March 10th Market
Why it is Important to Know Where Your Food
Comes From . . .
It didn't use to be this way.
American brands such as Birds Eye, which has headquarters in the mid-West, used to buy all their produce from American Farms. Not anymore.
On a recent visit to the supermarket, when we checked package labels, we found that while some of their products were from the US, other were sourced from outside the US--including from China.
But even if you check the label of every food product that you buy, you still may not know where the product is from. Many packages just list the distributor.
Recently, ABC's Investigative team put together a report on Whole Foods' "organic" produce which was grown in China. Although the package had the seal of the US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), which inspects organic farms in this country, the USDA does not inspect imported food. They rely on Quality Assurance International (QAI) whose seal was also on the food packages. However, QAI relies on individuals within the country to perform the actual inspections, so there is no guarantee that the products that you are buying are actually pesticide and chemical free. Learn more about this here:
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Whole Foods Organic, Made In China |
Why does this matter? It matters because of the possibility of corruption in the business dealings of some countries. What is stated on the label may not be true about the product. It also matters because the motivation of the seller may not be in your best interest.
The organic food movement in the US was started by people who believe in and are truly committed to sustainable farming and producing organic or pesticide-reduced products. Growing products organically is hard work. The farms in China and many other countries are contracted by large conglomerates whose goal is to make a profit. Their products might be okay-- but there is no way to know.
When you buy products from our local farmers through their CSAs, at a farm store such as at the Longview Agricultural Center or at our Farmers' Market, you can be assured that the growers are proud to associate their names with their products and take great care in producing them. You can trust that your food will be wholesome, fresh, and will be as it is described. Even better, you can have a personal relationship with the farmers and visit their farms to see how the food is grown yourself.
Another way to be sure of the source of your food is to grow it yourself. If you plan to have a garden this year, take advantage of Longview's repeat of their Crop Planning and Garden Layout Workshop on March 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is the first course in their series to help you make the most of your garden this summer. The course is $8.00 for members, $10.00 for non-members. Pre-registration is required. To register, Click Here
For fresh, local products that are absolutely sourced in the USA, stop by the Collegeville Winter Farmers' Market this Saturday!
Mountain View Poultry Farm is proud of their pasture raised hens and eggs this week, and is offering a special price of two dozen eggs for $6.50. Marie wants you to understand the benefits of pastured vs. commercial eggs, and has provided you with the following information. Did you know that pasture raised eggs have significant health advantages over commercial eggs? They have:
- One-half less cholesterol
- One-fourth less saturated fat
- Two-thirds more vitamin A
- Two times more omega 3 fatty acids
- Three times more Vitamin E
- Seven times more beta carotene
- Three to six times more Vitamin D
Plus, Marie says, Mountain View hens are very happy, healthy, love living as nature intended, and love providing eggs for you!
Marie looks forward to seeing you on Saturday!
Maria from Old Mill Gourmet has been busy in the kitchen again whipping up new flavors of jams. This week she is featuring White Peach Raspberry Jam, Mango Straberry Jam Honey and Honey Sticks, Argentine Chimichurri and--after a long wait--she now has Maple Syrup.
FreshAPeel Hummus will have a number of their wonderful hummus flavors reflecting both local and cross-cultural influences. Their hummus is made using a handcrafted single-batch production process for each of their tasty flavors. So good for you and delicious!
A'dello Vineyards returns bringing their chardonnays: Chardonnay Reserve, Chardonnay Naked, and semi-sweet Cardonnel, as well as their reds: a Chambourcin, Merlot or Cabernet Franc; their Cellar Door Collection of rose wines and their delicious signature fruit wines.
Marcy's Granola is back with her six original flavors of artisan granola, including her cashew with cranberries, which is now available in her 100% vegan flavor. Her granola is made with oats, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, and she uses only the finest oil and vegan-friendly sweeteners to make it slightly sweet. Try a free sample on Saturday, and you can also pre-order from her website: www.shop.marcysgranola.com and pick up your order at the market.
Little Lost Creek Alpaca Farm will be ready with all their alpaca products available--including their felted soaps, throws, and heavenly soft and warm socks, as well as handcrafted pottery by local potter Nicole Dubrow.
Kate returns with Om Shanti Naturals' luxurious body and shower washes, all natural herbal soaps, moisturing lip balms, salt and sugar body scrubs, massage oils, bath salts, bath oils and more.
Our Collegeville Farmers' Market vendors sell inside the Longview Farm Store each Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. through April 28th, 2012.
The Longview Center for Agriculture is located at the former Willow Creek Farm, 3215 Stump Hall Road in Collegeville.
While visiting our farmers and vendors this week, check out the variety of local, sustainably produced products at the farm store!
Longview's store, which is operated by the non-profit Greener Partners, is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Directions to Longview: The Longview Center for Agriculture is located at 3215 Stump Hall Road, Collegeville, PA. (From the Collegeville Farmers' Market Main St. site, drive East down Main St. and cross the Perkiomen Creek Bridge. Drive about five miles East on Germantown Pike, then turn left on Rt. 363, and after several miles turn left again to Stump Hall Rd. Longview is about a mile down on your right.)