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Title: No More Anonymous Food
Source:
www.worldwatch.org
URL Source: http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5202
Published: Aug 2, 2007
Author: Brian Halweil
Post Date: 2007-08-02 17:58:42 by Ferret Mike
Keywords: None
Views: 179
Comments: 15
At a potluck dinner last night, in the midst of local skirt steak, Montauk scallops, a frittata made with the year’s first potatoes, and a salad made with the year’s first tomatoes, the conversation naturally turned to the origin of our foods. The guests included a farmer, two winemakers, and a fisherman, as well as a nurse, several writers, and others who don’t directly make their living from food, but were happy to speak about it. More than ever, it seems, people are talking about where their food comes from. It must have something to do with the recent news about contaminated food imported from China and other nations whose food safety laws seem equally porous. Food scares always push people toward farmers markets and more home-cooked fare made with fresh ingredients. In North Carolina, concerned citizens recently issued a grassroots call for food labeling. Finally, there may be enough political will to fight opposition from international food makers and pass country-of-origin-labeling laws that, in the words of a recent New York Times op-ed, let Americans consumers “know where their food comes from before popping it into their mouths.” But as my dining companions made clear, knowing where your food was grown is only the beginning. At a time when our food travels farther than ever before, eating local is not just about geography—it’s about the end of “anonymous food.” It’s about asking how our food was raised, who raised it, and what impact it had on the landscape. Remember, food is still our most intimate connection to the soil and water around us. Consider two recent—and creative—“eat local” campaigns. The first was launched by the Center for a New American Dream as part of their six-month Carbon Conscious Consumer (C3) campaign. “Big changes start with small steps” is the campaign’s tagline, and this month’s goal is to buy one pound of locally grown food each week. Future months will encourage people to cold wash their clothes and dishes, reduce their junk mail, and carve out one car-free day a week. And now, Bon Appetit restaurant company has built on its successful Eat Local Challenge to introduce a low-carbon diet at its 400 cafes at universities and corporate campuses in 28 U.S. states. The chain plans to reduce its use of beef by 25 percent, to source all meat and poultry and nearly all fruits and vegetables from North America, to use seasonal local produce as a first preference and tropical fruits only as “special occasion” ingredients, and to serve only domestic bottled water and reduce waste from the plastic containers. Perhaps the best evidence of this growing curiosity about how much energy it takes to move our food around is the fact that eating local has even invited a backlash in form of disparaging “don’t buy local” stories from the New York Times and studies from concerned New Zealand shepherds illustrating that, despite the long-distance haul, New Zealand lamb requires less energy to produce than American or European lamb because of the island’s balmy climate and extensive pastures. According to Rich Pirog of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, “It’s entirely possible that under certain systems or certain constraints the local is going to be less efficient than the national or even global food system in terms of energy and greenhouse gas use.” Pirog pioneered much of the thinking on food miles a few years ago, showing that the mode of conveyance makes a huge difference (potatoes shipped by rail from Idaho to New York might be less polluting than Maine potatoes delivered via 18-wheeler truck). “Food miles are a great indicator of localness, but they aren’t necessarily the best indicator of energy use,” he concludes. But localness has other advantages even when it isn’t the most energy efficient. Eating local keeps money in the local economy, helps preserve farmland, and usually means tastier food. In the midst of food safety crises, eating local also brings a certain peace of mind because the shopper can get much more information about what they are actually buying. For those shoppers who are most concerned about energy use, though, here are some simple rules of thumb: Shop nearby if you can—driving long-distance to a farmers market isn’t doing anyone any favors. Even better, try to get your local supermarket to host a farmers market in its parking lot. Eat whole, unprocessed foods. The energy use and greenhouse gas emissions skyrocket for canning, freezing, and other processing, and processed foods require more energy to ship. Eat seasonally. Your local tomato grower might have to drive love apples to market in August, but at least you won’t be getting them flown in from Holland in December. And, finally, ask questions. Because the more we ask, the better our food seems to get.
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#1. To: Ferret Mike (#0)
Good advertising too!
Ron Paul for President
The press over poisonings and adulteration of Chinese products has helped our cause, man. BEfore, those of us who were for "buy American" were called racists and xenophobes. Now, since the danger and health issues have been well publicized, they can't call us that anymore and we gain legitimacy...and power.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition I want food labelled to indicate where ALL components came from. If there is any Chinese wheat guten or any other suspect material, I want to know about it so I can avoid it. The 'New World Order' is killing us with this system that allows criminal states like China to poison us. Enough is more then enough.
Thesis: Official 9/11 story is an unproven conspiracy theory. http://911truth.org http://Justicefor911.org http://summeroftruth.org Probable-cause standards have been met for an unlimited investigation of unsolved crimes relating to the events of Sept. 11, including allegations of criminal negligence, cover-up, complicity or commission of the attacks by US officials and assets of intel services.
Mike, you have the solution, and it is right in your wallet; if it does not say where it is from, DON'T BUY IT! And, make sure that the stores where you shop know that is one of the prime methods you use to make your decisions. That is all it takes. When enough people make their wishes known, 'they' snap right into line with what is neccessary. But do not wait for others, Mike; make the decision that is right for you and your family, and tell your friends and family what and why you are doing it. This is what has been wrong with America for a long time; most everyone went along to get along; don't rock the boat type of non-sense. Well, that is over, and has been for a long time for me. I have a cardinal rule; if it says, made in China, I do not touch it. And I do not care what the product is or what the price is; I buy something else. And when enough people start acting that way, well, the problem will go away.
