http://downtoearthblog.com/foodproduction/local-meat-friend-or-foe-to-animal-agriculture/archives/86 Fact from Fiction in Food Production Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:48:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 http://downtoearthblog.com/foodproduction/local-meat-friend-or-foe-to-animal-agriculture/archives/86#comment-969 Suzanne Thu, 22 May 2008 18:37:03 +0000 http://downtoearthblog.com/foodproduction/local-meat-friend-or-foe-to-animal-agriculture/archives/86#comment-969 As the wife of a former organic restauranteur, I well understand the mistrust that some people have about "industrial" food production. But I've also learned A LOT in recent years about the "myth" of organic, and how unfairly maligned must of the food industry has been by the rise of organic culture. I think a lot of people in the ag community are just sick and tired of being labeled as bad guys when they are in fact doing good -- growing great food, producing amazing animals. The profit margins are so small that any claim to organic or natural status adds profit dollars. Everyone is trying to get on this bandwagon -- supermarkets especially. But who is really policing the organic community? The USDA label is not a SCIENTIFIC distinction, but a MARKETING one, so many very odd things get grouped in that heading. I find the whole thing very confusing. And I am sad that it pits well-meaning people trying to produce great food against one another. As the wife of a former organic restauranteur, I well understand the mistrust that some people have about “industrial” food production. But I’ve also learned A LOT in recent years about the “myth” of organic, and how unfairly maligned must of the food industry has been by the rise of organic culture. I think a lot of people in the ag community are just sick and tired of being labeled as bad guys when they are in fact doing good — growing great food, producing amazing animals. The profit margins are so small that any claim to organic or natural status adds profit dollars. Everyone is trying to get on this bandwagon — supermarkets especially. But who is really policing the organic community? The USDA label is not a SCIENTIFIC distinction, but a MARKETING one, so many very odd things get grouped in that heading. I find the whole thing very confusing. And I am sad that it pits well-meaning people trying to produce great food against one another.

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