Thursday, June 29, 2006
Food for Thought
There have been alot of interesting reads lately on food ethics. People are paying more attention to nutritional, environmental and ethical implications of their diets. I find it all very interesting. We started chosing more organic foods simply because we found that they tasted better. The milk is beyond compare and we are lucky enough to have a great variety of produce available at a local store that are often carried at great prices. A few people have questioned "why organic?" so here goes (from www.mywowbox.com)
1.Organic food tastes great!Organic farming builds healthy soils, which produce premium products that taste great and are good for you!
2.Organic food meets strict standards Organic certification is your assurance that the food you purchase has been grown and handled according to strict procedures without persistent toxic chemicals.
3. Organic production reduces health risks. Many chemicals were approved for use long before extensive research linked them to cancer and other diseases. Specific food allergies have also been linked to agro-toxins and certain food additives. Organic production is one way to minimize further food-related health risks.
4. Organic foods help protect children's health By age five, millions of children have ingested up to 35% of their entire lifetime dose of some carcinogenic pesticides. The food choices parents make today will impact the health of their children tomorrow.
5.Organic farming replenishes soil Soil is the foundation of the food chain. Chemical intensive, mono-cropping agricultural practices have caused the worst topsoil erosion in history. Organic farmers rely instead on plant diversity and natural processes such as composting to build and maintain soil fertility.
6. Organic farms conserve water resources Organic agricultural practices protect and conserve water resources by eliminating harmful chemicals and nitrogen leaching.
7. Organic farmers respect wildlife Organic farmers promote active and diverse wildlife by retaining fence rows and natural brush, planting forage crops in rotation, and preserving wetlands and other natural areas.
8. Organic producers preserve biodiversity The loss of a variety of species (biodiversity) is one of our most pressing ecological concerns. Organic growers have been collecting seeds and planting unusual varieties for decades, contributing to a more balanced ecosystem.
9. Organic agriculture protects farm workers Due to direct exposure, field workers are the most vulnerable to illness as a result of chemical use. Organic farms minimize that risk by eliminating the use of harmful chemicals.
10. Organic farming keeps rural communities healthy Corporate agriculture has drastically reduced the number of farms. Because most organic farms are independently owned and operated, organic farming may be one of the few survival strategies left for the family farm and rural community.
A great article in The New York Times this Sunday called "It Died For Us'" discussed anthropomorphism as it relates to our food choices. It focuses intially on the treatment of loster and ducks for foie gras. These are luxury foods that get people talking about the issues but many turn a blind eye to the billions of cattle, pigs and chickens that are treated poorly. For different omnivores there are different codes, Makes you think about why you make your choices. A neat article to read if you get a chance. I am looking forward to reading more in The Omnivore's Dilemma. It's on my birthday list!
Last night I read about another interesting approach to chosing the food we consume. The 100 mile radius diet was an idea developed by two Canadians from Vancouver who have a book coming out in the spring. Short of things like coffee, chocolate, bananas, spices, flour, many fish I enjoy... oh heck, I would never be able to do it in its entirety. I did sign up for the newsletter. I figure it would be a great resourse for learnig about local farmers. Who know what great things we will discover! Apparently the idea is really big in Wisconsin.
1.Organic food tastes great!Organic farming builds healthy soils, which produce premium products that taste great and are good for you!
2.Organic food meets strict standards Organic certification is your assurance that the food you purchase has been grown and handled according to strict procedures without persistent toxic chemicals.
3. Organic production reduces health risks. Many chemicals were approved for use long before extensive research linked them to cancer and other diseases. Specific food allergies have also been linked to agro-toxins and certain food additives. Organic production is one way to minimize further food-related health risks.
4. Organic foods help protect children's health By age five, millions of children have ingested up to 35% of their entire lifetime dose of some carcinogenic pesticides. The food choices parents make today will impact the health of their children tomorrow.
5.Organic farming replenishes soil Soil is the foundation of the food chain. Chemical intensive, mono-cropping agricultural practices have caused the worst topsoil erosion in history. Organic farmers rely instead on plant diversity and natural processes such as composting to build and maintain soil fertility.
6. Organic farms conserve water resources Organic agricultural practices protect and conserve water resources by eliminating harmful chemicals and nitrogen leaching.
7. Organic farmers respect wildlife Organic farmers promote active and diverse wildlife by retaining fence rows and natural brush, planting forage crops in rotation, and preserving wetlands and other natural areas.
8. Organic producers preserve biodiversity The loss of a variety of species (biodiversity) is one of our most pressing ecological concerns. Organic growers have been collecting seeds and planting unusual varieties for decades, contributing to a more balanced ecosystem.
9. Organic agriculture protects farm workers Due to direct exposure, field workers are the most vulnerable to illness as a result of chemical use. Organic farms minimize that risk by eliminating the use of harmful chemicals.
10. Organic farming keeps rural communities healthy Corporate agriculture has drastically reduced the number of farms. Because most organic farms are independently owned and operated, organic farming may be one of the few survival strategies left for the family farm and rural community.
A great article in The New York Times this Sunday called "It Died For Us'" discussed anthropomorphism as it relates to our food choices. It focuses intially on the treatment of loster and ducks for foie gras. These are luxury foods that get people talking about the issues but many turn a blind eye to the billions of cattle, pigs and chickens that are treated poorly. For different omnivores there are different codes, Makes you think about why you make your choices. A neat article to read if you get a chance. I am looking forward to reading more in The Omnivore's Dilemma. It's on my birthday list!
Last night I read about another interesting approach to chosing the food we consume. The 100 mile radius diet was an idea developed by two Canadians from Vancouver who have a book coming out in the spring. Short of things like coffee, chocolate, bananas, spices, flour, many fish I enjoy... oh heck, I would never be able to do it in its entirety. I did sign up for the newsletter. I figure it would be a great resourse for learnig about local farmers. Who know what great things we will discover! Apparently the idea is really big in Wisconsin.
// posted by Jenn @ 8:58 a.m. 
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