraph orchestrated and I'm pretty sure that sums up the FDA's purpose in the first place, before the FSMA. No new information here.

There are some interesting provisions in the new bill and they are listed on the FDA website given above. I guess what urged me to write this post is that we (meaning the United States) have a very safe food supply. I don't think that we have the extra money laying around for the costs associated with the legislation and I think it's just pushing more on to the FDA. I think it's truly unfair to place majority responsibility for food safety into one agency.

Food safety is the responsibility of a complex web of people. That's why it is important that we all care about the safety of the food put on our tables. It takes the producers who work hard to insure a safe product is raised, to the processors who are regulated to do things correctly in their facilities, to the preparers of meals whether it be Bobby Flay or my mom. A system that is just complex enough to ensure that we keep eating safe food.

For what my two cents are worth,

Tera

Farmers Night Before Christmas

FARMERS NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2010

Twas the night before Christmas when down on the farm
The animals were resting in the warm, cozy barn.

Now was the time to reflect on the past year
Saying thank you for all the great things they had here.

A calf had been born to the brown and white cow
All bedded in straw from up in the hay mow.

The horses they whinnied with such a great joy
They were a present picked out for the farmer’s young boy.

The pigs they all squealed with every ounce of their might
For the farmer’s wife gave them extra apples tonight.

Even the dogs gave a bark to say thanks
While wagging their tails the children all yank.

A nice quiet night is what they all thought
But little did they know quiet it was not.

When what to their wondering eyes should appear
But the farmer’s whole family had all gathered here.

First there was mom who gathers up all the eggs
And her cute little toddler clung tight to her legs.

Next was the farmer all warm in his coat
And his brown headed boy with his brand new toy boat.

Come Susie! Come Matthew! Come Peter and Paul!
Quick Jenny! Quick Sarah! Come close to the stall.

To the animals they went with treats all in tow
For their gratitude to those creatures they must show.

The pigs all got apples for giving them bacon.
The cows all got hay for the milk they’ve been makin’.

Benny and Penny, the Labs, got new bones.
Their cute little puppies were going to new homes.

As the family and animals all gathered round
The snow started falling softly to the ground.

Even the animals enjoy Christmastime
Giving joy to the family without spending a dime.

They all danced around to frolic and play
As the farmer dropped down to his knees to say:

Thank you for my family and country home
And a nice big area where my animals can roam.

I promise to take care of the creatures and land
And the people who lend a warm, helping hand.

Thank you for the freedom to do what I do
To produce food and fuel so others may have too.

Time had come for the family to call it a night.
The children needed sleep though fight it they might.

To the door they all went while waving goodbye.
What a night this has been they said with a sigh.

Once they retreated the animals all lowed.
For this was the best Christmas one cow bellowed.

They all settled in to get a good rest.
The family they had was clearly the best.

Provide for them they would with all of their might.
That’s what they must do after a night like tonight.

Christmas on the farm is a sight to behold.
Merry Christmas to all, both the young and the old.

- Adapted December 2010 by Aimee Chandler

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Chelsea

American Agriculture | a story of productivity

In 1940, one farmer produced enough food for 19 people. In 1970, one farmer produced enough food for 73 people and in 2010, one farmer produces enough food to feed 155 people. Click on the video below to find out more about how productivity has shaped American agriculture.

More prisoners than farmers in the U.S.

There are more people in prison in the U.S. then there are farmers. It's sad but true.

There are over 285,000,000 people living in the U.S. The prison population in the U.S. exceeds 2 million people, meaning 1 in every 142 U.S. residents are currently incarcerated.

On the other hand, there are only about 960,000 people in the U.S. claiming farming as their principal occupation. So, there are twice as many prisoners than there are full-time farmers.

The sad truth is the number of mouths to feed in prison are growing and the number of producers meeting this need is not. This is one trend I'd sure like to see reverse in the future.

Funny video for the true food lovers

My family loves good food. Every letter or phone call from my Grandma Good is sure to include a description of her last great meal. Every meal at home ends with planning what we’ll eat at the next one. Being home for Christmas this love is celebrated more than any time of year, especially this year because my dad received a premature Christmas gift of a new smoker.

My friend Crystal Young, known to many as Crystal.Cattle, shared this video with me and it exhibits this love that so many of us have for food.

I like the video even more because it reminds me of a couple Thanksgivings ago when my middle brother Derek was upset that my younger brother Kelton and I claimed the two turkey legs before he had a chance to get one, so he stole mine of my plate while my eyes were closed for the Thanksgiving day prayer. Only the steaks are higher in the video because the food everyone is feuding over is my personal favorite – beef.

Hope you enjoy the video as much as I did and be sure to celebrate your love for food this holiday season!