Why do some people insist that USDA organic food is healthier than non USDA organic food? Is organic healthier than non? I read conflicting reports and am confused. Whom should I believe?
Under "Local and Sustainable",how can we make "CSR" or "Community Supported Ranching" more accesable including Butchering regulations?
Why is it that you can no longer find "Prime" in your local store and that the "Choice" cuts standards have lowered?
How will the agricultural industry grow healthier food with less or on pesticides and healthier livestock with less or no use of antibiotics? I believe both of these initiatives are important to provide healthier food that is also more nutritious.
Does acrylamide have anything to do with meats baked at high temperatures
I was raised on raw milk prior pasturization. Why is it not legal to sell / buy raw milk in all 50 states?
Is agriculture a dirty word?
When are we going to start giving credit to the local food movement? Farmers market numbers are up across America. Consumers want local food and want to build relationships with their growers and producers. It is time we add more funding in the Farm Bill for the local food movement as well as small growers and producers in the Farm Bill. Lets give consumers what they want.
When are we going to address the myth that organic is the most healthy alternative? The USDA organic regs specify that this is a style of production. I am not aware of data that indicates organic is healthier, safer, or better for the environment.
Due to marketing tactics, most consumers do not have an accurate perception of where their food comes from. What steps are you taking to improve transparency so that consumers know what kind of operation they are supporting with their dollars?
Do you know where your "fresh baked" supermarket bread is really made?
The USFRA affiliates include the USDA-sponsored checkoff programs, which run advertisements encouraging Americans to consume more beef, pork, milk, and cheese than we currently do. Other USFRA affiliates promote fruits, vegetables, fats, oils, grains, and sugar. What is your opinion of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which encourage moderate food intake, less sugar, less solid fats, and a largely plant-based diet?
Earlier this year the USDA changed its food and nutrition marketing from the Food Pyramid to the Nutrition Plate. The marketing material has been distributed across the nation to thousands of schools and offices. How is the USDA measuring, long term, these marketing programs as it relates to real health change, and when will intermediate assessments of the program be published?
Has the USDA looked at shifting dollars from subsidy/support programs to healthy eating and nutrition programs? If this has been looked into, what would it take to actually shift dollars out into eating and nutrition programs?
How is conventional farming different from organic farming?
FROM FOX NEWS ON MARCH 30, 2012
As a mother and RD, I have been curious about hormones in foods and whether or not they are a cause for concern. Hormones are in many foods – including plants. Instead of covering all foods, I am going to focus on cows. There is a lot of marketing that goes into products- especially milk and beef, which creates fear among consumers about the safety of our food supply.
The New York Times announced in March a contest on whether it’s ethical to eat meat – calling all carnivores. In conjunction with this contest, we asked those who were planning to submit an essay to share theirs with us. We received more than 20 and here’s your chance to read them.
The Times announced their winner on May 3, and while it wasn’t one of the essays we received, here’s your opportunity to read why it is ethical to eat meat.
We recently hosted an interesting discussion between three farmers – two of whom are brothers – about different farming methods. The brothers, Brandon and Neil Moseley, have different farming styles. One is a conventional farmer and the other a certified naturally-grown farmer. While they each have different opinions about farming and techniques for success, as a group they agree all farming methods must coexist and there’s a place for each management style.
Many consumers ask what the difference is between conventional and organic milk. See what dairy farmer Will Gilmer has to say about both methods of milk production.
Read the story at www.gilmerdairy.blogspot.com
As an owner of a farm and ranch, we care about our animals and the products we produce. The land that we live on is a responsibility that we take very serious. Our children and grandchildren live here. We want it to be even better for them when they continue our business when we are gone.
As an owner of a farm and ranch, I would like to see more schooling and basic learning about how food really gets to the supermarket and the table. This should really start at home and or the schools.
Food leaving the farm is ethically produced and is as safe and wholesome as we know how to provide for our consumers, which includes our own families.
Americans have amazing food choices, and their decisions determine the foods produced for the market. Unfortunately, meal cost often drives decisions rather than nutrition benefit.
Get out there and find the farms, park your car, and go have a conversation with whomever is working. I do it all the time. You will be surprised at what you will learn.
Find and get to know your local FOOD (not feed) entrepreneur and tell him what you think he needs to know.
