Are You Afraid of Your Food?

When I was a child, I was a picky eater.  Some things I just didn't like (for example, pineapple), but most things I wouldn't eat because I was afraid of them.  I was afraid of egg yokes because I thought they would taste gross.  I afraid of hot dogs for a while because I lost a tooth while eating one once.  I was afraid of lasagna because I didn't really grow up eating pasta and anything other than macaroni and spaghetti was just foreign.  However, I eventually overcame these fears.  I started eating hot dogs again and never lost any more teeth while doing so.  I tried lasagna and couldn't believe the deliciousness that I'd been missing all those years.  I tried egg yokes and discovered that I was right.  They do taste gross, but I'll eat them if I have to.  I will now eat almost anything put in front of me (except pineapple) and I am not afraid of my food.

Sometimes I think that the general population is afraid of their food.  I am getting my information on this  from the same source that consumers get their information about food.  I wish I could name that source, but I'm having a bit of difficulty pinpointing it.  It's sort of an amalgamation of restaurant and grocery store advertising campaigns, some farmer's market rhetoric, social media posts, and other odd bits.

Rather than going on a rant that is likely to offend a whole lot of people and help no one, I am going to ask you, my readers, some questions and then go into a brief discussion about each.

Are you afraid that the production of your food is harming the environment?

Farmers understand that if the land is properly cared for, it will produce more food that is healthier and will bring a higher price at market.  It is in our best interests to care for the environment.  Are you concerned about greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural operations?  We are too, and we are working to reduce and counteract these emissions.

Are you afraid that your food is full of pesticides and other chemicals?

Responsible farmers use chemicals responsibly to ensure that they do not enter the food chain.  There are ways to use chemicals that make food production more efficient, do not harm the environment, and do not put the chemicals into food.  If you are worried about chemical residues, wash your fruits and veggies, or buy organic.  If you buy organic, remember that the price will be ridiculously high (many farmers go organic for the high profits, not the environmental effects - can you blame us?) and that there are, in fact, some situations in which certain chemicals can be used in organic production.

Are you afraid that GMO crops will make you sick?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency must approve all food products produced and sold in Canada. They will not approve anything that will make you sick.  Genetically modified organisms are not evil, creepy things grown in petri dishes.  They are crops that have been genetically modified (I know, that sounds scary) in order to make them somehow better for both producers and consumers.  Remember that humans have been playing with genetics in both plants and animals for centuries, crossing species to make new species, and making crops and livestock able to withstand different climatic conditions so they can be grown in different areas of the world.

Are you afraid that the antibiotics used in livestock contribute to antibiotic resistance in human medicine?
There are several reasons to use antibiotics in livestock.  Some antibiotics used in livestock have great significance to human medicine, while others have no significance to human medicine.  Antibiotics that do correlate to human medicine are used sparingly and only when necessary.  You must remember that all inputs (feed, medicine, etc.) in livestock production increase the cost of production.  Producers don't increase costs without a good reason.  We know the pros and cons of using antibiotics in our animals and carefully consider these before using them.  We also know how to prevent those antibiotics from entering the food chain.

Are you afraid that industrialized agriculture is destroying farming culture and distancing you from your food?

Industrialized agriculture is indeed destroying the old way of farming.  That way was inefficient and not always the best for the environment.  Agriculture is changing with the rest of the world.  In fact, throughout history, agriculture has often been at the fore of technological advancement and scientific discovery.  There are now fewer farms and larger farms than ever before.  The rest of the world is becoming more efficient.  There is no reason that agriculture should stay in the dark ages.  As for being removed from what actually goes on at the farm level, it just isn't possible any more for that to be a reality.  Can I expect to fully understand how my equipment works and is produced?  Can I expect to see how my well is drilled and how my water is cleaned?  No, I can't.  But I trust that those who do know how that stuff works are doing their jobs properly.

Are you afraid that livestock are being inhumanely treated in the production of animal products?
Unfortunately, there are people who don't know how to work with animals properly.  Every producer knows that livestock can be extremely frustrating to work with at times.  However, those who understand how to properly handle and care for these animals also understand that calm animals grow better.  In is in our best interest economically to treat our animals humanely.  Farmers are beginning to invest in handling systems that make it easier to safely and humanely handle the livestock.  We are also learning new techniques to keep our animals calm as we work with them.

Are you afraid that it is impossible to get real information about your food?

Sometimes I'm afraid that even farmers will never be able to really explain to consumers exactly how their food is produced.  It's just a lot of information.  What I do know is that marketing campaigns like to play on people's fears and reassure consumers that "we are the safe company".  I'm not blaming big business or small businesses.  I just want you to pay attention to what advertisers are really saying. Don't just repeat negative rhetoric if you don't have concrete evidence of what you are saying.  Don't post and share stuff willy-nilly on social media.  If you want to do research about agriculture, look at what members the agriculture industry (i.e. experts) are saying.

I realise that my very brief responses to these fears may be frustratingly vague.  I would like to address them more fully and will endeavor to do so in the weeks to come.  The main point in all of my responses is that farmers do everything we do for specific reasons that most consumers don't see.

In reading my blogs, please keep in mind that I am a farmer writing for non-farmers.  This means that I have a few limitations.  First and foremost, I don't know everything.  I have hands-on experience, with a diploma in agricultural management.  I'm not a scientist, I don't have expertise in every possible sector of agriculture in the country, and I don't work in all parts of the agricultural industry.  That being said, I know how to access reliable information and I know how things work at the on-farm level.  Second, I don't know what you know.  I have no clue what preconceptions you bring to this blog.  Maybe you agree with me.  Maybe I offend you on a regular basis.  I don't know, and I can't cater to everyone, so all I can do is write what I know and what my experience is.  Finally, I am a farmer speaking to non-farmers.  I have terms in my vocabulary and education in plant and animal biology that you won't understand and that I just don't have to time to explain to you.  My explanations will have to be simpler than I would like for that reason.

If you have any questions or concerns with this blog post or others, please let me know in the comment section below.