Cyndi's Two Cents

Tell the truth about food

Commentary.

While delivering branded beef to a health food store last week, a shopper asked me if we feed GMOs to our cattle. I think my answer came as a surprise to several people standing within eavesdropping distance.

“Yes. As a matter of fact we do.”

I looked her straight in the eyes and told her that in addition to high-quality forage and pasture, prior to harvest, our cattle are fed a half-corn, half-oat mix purchased from a local grain elevator. We supplement the steers’ diet with an all- natural source of protein.

The store owner, with an expression of sadness, shook her head and added disappointedly, “It is very hard to find any grain that is not genetically modified.”

The customer is always right, and in this case, my customer was the store owner. I have learned to tread lightly in these situations. I respect the store owner but I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to educate those listening.

Fortunately, the store owner’s statement is indeed a fact, so I responded, “You know, (store owner’s name) is right, it is difficult to find non-GMO grain. To provide an abundant and affordable food supply, farmers in this country had to become more efficient. They needed seeds for crops that could survive droughts, disease and insects while at the same time reducing their reliance on herbicides and pesticides.”

It was not my intention to lecture. I wanted the shopper to ask questions – to become engaged in the conversation, and she did not disappoint me. I was able to share a couple more key messages with her:

• With so many economists and experts talking about a growing world population that will need to eat, efficiency in farming is more important than ever.
• The genetic makeup of all crops and livestock has been altered by human hands since domestic agriculture began 10,000 years ago. All fruits, vegetables and grain commercially available today has been altered, including organic and heirloom seeds.

It is important when responding to consumers face-to-face that you do not give them the impression that you are overly guarded or concerned against criticism. Be transparent and conversational. Answer their questions but do not throw out so much information at them that you only confuse them. Have ready 2 or 3 key messages that you would like for your customer to remember when he or she walks away from your conversation.

Few farmers have the opportunity to come face to face with the end-user of the bounty they grow, but every farmer has the opportunity to have a conversation about what they grow and how they grow it with a friend, a neighbor, or the woman in line ahead of them at the grocery store check-out counter.

It would have been easier and potentially more profitable for me had I chosen to keep my thoughts to myself and just walk away. I’ve seen others do it many times. Sadly, I’ve also seen farmers mislead consumers. All plant and animal source foods contain hormones, yet I’ve seen farmers promoting their beef, eggs and other products as “hormone free.”

Marketing is good. Lying is not good. If you can’t tell the truth, just keep your mouth shut.

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  so self-respecting “health-food” store would even consider accepting this meat as one of its offerings.. my how times have changed… not enough non-GM feed??? you certainly like to live in denial..

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  (i meant “no” )… sorry for the typo

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