Buy food from local markets.

Ok, this will be a long rant. To me, it has a lot of merit. But to each their own.
I am being much more careful about what I buy for food. We have a lot of local outlets. That is good for me. It may cost a little more, but for my needs, it is much better in so many ways.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. ALL OF US NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT WE ARE EXPOSED TO WITH REGARD TO OUR FOOD.

Smithfield Farms, the largest pork producing farm in the USA was sold in September to China with the unanimous
support of its stockholders.

The hogs will still be raised here, but slaughtered and packaged for sale **there** before being sent back
here. This includes labels: of Morrell, Eckrich, Krakus, Cudahy, Premium Hams, Cook's, Gwaltney.

The same is true with chickens under these labels. They can now be shipped there, but when they come back
all that needs to> be on the label is that they… WERE RAISED IN THE USA. Not that they were processed in China.

Our great FDA at work. The chickens under these labels will all be processed and most sold to fast food restaurants,
schools and supermarkets. The China slaughter and processing requirements are, for the most part,
unregulated and far inferior to requirements of the U.S.A.*

We recently learned that Starkist Tuna is now owned by Korea and is in conflict with the U. S. concerning quality, safety,
and records keeping, which Korea refuses to produce.*

I read several articles on Google about this, and even one that was defending the eating of tilapia fish said to avoid the
fish that came from China. Also, I had just returned home from buying Albertson's 4-day special of 4 bags of frozen tilapia
for the price of one. Sure enough, on the top of the bags it read "farm raised", and on
the bottom, in small print, it said: "China.*

Recently, on TV, a Food inspector said he had lived overseas and he had seen the filthy conditions
their foods are raised and processed in. It is enough to make you throw-up. Some foreign workers have
to wear masks as they work in these places because the food is so rotten and filthy, it
makes them want to throw up.

Many of their fish on Fish Farms are fed raw sewage daily. He said he has seen so much filth throughout
their food growing and processing that he would "never" eat any of it. They raise this filth, put some food coloring
and some flavorings on it, then they ship it to the USA & Canada for YOU to consume and feed to YOUR
families. They have no Food & Safety Inspectors. They ship it to you to buy
and poison your families and friends.*

Imported food we eat is junk kiss emoticon

Green Giant frozen vegetables are from China, and so are most of Europe’s Best.
Arctic Gardens are Okay. So is Birdseye.*

Never buy the grocery store garlic unless it is clearly marked from USA or Canada, the other stuff is grown in
people’s… dung (even worse than chicken poop). China is the largest producer of garlic in the world; U.S. is next.*

Buy only local honey. Much honey is shipped in huge
Containers from China and packaged here.*

Cold-FX is grown and **packed** in China and is full of fecal bacteria. Doesn't work anyway; it is a big scam.*

If the country of origin on a product is not clearly marked, “beware.” If the product is produce, ask an employee.*

Watch out for packages which state "prepared for," "packed by" or "imported by" or "distributed by."
We advocate mandatory labeling, especially the produce.*

The country of origin should be clearly shown on the item in the store.*

Go to the local farmers' markets in season for your produce and keep a wary eye open the rest of the year.*

Please read this very carefully, and read to the very bottom.
It's important for all of us.*

The above facts indicate how it is possible to ship food from China cheaper than having it produced in the U.S. or
Canada.*

PLEASE NOTE--THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA'

SO, FOR A FEW MORE CENTS, BUY THE LIBERTY BRAND. GOLD BRAND OR DOLE ARE FROM CALIFORNIA.*

Beware, Costco sells canned peaches and pears in a plastic jar that come from China.*

ALL "HIGH LINER" AND MOST OTHER FROZEN FISH PRODUCTS COME FROM CHINA OR INDONESIA.
THE PACKAGE MAY SAY "PACIFIC SALMON" ON THE FRONT, BUT LOOK FOR THE SMALL PRINT.

MOST OF THESE PRODUCTS COME FROM FISH FARMS IN THE ORIENT WHERE THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS ON
WHAT IS FED TO THESE FISH.*

Recently The Montreal Gazette had an article by the Canadian Government on how Chinese feed the fish

They suspend chicken wire crates over the fish ponds, and the fish feed on chicken dung.*

If you search the Internet about what the Chinese feed
their fish, you'll be alarmed; e. g, growth hormones, expired anti-biotic from
humans.
Never buy any type of fish or shellfish that comes from these countries: Vietnam, China, Philippines.*

Check this out personally. Steinfeld's Pickles* *are produced in India - just as bad!*

Another example is canned mushrooms. No-Name brand comes from Indonesia…*

Also check those little fruit cups. They used to be made in Canada, in the Niagara region, until about 2 years ago.

They are now packaged in China. Most sold in Aldi
stores.*

While the Chinese export inferior and even toxic products, dangerous toys, and goods to be sold in North American
markets, the media wrings its hands! Yet, 70% of North Americans believe that the trading
privileges afforded to the Chinese should be
suspended.*
Why do we need the government to suspend trading
privileges? THIS IS A YOURSELF PROJECT.

Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China' or 'PRC' (and that now
includes Hong Kong), simply choose another product or none at all. You will be amazed at
how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do

THINK ABOUT THIS:*

If 200 million North Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance
resolved in our favor... fast! The downside? Some Canadian/American businesses will feel a temporary pinch
from having foreign stockpiles of inventory.*
Just one month of trading losses will hit the Chinese for 8% of their North American exports. Then they will at least have
to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness are worth it.*

Share with your friends. Start reading labels more closely and
buy something else even if it costs a few cents more.*

 

That was a eye opening read! Ironically I was just talking to the wife yesterday about purchasing another 1/2 beef from a local ranch

 

No offense Savemoney, but a superficial search reveals many half truths in the "facts" presented.