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest.
And anyone who ate "organic," i.e they didn't feel like filling their body with hormones and antibiotics, was a "kook" or a granola cruncher. Thank the greatest generation for that one. Compost? Nah, pour more chemicals to it! Chemicals make everything better!
"The more I see of life, the less I fear death" - Me.
I have a cardinal rule; if it says, made in
There should be some local grown Amish stuff in your area. Luckily, we have a lot them selling everything from produce to baked goods to home grown beef and pork. Good stuff too!
formerly GJones.
My wife loves the Amish stuff. It's excellent and very reasonable too. They set up their market on Tues and Fridays here and she does all her veggies and treats there.
Indeed, their stuff is great. We have several Amish and Mennonite stores that are open year round with baked goods, meats, and produce when they have it. There's even an Amish flooring place too. If you want it, they generally have it. The price is more than reasonable too. Where else can one buy a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream(in date) for a buck! They're probably seconds, but I've found nothing wrong with it yet. We're saving a bundle on our food bill and helping the local economy. I expect in time, that the big agri-businesses will pay the government to shut them all down.
formerly GJones.
The WTO does mot permit country of origin labeling as it might lead to consumer discrimination in favor of locally produced food. The WTO is a treaty and as such automatically amends our U.S. Constitution. As for that company that wants to sell North American food, that definition includes Mexico which can include some highly questionable food but does include some good organic fruits and vegetables.
The Truth of 911 Shall Set You Free From The Lie
If you're anywhere near Hershey PA say hi to Major Dick Winters of Easy Co 506 PIR [Band of Brothers HBO series WWII DDay Invasion]
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Which is EXACTLY what Chuck Harder and the old Populist movement including Ralph Nader warned us about 20 years ago before it was ratified. Nobody listened. Which is why the noose fits the crime. TheSystem is too rigged to ever get justice any other way but Revolution.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition that definition includes I suspect, Horsey, that the same thing can be said about anywhere. And a treaty DOES NOT amend the Constitution. What it is is a CONTRACT, by and between the corporate United States and some other party, and, the Constitution holds all contracts valid and enforceable. If you are SUBJECT to the authority of the United States (i.e., Congress and Congress critters), then you are held to the contract. The unfortunate part is that the VAST majority of the people of America have enforcable contracts with the corporate US. That pretty much ends any discussions about changing things right there.
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest.
Well, I'm not too near to Hershey but I would be honored to say Hi to an American hero such as Major Winters.
formerly GJones.
I used to listen to Chuck all the time in early and mid-'90s and was a member of 'For the People.' Joining Ed Miller of the Auto worker's union to promote American products was his downfall. He lost the Telford for several years and had to sue to get it back. After he acquired it again, he couldn't afford to keep it running because he also lost the radio network he was building. It's been said that Miller had ulterior motives because Chuck was always on Clinton and they wanted shut him up. I could get him on two AM stations, but when the big corporate entities bought up most of the local stations, they removed him from the program list.
formerly GJones.
Bon Appetit restaurant company has built on its successful Eat Local Challenge to introduce a low-carbon diet at its 400 cafes at universities and corporate campuses in 28 U.S. states. The chain plans to reduce its use of beef by 25 percent, to source all meat and poultry and nearly all fruits and vegetables from North America, to use seasonal local produce as a first preference and tropical fruits only as “special occasion” ingredients, and to serve only domestic bottled water and reduce waste from the plastic containers.
#2. To: Ferret Mike (#0)
"There is no 'legitimate' Corporation by virtue of it's very legal definition and purpose."
-- IndieTx
#3. To: IndieTX (#2)
#4. To: Ferret Mike, IndieTX (#3)
I want food labelled to indicate where ALL components came from.
#5. To: IndieTX (#2)
Before, those of us who were for "buy American" were called racists and xenophobes.
#6. To: richard9151 (#4)
I have a cardinal rule; if it says, made in China, I do not touch it.
China, Mexico I do not touch it.
#7. To: Jethro Tull (#6)
I have a cardinal rule; if it says, made in China, Mexico I do not touch it.
#8. To: InsideJob (#7)
#9. To: Jethro Tull (#8)
My wife loves the Amish stuff. It's excellent and very reasonable too
#10. To: richard9151, Ferret Mike, IndieTX (#4)
#11. To: InsideJob (#9)
"There is no 'legitimate' Corporation by virtue of it's very legal definition and purpose."
-- IndieTx
#12. To: Horse (#10)
The WTO does mot permit country of origin labeling as it might lead to consumer discrimination in favor of locally produced food. The WTO is a treaty and as such automatically amends our U.S. Constitution.
"There is no 'legitimate' Corporation by virtue of it's very legal definition and purpose."
-- IndieTx
#13. To: Horse (#10)
that definition includes Mexico which can include some highly questionable food but does include some good organic fruits and vegetables.
Mexico the United States which can include some highly questionable food but does include some good organic fruits and vegetables.
#14. To: IndieTX (#11)
If you're anywhere near Hershey PA say hi to Major Dick Winters of Easy Co 506 PIR [Band of Brothers HBO series WWII DDay Invasion]
#15. To: IndieTX (#12)
Which is EXACTLY what Chuck Harder
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