Sustainable Food
Food is important. This is a fact of life, our history is closely intertwined with food. Wars have been waged and peace treaties have been signed over food. Food is the fuel of life. This is why the food you eat is so important. Food has the ability to change the world, and it is, the Amazon is being cut down at unprecedented rates, the agriculture industry produces over 10 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and popular methods of farming have turned it into a quantity focused, low margin industry. This is where sustainable food comes in. Sustainable food is food that has been farmed in a way that facilitates environmental conservation. As people become more environmentally conscious, producers have realized there is a market for sustainable food and begun to take advantage of it. This article will explain where and how to find sustainable food.
Meat is a big part of our diet. According to a study done at the University of Illinois, the average American consumed 264 pounds of meat in 2020. Producing this much meat has a huge environmental footprint which is why it is important to be mindful that the meat we consume was farmed in a sustainable manner. There are a couple ways to do this, first, you can look at the packaging. It will have labels along the lines of grass-fed, humanely-raised, pasture-raised, or locally raised. While these labels can be helpful, most of the time they are just misleading, a marketing strategy to rope in environmentally aware consumers. To get one of those labels, the only thing the producer has to do is submit a form to the USDA, who does not visit the farm to check the verity of these claims.
Instead of these labels, look for certifications. These can include certified organic, certified humane, and certified animal welfare. The certified organic certification ensures that the animals are fed organic feed and forage, and are not given unnecessary antibiotics or growth hormones. The certification also guarantees the livestock are raised in suitable living conditions, for example, cows would be raised in pastures. Farms claiming to be certified organic are visited by an inspector from the USDA before they receive their certification to make sure they are telling the truth. The certified humane and animal welfare certifications are run by non-profit organizations that include Humane Animal Farm care. According to their website, “Animals must be free to do what comes naturally… Animals must be fed a diet of quality feed, without antibiotics or growth hormones.” Farms must also be in compliance with NAMI, a slaughter standard and their Animal Care Standard. Farms are checked yearly to ensure they follow these requirements.
It is a little harder to tell if fruits and vegetables are grown sustainably as they don’t all have large labels on them. It is up to the consumer to do their research on which producers to buy from. Some produce do have some labeling though, oftentimes these labels indicate the food is organic. That being said, it is important to remember that organic does not always mean sustainable, if produce is being shipped over a long distance, it is most likely a monoculture crop. If the produce is not in season where you are, it is very likely it’s been imported from far away. Most of the time, it is better to look into the farm the produce is from and looking at their farming methods.
If constantly looking up farms is too much of a hassle, farmers markets are excellent places to get fresh, local produce. Farmers markets allow farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers, by cutting out the middleman farmers receive more money and customers receive fresher, healthier produce. Unlike supermarkets, at farmers markets, farmers can select produce with better flavor and quality without worrying about shelf life. Farmers markets also offer produce that regular stores don’t, for example lamb, duck, and heirloom tomatoes. These markets also offer already prepared food, with local restaurants and bakeries setting up stands. I know from personal experience that there is a farmers market by Lake Merritt with delicious doughnuts.
An alternative to in-person shopping is getting fresh food delivered straight to your doorstep. Organizations like Farm Fresh To You do exactly that. You can customize your box or pick one of the default boxes and get it delivered to your home. The benefits of shopping this way include fewer impulse purchases, making it easier to stick to a budget and buy healthier food. It also avoids all the inconveniences of in-person shopping. Both farmers markets and fresh food delivery have proven health benefits, according to an article by Harvard University, fresh food can “lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect upon blood sugar, which can help keep appetite in check.”
The importance of food has remained constant throughout human history and will continue to do so. The methods of sourcing it however, have not. Since it is so valuable to us there will always be a market for it, and people will always try to make money from that market by putting quantity over quality. This has impacts not only on health, but also the environment, as well as ethical ramifications. By exercising your buying power you can push producers to farm sustainable food.
Sources Cited
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McCloy, John. “Grain-Fed Vs. Grass-Fed Beef: What’s the Difference and How Does It Affect the Taste?”. Smoked BBQ Source. 28 Oct. 2019. 3 Dec. 2022 <https://www.smokedbbqsource. com/grass-fed-vs-grain-fed-beef/>.
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Kuck,Gretchen. Schnitkey, Gary. “An Overview of Meat Consumption in the United States”. Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics. University of Illinois. 12 May, 2021. 4 Dec 2022.<https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2021/05/an-overview-of-meat-consumption-in-the-united-states.html#:~:text=Then%2C%20meat%20consumption%20fell%20from,pounds%20per%20person%20in%202020.>
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