kdolu These days it seems that just about everybody has an opinion on how their food should be grown and produced. Organic vs. Conventional, GMO vs. non-GMO. etc. With so many food buzzwords, misconceptions and various opinions, debates tend to get heated. I often wonder if folks would have less to say about the food on their plate if their bellies weren’t so full. I am not saying that you shouldn’t care about how your food is grown or that you don’t have the right to choose. I think it is extremely important to understand how your food is grown and visit farms whenever you have the opportunity! But, can we be honest and say that some food requests get a little ridiculous? “Excuse me, I would like the chicken parmesan, but only if the chicken is free-range and organic. I would like the noodles to be gluten-free and the cheese to come from cattle that haven’t been treated with hormones. Oh, and could you tell me if the chicken was on an all vegetarian diet?”. Seriously people, just eat the damn chicken. If we offered the hungry children of Africa a meal of chicken and corn, do you think they would care if the chicken was free-range or if the corn was derived from a genetically modified seed? Probably not.
These sound like topics of luxury, discussed by a nation who pushes away from the table with a full belly.
– Ashwani Gujral, CEO of an Integrated poultry company in India.
Sure, it would be great if everyone could just grow their own food in whatever way they desire, but that is not reality. Not everyone has the time, land or resources to grow their own corn or milk their own cow. The reality is that the population is quickly growing and we have more and more mouths to feed each day. In the U.S. alone, 15.8 million children live in households where they are unable to consistently access enough nutritious food necessary for a healthy life. Estimates indicate the world’s population will reach 9 billion by 2050, including middle class growth of 3 billion. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts a 60-percent increase in demand for meat, milk and eggs by 2050. More than ever, we need farmers.
How lucky are we to live in a country that not only has plenty of readily available foods, but also a variety of choices?! You want a free-range turkey this year for your Thanksgiving feast, well by golly, get yourself one! Need some fresh tomatoes in January? Perhaps some strawberries for a Valentines Day dessert? Not a problem here in the United States! It is awesome that at any time of the year we have access to a plethora of affordable foods, whether they are in season or not. I hope you never stop caring about where your food comes from, but the next time you feel the urge to bite a farmer’s head off because he/she chooses to utilize farming practices that you don’t quite understand or agree with, can you just remember that your belly is full. Full of foods that many don’t have access to or will ever be able to experience. We may not all agree, but be respectful to each other.
Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.
-Phil Robertson, Duck Dynasty
Know that farmers are doing their best to ethically produce a safe, quality product for your table This year I am thankful for my full belly and my right to choose.
