Nothing Better Than Good Old Fashion American Pride And Quality

     Recently, the nation has been dealing with unintended outcomes resulting from our dependence on imported feedstuffs.  The loss and illness caused to those individual’s pets was devastating and costly to say the least.  However, if by some cruel fate it had gotten into the human food chain, how much worse could it have been?

     As producers of the safest food in the world we have an opportunity before us to turn this tragedy around and reiterate to our communities the benefits from buying American.  Let’s cook on the grill while it is hot and use every opportunity to share these messages.   

     We have a great opportunity coming next month when Saratoga County will be promoting agriculture to the community on the 12th annual Sundae on the Farm, June 17, 2007, at the William Hanehan and Sons Farm in Saratoga Springs.  This annual event attracts thousands of people to visit, learn, and enjoy agriculture up close and personal.  What a great undertaking but at the same time simply a fantastic outpouring from the farm community to come help on a united front to give the general public this opportunity.  If you haven’t attended one, don’t wait another year, come enjoy, and help spread the story of agriculture

     Beyond showing them the amount of work we do everyday in farming or the complexity of running a farm, and demonstrating the huge economic investments, we can double our efforts on local freshness and quality.  It is a long day for all who work, but in the end as the workers sit to rest, there are many families returning to their homes with a newfound appreciation for how their food reaches their tables.  

     Let’s take the “bull by the horns” so to speak, we need to remind our local neighbors and city friends, better yet we need to reiterate, that buying local is not only getting fresh but safe.  It comes down to we need them and they need us.  When they buy milk, meat, apples, vegetables, etc. from local producers or processors who used local produce, in actuality we’ll both (consumer/farmer) be putting that money back in the local economy.  After all, we are the local community too, our children are their classmates, we are their fellow voters, and taxpayers. 

     Many of our neighbors in the community have questions and concerns over their food; there is no better spokesperson than those who produce it.  Engage them at every opportunity to tell our story and pass along our message, they want to know it.