cookieroscoe’s Recent Comments

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  Managing the concepts

  I started out wanting to ask farmers "why pesticides"? and wound up managing a Farmers Market, the answer is so convoluted. Wolverine, your friend may be able to get organic certification for their wine in a straightforward fashion, but they are unique in that. Here in Canada, I represent some farmers who are breaking their backs working their land as honestly as they can, trying to respond to consumers concerns about certification, undergoing mind boggling red tape festooned paperwork and expenses in the $2,500 range, only to learn that they got the wrong certification, and what they produce is not covered by the certification they applied for. Not only out lots of money, but they get to look like fools too!
  That story is just the tip of the mountain. The concepts at the heart of organic are treating the land and those who work it fairly. You simply can't certify that. I loathe that my city neighbours can feel justified in buying "organic" cheerios at the local big box when those cheerios were grown on indigenous people's lands which they were kicked off of because a multinational corporation saw an opportunity to get some pesticide-free-for-5-years property into it's portfolio so that picky North American consumers can buy "certified".  
  It's not impossible to talk to vendors, like the post right before this one from an Idaho farmer, who makes so much sense. Simplify what you eat, and you'll find the job easier. You'll be a great deal better off for it, too.
  I have farmers bringing produce to my market who are farming the same land that was cleared by their great great grandfathers. They would no more put pesticides on their land than you or I would on our toast. Certified Organic? No thank you, they've seen fads come and go before. They'll be farming their land with clear consciences long after we've dropped this ball of conversation, heaven willing.

  Market Managaer, GreenBarn Market.

  On How to ask hard questions of the people who grow your food posted 1 year, 3 months ago 14 Responses