October 24, 2011 is slated to be recognized as “Food Day” by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). It is a nationwide campaign to change the way Americans eat and think about food. Food Day is suppose to promote healthy foods, support sustainable farms and ending farm subsidies, expand access to food and alleviating hunger, reform “factory farms” to protect animals and the environment and curb junk-food marketing to kids.
As a farmwife, I feel like every day on our family farm is “Food Day.” Every single day we are raising cattle and 3/4 of the year we are planting, raising and harvesting corn and soybeans to help feed our family, our neighbors and the world.
Today, one farmer produces enough food in one year to feed 156 people. That number has grown significantly over the years. It is taking less farmers to produce more food than in the past, but with the growing population, that is what is necessary to feed everyone.
According to the Food Day website, “Food Day seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life–parents, teachers and students; health professionals, community organizers and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers and eaters of all stripes–to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way.” Did you happen to notice who they left out of that list of people??? I would have to say it is one of the most important people when it comes to producing food and feeding the world–FARMERS!!!
Well, we don’t need one specific day to celebrate what we do every day, 24/7, 365 days a year. We are proud of what we do. We work hard to provide healthy, abundant food to feed the world. So happy “Food Day” to everyone, farmers included!
~Sara Ross, CommonGround Volunteer
Leave a Reply