Smithfield Farms High on the Hog
Chinese Tilapia Do Not Eat Tilapia!

I am a fan of local produce, and will not knowingly give even my dog any food made in China (lots of dog treats are), but half truths don't help any cause.

Greg

 

Another scam. I was heavily involved in Farmer's Markets and the majority of the products are not local, organic, or natural. Not all but most. People will buy items from stores and then resell them as homemade or fresh produce. Processed items are not local, natural, or organic. They can't be. The volume is to high for everything to be made from scratch and grown on their own. Vendors pick up their large quantities of supplies from wholesalers, Sam's, Walmart, Costco, etc. to make their goods. The Amish do offer cheap homemade items but their hygiene is as bad as any third world country.

 

I figured that the "slaughtered and processed there" was bunk when reading.
The cost to transport live animals overseas would be staggering and the losses from stress and sickness huge.
The logistics would never work.
Be far cheaper to ship feed to china to raise them there if that's what they are lacking.

 

I agree that we should all be paying more attention to our food supply and buying known local goods.

But, China bought Smithfield simply because we (usa) limited the amount they could buy from us. They cant produce what they consume. They bought it, and can now ship it "home" to get around the purchase aspect of it.
$ talks. They have it to blow. Obviously the shareholders like $ too. It pizzed off tons of people, but ultimately it's a business decision for them.

 

I don't know what you guys are complaining about, I love Chinese Food! Just Kidding Guys, Just Kidding!

 

Speaking of China and business, they are slowly working their way across America. Anyone notice how much money they are now investing in Hollywood films? This first came to my attention while seeing the credits for MI in the movie theater. Here is an article on it.
Alibaba gets into Hollywood movie biz with "Mission Impossible" stake - CBS News

 

I need to go back and read the whole thing but I know we are on the same page. We drastically cleaned up our family's diet in July of 2014. We watched many documentaries on Amazon Prime including Food Inc. and King Corn among others. They were eye opening and I never looked at food the same after that. When you see the secretly shot footage of what goes on in the poultry and pork industries your heart will break. Hearing the pigs cry out in sheer terror on the kill floor can never be forgotten.
For my family, we source locally produced pature raised, organic meat. Also orgainc produce. 90% of what is sold as "food" in the grocery store is just poisons in pretty packages, seeds of cancer and other modern disease. This is a topic I discuss daily with great passion. It warms my heart to know that I am not alone in my quest to educate people on the topic of real, nutritious food.
BRAVO!

 

I farm (well market garden really since I'm small scale) and I agree, market goers need to get to know the farmers at the market. What I personally did not grow myself I would wholesale from a local farm who grew things I didn't grow, sweet corn for example, but I made sure that my customers knew who grew the corn and where. The markets I've sold at were pretty strict with producer only items but I know of 1 farmer who had acorn squash on his table and a few of them still had bar-codes on them

I'm changing my business model for next year and will be skipping the markets and dropping the CSA and creating a virtual farmers market via a members only club. I've asked a lot of the local producers that I know and trust to have their items featured in my online store and they are very excited about it. Members will know exactly who grew, raised or produced their food while shopping. Each participating vendor will have a short bio on the club's website and the growing practices they use. I'm not so concerned with the organic vs conventional but in order to be a participating vendor your product has to be non-gmo, and that means any meat from animals that eat feed have to be fed non-gmo feed. It's called the Honest Food Club for those reasons. Food with a face behind it. I'm taking on the super markets rather than competing with other farmers at the markets.

 

It takes about 20-25 days to get a boat loaded...over the water...unloaded...and a sea can picked up at the port in Long Beach.

 

Do organic pigs not fear death the same? Just curious. Its great that folks can eat and grow or afford to buy all local grown produce and vegetables. But modern agriculture and mass meat production allows everyone to afford food today.

I dont like it but its what it is :-(

 

I am sure small scale organic pigs are killed more humanely than than what I saw in the feedlot facilities. In a video showing hunanely slaughtered pigs, a lady took her pig to the processor without any stress. The pig was put down instantly and the moment it died it was happily eating an apple and getting it's back scratched. Stress hormones are toxic to the body, and eating stressed animals is not good. You are what you eat, only put good energy into your body.

 

I agree with you on many aspects steroid antibiotic injected meat is probably not good for us. Neither is the filler and such in processed food.

I am not really talking about a hobby farmer who takes their animal to a special niche processor. I am more along the lines referring to the large scale organic farms. I promise you there not feeding those pigs apples and scratching their backs as they shoot them in the head with a 22 . Its probably more along the lines of the first video.

It is what it is. Many in society hate the slaughter process yet had e no issue with meat. Or they ridicule you to no end about hunting and eating those "nasty deer" yet when you tell them about how nasty feed lots are and that the animals they call clean stand in ankle deep crap and mud for days on end they dont want to hear it?????

I like to think I am in the middle . I wish we ate more fresh and less processed but we just dont. Things are too easy the other way.

 

dont forget about the subsidies that make factory farm meat so cheap. Pastured meat is a superior product to the feedlot animals. Go check out polyface farms lab test results.