Most
farmers who work farmer’s markets and farms stands are proud of what
they produce. And many want to tell just how they do it.
There’s the grass-fed beef farmer who firmly believes you don’t need
to use grain to finish beef cattle. Or another farmer, Dominic Palumbo, who collects
stinging nettles with gloves to provide greens early in the season.
Then again I never returned to the farm stand where the farmer
talked glowingly about the power of Roundup, a herbicide that’s toxic
to wildlife. I understand that it makes his job easier, but today there
are a multitude of great alternatives.
Be Curious and Polite
Best not to turn the questions for farmers into an interrogation.
Show your curiosity. Slow down. Listen and learn. Chat as you shop.
Other shoppers nearby might pick up a thing or two. If the market isn’t
too crowded, start slowly.
- “Beautiful day. So how’s the season been going for you this year?”
If you live anywhere in the Northeast, the answer will be “very tough”
or “a season to forget” -- the farm equivalent of fuggedaboudit. Better to
start with “is there anything here you’re particularly proud of?
Anything unusual?”
- “When did you pick this fruit or vegetable? Is it ready to eat
today? How do I store it?” Chefs will tell you that berries picked
after a heavy rain are worthless. This year’s peaches were particularly
insipid for the same reason. Some items like winter squash can last for
months if stored correctly.
- “Are you able to use organic or sustainable principles on the
farm?” It’s so easy to ask “is this organic” but the fact is many
farmers do not have the time and in some cases the money for organic
certification. That doesn’t mean they don’t follow those very same
principles on the farm.
- “Does this produce come from your farm?” Small farms can grow an
amazing amount of food but it is unlikely that they will have fruit
trees and kale growing on the same patch. But that’s okay if your
farmer gets produce from growers they know. It’s very likely they can
talk about their neighbors’ practices.
- “Do you use any synthetic products like pesticides or fungicides?”
The correct answer for organic is no not ever. Dan Tawczynski of Taft Farms
north of Great Barrington, Massachussets never sprays, but he still
reserves the right to if his crop is in danger. Dan is as leery of
chemicals as you would be. Well, actually, more so: He lives on his
farm. Instead Dan employs “Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) where a
farmer uses all of the means at his disposal in order to control a
particular pest. IPM includes the extensive use of natural predators
coupled with constant field scouting along with crop rotation and
biological pest controls. Sprays can remain a part of an IPM program,
but they are a last resort rather than the first line of defense”
- What was the animal fed? Was the animal raised outside or
indoors? Was there supplemental food? If so, when was it provided? Was
the grain GMO (genetically modified)? You may have a great chicken,
heritage breed, raised outdoors -- but then the farmer uses GMO feed.
- At what point do you give your animals antibiotics? Organic means
never. In fact once an organically raised animal is given an antibiotic
it is often sold to a non-organic farmer. But for many farmers the
answer will be only when absolutely necessary to protect the animal.
Lynn Mordas at Dashing Star Farm has greatly reduced deworming of her
sheep through genetic selection, pasture rotation and by looking into
her sheeps’ eyes. Basically, Lynn will not let her sheep graze to
where the grass is less than 2” high to minimize their contact with
parasites. And the eyes? Well parasites create anemia, which leads to
mucous around the eyes.
Knowing how your food is produced tends to become a topic of
conversation with friends and family. Learn to appreciate the richer
taste of farm-fresh eggs. You’ll try new vegetables, like that delicata
squash that you thought was for the mantle but really works better on
the plate. By asking questions you learn something new, show respect
for the farmer and make an invaluable connection to your food and local
community.
Resources: Fruits and vegetables with high levels of pesticides where organic or sustainable is a must-buy.
For insights into farming and food in America, visit Friend of the Farmer
Follow David Becker on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/friendthefarmer
Another thing you can ask your farmer is what to do with something. Many people shy away from buying vegetables they're not familiar with (like kohlrabi or Swiss chard), but often all you have to do is ask and you'll be rewarded with preparation tips or a wonderful recipe. Hint: Swiss chard (one of my very favorite things to grow) is even more versatile than spinach, and I could (and have) made a meal out of kohlrabi puree.
Senior CropLife America (CLA), executive Dr "Isi" Siddiqui has been nominated for a key post: Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the office of the US Trade Representative (USTR).
If confirmed, Siddiqui will be responsible for, among other things, negotiating international agreements governing the use of pesticides.
CLA is the American branch of CropLife International, a powerful global lobby; its members include agriculture giants such as Dow AgroSciences, Monsanto, and DuPont. Siddiqui joined the CLA in 2001 as a registered lobbyist, and since 2003 has served as its vice president of science and regulatory affairs. In that position, he's played a critical role in setting CLA’s domestic and international agenda.
In 2005, the group participated in secret talks with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of Management and Budget on permitting pesticide testing on children. In 2006, CropLife America helped secure an exemption for American farmers from a worldwide ban on methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting pesticide. It has also actively worked to remove what it terms "trade irritants" on pesticides under NAFTA. In its 2008 annual report, CLA highlighted its "relentless" efforts to persuade negotiators to cut language "discriminatory to pesticides" from the 2008 Farm Bill. Meanwhile, its parent organization has fought to eliminate all tariffs on pesticides in World Trade Organization (WTO) trade negotiations.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/11/13-2
First of all, using pesticides and fungicides is expensive. Most small farmers can't afford to use those products unless they have to due to conditions, and then only if it is likely to work. This summer we had an outbreak of late blight that no amount of spraying anything would have cured. However, there are some organic sprays that are perfectly fine for fighting pests and suppressing disease in the garden, and for feeding (fertilizing) plants too. The best of these are compost teas and there are myriad of recipes depending on your plants' needs. I use a fungicide tea made only from lemons to ward off powdery mildew and botritis on my herbs. Other sprays like horticultural oil are commonly used in organic gardening. Just because you see a farmer spraying something, don't jump to conclusions that it is something bad.
Appreciate it.
While people are looking to connect to farmers - farmers are also looking to connect to people. But since there isn't a people's market, farmers have to use other methods. To help build a better dialogue with consumers, California peach, plum and nectarine growers (There are over 1,100 of them) have grouped together to make short clips answering basic questions about the land, water, trees, pests and public policies that affect them as growers.
We went out to the orchards and filmed them and posted the videos to a YouTube page: (www.youtube.com/ppntv)
It's a great way for someone who doesn't live in the San Joaquin Valley or in an agricultural region to at least put a face to the people who produce their stone fruit.