by Carie Moore
Transparency and trust. That’s what people want from our food system in this OBC (overwhelmed by choices) world. As a farmer, let me tell you what I want.
A lot of times farmers “apologize” for what we do. If I’m wrong, I will admit it but if I’m right or believe in something whole heartedly, I won’t back down. What I do and what most farmers do to grow our food, we don’t need to apologize for.
Let me ask you this:
Is your grocer or restaurant transparent? Can you see what they are doing in the back room with your meat and food as they package and prepare it?
Is your doctor transparent? Do you know that they don’t go out of the room and look up your symptoms online on a database because they might not have any idea?
Is your school lunch program transparent? Do you know if they have better choices available for your child, but choose to go the cheaper route?
I could go on, but the point is, you trust these people with your food and your family’s health. Is the news and internet flooded with videos and the public asking them for transparency? Why are we being attacked when no one is willing to simply just ask us questions? If you don’t feel good, you go to the doctor for answers. You want answers about food, you need to come to a farmer for answers.
I don’t think we have failed you. I am confident that I grow safe and healthy food for you AND my family. The media has eroded your trust in us and put your attention on labels and on the go food.
I don’t go into my doctor’s office and expect him to tell me all he knows about medicine. Where would he start? So how can anyone expect me to be 100% clear and open when there is so much to agriculture? If you have questions, come to me and ask them. You have a car question you ask your mechanic or friend who knows vehicles, you have a question about your child’s education, you go to the school.
The point is, we need each other. You need us to feed your mind and body, so you can work at your profession to do and make things that benefit us. Computers, teachers, bankers, you all are part of the circle. I agree things need to change. I disagree it needs to fall primarily on the shoulders of agriculture producers. We need to be given that same respect you give others. If we have antibiotics in a tank of milk or an animal, it doesn’t enter the food chain. Yet with all the regulations, we’re the ones you mistrust. That confuses me, and seems like the wrong place to start.