If you want an easy way to locate Farmer’s Markets, farm stands, producers, CSAs (community supported agriculture) and local food products, one of the best resources I know of is Local Harvest. This easy-to-use site lets you search by product, zip code, state or map for producers and markets in your area.

I really the “Keep Me Posted” feature through which you are notified weekly of new and updated listings and events in your specified geographic area. This site has been a boon for us at Wild Type Ranch. We get 100-200 hits a month. I get lots of inquiries about beef production in general, as well as specifically about ordering our own beef. Check ‘em out!

There was an interesting editorial and rebuttal today on the “Woman to Woman” blog of the Atlanta Journal Constitution on whether people should invest time and money in local, organic food. Aside from the common juxtaposition of words that implies local and organic are synonymous, the short article touches on some interesting points. Not a lot of facts, but some food for thought.

I was hoping for a good discussion in the comments section, but it is a bloodbath of liberal vs. conservative. Maybe we can do better here with some intelligent, respectful discussion of this complex topic. Anyone game?

SuzannaB’s questions about whether I think food from clones is “yucky” prompted me to take a look at the lighter side of cloning.

Sometimes a little humor lets us see the absurdity in extreme perceptions and stances on a subject. The comic strip “Mother Goose and Grimm” is currently doing a series on meat from cloned animals (parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).

Like most depictions of cloning, these cartoons show that it produces a bunch of full-grown carbon copies of an individual, identical in both body and mind (a complete myth in all parts, by the way). Cloning has inspired artists and writers for decades, usually with much darker and less humorous results. In many books and movies, cloning is a black magic power to resurrect, simulate, and multiply, usually with dire consequences. These depictions tap into primal human fears about identity theft and loss of self, as well as what New York Sun writer Andrew Stuttaford called “humanity’s fear of its own ingenuity” (see his interesting survey of Hollywood’s treatment of cloning here).

Unfortunately, by the time Dolly was born, the word “cloning” had become almost completely taken over by a horrifying fictional meaning, which has clouded and confused discussions about cloning ever since.

Pundits and cloning’s opponents like to imply that cloned meat tastes bad, or more accurately, leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth. For some people, the idea of meat from clones provokes a knee-jerk reaction of “yuck”. In reading many, many reactions to the FDA’s announcement on the safety of meat from cloned animals and their offspring, I would classify the vast majority as gut-level rejection or knee-jerk. So no, SuzannaB, I don’t find the idea “yucky” and am actually quite comfortable with the meat that may eventually reach my table with its origins in a cloned parent, grandparent or other ancestor.

A closing thought: As a Mom, maybe the ultimate revenge on my children would be to clone myself and make them raise ME.

Most of us tend to have an “information filter” in place that lets through information when it aligns with our existing beliefs, and discounts information that does not agree with what we already think. Once we take a position, it is human nature to become more entrenched. Challenging our ideas is not a comfortable thing to do.

I recently heard a claim that 10% of the populace has strong views on each side of any controversy. The remaining 80% of us don’t really have a dog in the fight, but our opinions are formed by whichever 10% has the most visible, logical and concise argument. For agriculture and food issues, the “industry” tends to just keep on keepin’ on without much comment. Frequently, the public primarily hears from activists viewing the issue from the other side of the plate. As a consumer AND a producer, I often think neither side takes an honest look at the big picture or looks for the truth in what the opposition has to say. Producers need to take consumer concerns seriously, not just dismiss them. The “industry” also needs to do a better job at being an ambassador to our customers. As consumers, we need to understand that the issues are often far more complex than a headline news story can convey.

I challenge you to look for both sides of the issues: If you read something that stirs strong feelings, make the effort to find an opposing view. You will likely find that it is not as cut-and-dried as it might appear. Some of my favorite (often opposing) resources for news and views on food and agriculture are Ethicurean, Feedstuffs Foodlink, Meatingplace and Mother Earth News. And if there is an issue you’d like us to comment upon, let us know!

First off, I don’t believe there is a significant risk associated with the beef that was recalled.  In other words, if you are buying ground beef, don’t stop for fear that you are putting your family in danger.   The recall was made because cattle that should have been subject to further inspection before being allowed into the food chain were not inspected.  These same cattle had already passed a pre-processing inspection earlier in the day before they were brought into the plant.  As far as BSE is concerned, cattle exhibiting signs of BSE would have been exhibiting them at the pre-processing stage.  Read the rest of this entry »