Obviously all of the choices are extremely important and not to be ignored. Choosing one was a challenge. However, as a farmer in a major metropolitan area (inside the city limits) healthy eating is a very important topic and one we cope with every day. However, healthy eating has a lot to do with food affordability and accessibility. There is not much that separates them! I wish that Americans could read a food label, understand that it is often cheaper to prepare food than to buy ready-made/fast food which are sadly ready made for and on the fast track to a public health crisis that we are not prepared to contemplate.
Farming requires high cost labor inputs. In order to make a profit these labor costs have increased far greater than healthcare costs have each year, yet produce costs have not matched those increases. At some point, the consumer must realize farmers cannot subsidize this loss forever and costs must balance with prices of fruits and vegetables grown locally.
Olive oils are NOT all the same high quality. Dont be fooled by labels with Extra Virgin Olive Oil in transparent bottles with no harvest date on them. Oils are fragile and delicate and decompose over time and lose their healthy qualities. But fresh locally grown and pressed olive oil is better for you. Cook with cheaper canned olive oil. And Spread EVOO on salads and in dips you make for that fresh clean buttery smooth olive oil taste. Many olive oils are 3 and 4th pressed oils that have lost all taste sensations and are nothing more than greasy, oily globs. Don't fall prey to this type of Oil. Demand to read label that has the COOC certification sticker on it. COOC is California Olive Oil Counsel. COOC grades and tests many oils each year by professionally trained olive oil tasters who can tell rancid oil from buttery, pungent oils. Furthermore, buy organic oil. It should state it on the label along with the year of harvest.
I believe that high quality beef begins with high quality care on the farm. I work hard to care for my cattle and the environment. This results in a very safe and nutritious product that I am proud to feed to my four daughters. Farmers and ranchers take great pride in caring for their livestock. Their livelihood depends on raising a high quality, healthy animal that results in a safe and nutritious product for the consumer to enjoy.
Education and Research in Ag
Farming Methods Co-Exist
Just in time for the holidays, learn about how turkeys are raised at Nilsen Farms in Wilton, Calif. Nilsen Farms uses its natural resources to create sustainable energy and eliminate waste. Watch and learn more.
Farmers discuss the history of corn and soybean farming, how technology has evolved and the role young people involved in agriculture has progressed. Find more about the future of food and ask farmers and ranchers your questions on fooddialogues.com
This is the third of four video recaps of the successful Food Dialogues Town Hall held on September 22, 2011 in Washington D.C., New York, Indiana and California.
This is the full video recap of the successful Food Dialogues Town Hall held on September 22, 2011 in Washington D.C., New York, Indiana and California.
Food Dialogues- Biotech Discussion with Pamela Ronald and Michael Dimock. November 2,2011
This is the fourth of four video recaps of the successful Food Dialogues Town Hall held on September 22, 2011 in Washington D.C., New York, Indiana and California.
Farmers, ranchers and consumers alike all want healthy choices when it comes to food.
Oprah influences millions of people on social issues and discussions. Considering her level of impact, it’s critical to tell the whole story – not just one side – which is what happened in a recent O Magazine article. The magazine featured a story on biotechnology and the impact on consumers’ health. USFRA wonders, where was the scientific data and research to back the claims in the article? How is the magazine substantiating this “impact” on health?
http://www.oprah.com/health/Genetically-Modified-Foods-Affect-Health-and-Body
On May 3 The New York Times announced the winner of the essay contest on whether it’s ethical to eat meat. Their winner’s essay wasn’t unfavorable to animal agriculture, but was the article announcing the winner fair?
With Earth Day quickly approaching, media outlets and activists are raising their voices – and often against agriculture. The Sacramento Bee ran an editorial from Heather Moore, PETA Foundation, on her plans for celebrating Earth Day. She advocates eliminating meat from diets – all meats – chicken, pork, beef and fish.
Huffington Post is advocating a week-long challenge, kicking off with meatless Monday. The article claims several negative environmental impacts of raising animals for meat.
Can - or should - one group or one person’s opinion change your mind on removing meat from your diet? How much land would the world need to survive on a vegan diet? Is that even possible and what’s the environmental impact?
Read more here:
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/16/4416991/this-earth-day-eat-as-if-the-environment.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/15/earth-week-2012-challenge-meatless_n_1426827.html?ref=green