Judging by the sales this week, many of you were able to enjoy the new grass-fed beef program that we launched last week. This kind of demand really helps offer a consistency to our ranchers at the Ranney Ranch. We want to help find support for all of the wonderful work that they are doing for animal husbandry and for wild grassland restoration. And none of that work can be done without financial backing from customers who enjoy the products from us and all of our family of producers.
What’s In the Harvest Box Next Week?
I know that I beat this drum quite often, but it is a part of the local food movement that is often overlooked. And that is that running an environmentally friendly and socially just business takes money. I know it may sound obvious, but without financial support from you all, there will be no change in the food systems. It will be business as usual and the boys and girls with the largest advertising budget will win. I can tell you from experience, that the local producers will not be the folks with the largest marketing budget.
So our farm and all of our partner producers need you too. We need you to munch on the food and then help spread the word to your amigos. This is a pivotal time for the local food movement and for local producers.
But you are saying, “Wait Farmer M, why is this time so critical for the food movement?” Great question (that I totally interjected into my own newsletter).
And the reason is this. Right now whether you realize it or not, we/you as consumers are under an attack of present and proposed labeling. Organic, Natural, Pesticide Free, Non-GMO, Humanely Raised, Fair Trade. I could probably fill an entire newsletter just with labels that are on the market right now. Some folks might look at that and say, “Phew, finally we have some education points as consumers.” But I see it another way.
To me, I see labels as a complete and utter distraction from the food. It is hard to enjoy the food process when you are swimming in a sea of labels. I like to call it Label Paralysis. A condition where you become so inundated with labels, that you become lost and frustrated with the process of finding food for you and your familia.
As these labels flood the market, I honestly feel like it desensitizes consumers as to what they should be looking for in their food choices. And that is the polar opposite of how I like to see myself and our members of the farm. I want to help educate you into making healthy food choices and not confuse the heck out of you.
The closer we can get to our food and the more we know about our food is when we transcend labels. Labels are really nothing more than an extension of advertising. We need to move past labels to the land of relationships. When you have relationships in your food choices, why do you need labels? And that is my goal for our farm and for our sourcing incredible partners. We are bringing you so close to your food and to its source that labels will be an afterthought. Grown within a regional partnership of family farms the way Mother Nature intended. What else do we need? What label could be better than that?
So know that as the sea of labels swells like a typhoon, we will be your anchor of sanity. And that together, we will disregard what our moms told us and we will “play with our food” and learn about our food and build relationships with our food. So buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Lastly, the Shiro plums will be here this week from Excelsior Orchards. One of the most exquisite plums you will ever put a tooth into. This might be the only week we will have them, so stock up and eat them with abandon.
Farmer Monte