Chezsven Blog: Wellfleet Today: Thoughts on Local Food and the Food Safety Bill

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Thoughts on Local Food and the Food Safety Bill

Since the weather is perfect this weekend, lots of non-resident taxpayers are around. I saw them at PB Boulangerie Bistro yesterday, when I stopped in for bread. The air was redolent with the sensuous aroma of apple tart and almond croissants, fresh from Boris’s gigantic imported oven. I stood there and waited ten minutes, the time required for the tourists in line to make up their mind, enough time for a cloud of sweetness to descend and follow me back outside, baguette in hand. My hair still smelled tantalizing by the time I reached Wellfleet Marketplace.

I wanted to pick up some beef raised in Truro for a beef stew, but it was all sold out. There wasn’t even any stewing beef in the freezer. I could have bought ground beef, but I’m not too crazy about pre-ground, even when it's from a Truro farm, so we had quiche instead. Still, I want to salute the Marketplace for stocking more local food. There’s talk that Preservation Hall will house a farmer’s market or an organic veggies and fruit co-op in its basement, which would be a marvelous addition for year-round residents. I have a friend who keeps repeating, “We are what we eat,” and I remember her words whenever I go shopping with my canvas tote and basket. There's an obesity epidemic in the USA, and I believe it is, in part, due to all the high fructose corn syrup pumped into everything.

The Food Safety bill may reach Congress shortly. It is extremely complicated. From what I understand, small farmers will be in jeopardy if the bill passes without sensible amendments to protect them. Remember all those factory eggs that were recalled two months ago? The mega producer merely received a slap on the wrist, as did the bankers who created the worldwide mess with their credit default swaps. From recent raw milk raids, I have realized the FDA is pro-BigAg and no longer feels the obligation to pretend otherwise. We need our small farmers and local food more than ever. Please take a moment to read this post by a food blogger in the know and educate yourself on this important issue. We are what we eat …

Does your town have local food options? Has your awareness of food and nutrition changed of late? Do you think genetically modified food should be labeled?

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sheryl · 749 weeks ago

I agree that the local farmers need to have more aid and support as well as protection. We need fresh healthy food and we deserve to know what is in the food we eat. As such, yes, I do think GMF must be labeled. It's very frightening to think about putting fuel into our bodies that has lots of contaminants. Thanks for taking such a proactive stance to protect consumers.

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marthaandme 42p · 749 weeks ago

We have a summer farmer's market. One town over, there is a year round store that sells local products. I was shocked by how expensive it all was though and walked out without buying anything. I would love to be able to buy only local organic products, but when grocery store organics are much less, I just can't justify the cost given my current budget constraints.

1 reply · active 749 weeks ago

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chezsven 82p · 749 weeks ago

Marthaandme, you are right. I often feel that conflict when I shop. Take organic ketchup. It costs one dollar more at the health food store in Orleans than the Stop & Shop, which now has an aisle devoted to health food. So, I justify buying it at the health food store because that means supporting local businesses and try to remember to pick it up if I happen to be in the supermarket, which happens less and less often. And, the more people buy organic, the more organic produce the supermarkets will stock. Ie, demand is important to those who order for these big stores. I am constantly asking Costco for more organic options and they respond by providing them. The consumer has to make it known where he is willing to put his money, don't you think?

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Champion of My Heart · 749 weeks ago

Well, here there are lots of local BEER options, but local food is harder to come by ... at least year-round local food.
My recent post Product Review- Robbie Dawg Organic Dog Treats

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marthaandme 42p · 749 weeks ago

I agree. The organic produce and meat at my grocery store is not local (the beef is flown in from South America). I have a huge problem with that, but the local organic beef sold at the local farmers and artisans store is much more. When it comes to the bottom line, my primary concern is feeding my family healthy food in a cost-effective way. So while I would love to go into the artisan shop and spend $500 and know all the food was organic AND local, I just can't afford to do that.

2 replies · active 749 weeks ago

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chezsven 82p · 749 weeks ago

I think there are a lot of people in the same boat with the recession. This is so distressing. The more I learn, the angrier I become at our government for not addressing issues like this instead of fighting foreign wars.

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Casey · 749 weeks ago

Marthaandme, I feel your pain. I briefly worked at a local, sustainable butcher shop where the prices were much higher than at the Whole Foods up the street, and it was hard to see people resisting the $5/lb chicken even when I knew I'd probably be doing the same thing on the other side of the counter.

