I got to spend a couple days in Austin, Texas (more on that trip will be forthcoming!) the end of August for the AgChat 2014 Cultivate and Connect Conference. It was a fantastic time, and I’m so glad they invited me to be a presenter. I had the honor of presenting photography techniques with a farmer from Nebraska in our very own breakout session.
For those who don’t know what/who AgChat is, they’re a non-profit foundation, set up to help empower farmers/ranchers to share their story through Social Media.
Did you know that most farms are family owned? Ninety-Eight percent of them actually.
There were a couple panels set up to form a Q&A Session between participants (most involved in the Ag industry in some way, shape, form or fashion), and panelists. The panelsists were chefs, or people concerned with where their food comes from, the use of GMOs, etc.
I missed both panels – one due to the fact that I was prepping for my class (and I only got in on the tail end of it), and the other because it was held during my class!
I did, however have a chance to read the blog post, written by the Austin Foodie that was on the first panel, and I visited some with the other panelist via our Facebook Group.
While I find it empowering that we are free to have discussions about where our food comes from in this country, I also find it disheartening, that such a small percentage of the population find themselves in a place where they feel the need to dictate to the rest of us, how we should be eating; even what farmers should be growing and how they should be growing it. That speaks volumes for the amount of discretionary income Americans have, as well as to how plentiful food is in our country. Did you know that as of 2008, Americans only spend 7% of their income in food and that we also have one of the lowest malnutrition rates in the world?
I was fortunate to grow up with a mom who educated herself on nutrition, and made choices she thought were healthy for us. There weren’t soft drinks or candy in our house as a rule, and I have zero sweet-tooth to show for that. Not everyone in this country is as fortunate as me. And not everyone in this country has the time, or money, or means, to be worried about where their food comes from either. There are also people who simply don’t care, who’re just glad to have a grocery store nearby, and for us, nearby is relative.
In this country, on this Reservation, are kids who are often only fed during school. They can count on those meals. Those same kids, many of them, have never seen ice or water come out of a refrigerator door! Do you think those kids, or their parents, really have time to worry about where their food comes from? Or are they simply glad they have access to affordable food?
If foodies don’t want people eating processed foods then they should get what is and isn’t allowed on SNAP /WIC programs changed. Not punish or berate the people who’re utilizing these programs. I’d also argue that many of the locavores in this country have never lived in the Midwest/West/Northern states. And, if we’re really being honest, when you are in a bad spot in your life, do you want to eat a fresh tomato, or a Twinkie?
There’s a reason that only a small percentage of the population are concerned with where their food comes from, and I’d argue it’s because many of them have never been hungry. While I’m all for people eating healthy, I’m also for people making their own choices. If eating organic is the only way you want to eat your produce or chicken or beef, rock on! I’m for allowing the food producer the leeway to grow/raise food in a way that makes sense to them. I’m for not judging those who choose to make a living with their farm or ranch. I’m for not beating down already beat down individuals for the choices they make when it comes to food – especially when they didn’t create the policy.
Often, food grown for boutique/niche markets make it impossible for the average person to consume, due to price. Organic doesn’t always equal healthy. Just because something is grown/raised conventionally doesn’t mean it is poor quality. I’m glad that there are people in this world of ours who have the time and money to worry about such things, because that means we are free to form our own opinions and thoughts. So, let’s not make war about where our food comes from, because by 2050 there will NINE billion people to feed on this planet, and there’s a place for all forms of food production.
Happy Trails, and Happy Eating!
Jenn, I know what you are saying about the tough conversations and people trying to dictate for others but I don’t classify the majority of it as a food war. For me, I think the vast majority of people are interested and at times the convo gets stressful in large part because we don’t understand each other. It is hard to have good conversations among people with different viewpoints… I know I have to have a thicker skin at times than I like but most of the time when I do, it helps me reach a bigger goal.
I think my perspective is different, though, Janice, simply because I live where I live. It’s bound to be different when you see hungry people. 🙂
Jenn, you highlight something very near and dear to me. Feeding kids. Food wars hurt kids, hungry kids in our own backyards. I have lost patience with food snobs who only want local but have never visited our local schools and eaten lunch. Or have never volunteered at the food pantry. Or as you highlight don’t know what SNAP and WIC cover. Keep sharing. We will make progress on this front!
You simply cannot be mad at the folks using the programs that allow junk food and soft drinks. Get upset at the congressmen and credit card companies and food conglomerates that got the legislation changed. I’d say that most people like the idea of eating local but if they realized what actually went into it and the ROI they’d get out of it they might change their minds. Not everyone would, but a lot of them would gain a different perspective. 🙂
I see a lot of hungry people and get involved. I just don’t think things impact everyone the same way, nor does everyone see the same goal as paramount. I think it is really hard for me to see someone else’s perspective but most of the time I try… even that is hard. For some, creating a sense of community, nurturing that…. it is something food is a critical piece of and so they want it produce in line with their belief that hey should be creating that sense of community. Really wish you could have been in our session.
Hi Janice, I did not attend AgChat, and I don’t know the full background of this conversation. But, I wanted to chime in and say that I see what your saying here in the “creating a sense of community” part. Many consumers want to enjoy the “dot to dot” picture- it satisfies their hearts when they feel that the purity of their desire for wholesome community can be reflected in what they put on the table – traced from beginning to their table, creating a big happy smiley face for their often guilt-tripped relationship with food. I’ve been there and back a few times. It’s sad that so much drama is cast on our excellent farmers and ranchers. I appreciate what you and Jennifer are doing to help change that.
Best!
Emily Grace
Jenn, I love the deep beautiful foreboding in the clouds in that picture. 🙂 Well done!