Meat is now a sometimes food for us because of the price; it physically turns my stomach to look at grocery store meat and think of factory farming, so I vote with my wallet and buy the pricier stuff but not as often.
My recent post Carignane at Porter Creek Vineyards

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Jennifer Margulis · 749 weeks ago

I'm so disheartened by the recent food raids on small dairy farmers here in the Pacific Northwest. I think you are right that they are pro big-Agro, and it's just so frustrating. We are lucky that we have lots of local produce where we live -- in a very fertile valley -- and also the ability to grow some of our own food. But, really, we have to get these poisons out of our bodies and our earth right now.

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Alisa · 749 weeks ago

The government really gets to me sometimes! It's the smaller farmers who have the safest food. It's BIG AG that is the problem! Oh, it just drives me batty.
My recent post How to Get Past an Affair

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sarah henry · 749 weeks ago

GMO food labelled? You betcha. Thanks for keeping the spotlight on the plight of the small farmer, vital to local food movements everywhere.

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Vera Badertscher · 749 weeks ago

Here's a New York Times article with a slightly different take on the food safety bill. Do we want the government to protect our safety in food production? Whether the bill negatively affects small farmers or just subjects them to regulation, which no business is crazy about, seems to be in question .http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/health/policy/19food.html

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Susan · 749 weeks ago

I'm vegetarian, so I try to eat as much fresh, seasonal produce as I can. Yes, local produce is readily available here but it's not as affordable as the grocery store. I may get a CSA farm share in the future, though.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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chezsven 82p · 749 weeks ago

I read about CSA on Wellfleet's other blog, Diaryofalocavore by Elspeth Hay and want to join next spring.

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mykidseatsquid 8p · 749 weeks ago

This is such a complex issue. The NYT article did seem to make a strong point that right now the FDA has limited abilities to regulate food. I don't know the right answer on this one. But I can say both the spinach and the egg recalls were certainly wake up calls.

From NYT:
For instance, the F.D.A. never inspected the Iowa egg facilities at the center of the recalls. Even if it had, the agency would not have had the power to order that their eggs be recalled despite conditions it later found to be filthy. And until recently, producers were not required to ensure that their eggs were safe.
My recent post Bierberg Bakery in German Village- Columbus

1 reply · active 749 weeks ago

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chezsven 82p · 749 weeks ago

I'm glad the NYT is devoting more time to the issue. Have not had time to read the article yet, as I was at the dentist.

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ruth pennebaker · 749 weeks ago

So complicated to try to do the "right" thing. Thanks for opening this discussion, Sandy. As usual, your blog is an eye-opener.
My recent post Sparkle- Shirley- Sparkle …

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Christine · 749 weeks ago

We try to eat locally as much as possible and plan on continuing to do so after we settle back in in Boston/the Cape. I was very interested in reading about the local offerings in Wellfleet, since we live part of the year near there.

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Melanie @Frugal Kiwi · 749 weeks ago

The raw milk raids are shocking. Simply shocking.
My recent post Groovy 70s Fabric Embroidered Quilt

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Jane Boursaw · 749 weeks ago

I always appreciate this blog for the great info, and even moreso today, coming from a family of small farmers. We're fortunate to have lots of local food options here in Traverse City, and it really does make you think about regions where that's not the case, as well as how local food options and farmers are affected by government programs. Keep spreading the word, Sandy.
My recent post Daniel Radcliffe- Emma Watson and Rupert Grint at the Deathly Hallows Premiere

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Meredith · 748 weeks ago

We have several farmers markets but it's been some time since I've gone. You know what? I'm putting the weekend one on my calendar ... thanks for the reminder!
My recent post Left-Brain Gumbo- Counting

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Kris · 748 weeks ago

I live on an island where, in my mind, a good local supply of food is mandatory. Unfortunately, it's not so. That said, we do have locally grown options - plenty of tropical fruit and avocados, as well as grass fed beef. So much of our other food is imported, though. While we work to avoid much of the imported food, it's not always possible. I wish more people would put forth the effort, though. That's how we'll end up with a better selection and supply of locally grown food.
My recent post Kahumoku Ohana Hawaiian Music and Lifestyle Workshop

Chezsven Blog: Wellfleet Today

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Thoughts on Local Food and the Food Safety Bill

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