Author: Christy

by

Cleaning Out the Fridge from Thanksgiving

So, have you cleaned out the refrigerator from Thanksgiving? I did and, wow, it made me feel so much better. If you’re like me, you may have found some leftover apples from fall that kept well. I wanted to use them up so I went hunting for a quick and easy recipe. I found a winner. Just made it tonight. Best part is I found it in a church cookbook that my mom gave me. The person who submitted it is Betty Layton, a long time friend of my mom’s and an avid church goer. Her family, the Cannon’s, sold their farm to my mom and Farmer Dan in 1975. We loved playing in the round roof barn that her dad built. I even remember their family name etched into the wood going up the stairs and the year it was built – 1926. Enjoy!!!

Apple Crisp with Bisquick

Ingredients:

4 cups sliced pared apples (4-5 medium)

2 tsp water

¼ cup sugar

1 ½ cup Bisquick

½ cup sugar

½ tsp cinnamon

1 egg

¼ cup shortening (melted)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease square pan, 8x8x2 inches. Arrange apples in pan; sprinkle with water and ¼ cup sugar. In bowl stir together Bisquick, ½ cup sugar, and the cinnamon. Beat egg thoroughly; pour slowly into Bisquick mixture, stirring constantly with fork until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle mixture evenly over apples; pour shortening over top. Bake about 20 minutes until brown on top. Serve warm or cold with milk or ice cream. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

by

Keeping the EPA Away

Every December at the Bridgeville Fire Hall, the Sussex Soil Conservation District holds their annual “Cooperators’ Dinner” to honor farmers for their stewardship of the land. I like to go for the beef and dumplings, of course, and to sit with my family. My grandfather has been a member of this board since 1977 and is the current Chairman.  As Chair, he moderates the program, which entails different awards each year. In past years, I was glad to see my dad, Farmer Dan, awarded for his soil conservation practices and dedication. Last year was special, too, because my sister-in-law was awarded for her middle school “Conservation Club” work.

However, this year was a little different. There were no family members being awarded this time, which was fine. Local farmers, Clifton Murray from the eastern side of the county and Bill (father) & Bob (son) Otwell from Laurel, were both awarded “Cooperators’ of the Year”. Each recipient is welcome to make remarks after receiving the award. In the past, I remember Farmer Dan thanking the district and its employees for assisting him with applications, paperwork and even just educating him on the programs available. This year’s awardees did the same; however, both referenced the surmounting regulation coming down on their industry. Mr. Murray spoke first and referenced the “regulation coming out of the woodwork”, especially on the poultry industry. The senior Mr. Otwell spoke next and stated, “We do care about the land and we want to take care of it as best as we can. But we also want to do all we can to keep the EPA away.”  I believe farmers have always been great stewards of the land; keeping abreast best management practices and implementing new techniques such as cover crop seeding. But being a good steward of the land today requires much more, including living in fear of regulatory authorities who can inspect your farm at anytime.

 It was also interesting to hear the history and progress of the Sussex Conservation District from Jessica Watson, Manager of the Sediment and Stormwater Program. Just as Sussex farmers have had to adapt and change, so has the district and its mission. It was created in 1944, when agriculture was the dominant presence. Today, most of the eastern half of the county has been developed as it has gradually turned into an urban setting. The district has had to think outside the box and create services that are in demand of suburban and urban landowners, not just farmers, such as offering equipment out to hire, installing drainage pipes, and mowing assistance. It was also emphasized that funding is not secure for the district organization; citing the need for specific grant writing skills within their staff.  At the end of the night, the District Coordinator, Debbie Absher, shared an awesome video: Tribute To Farmers: God Made A Farmer Video . Check it out!

Who would’ve known that in addition to assisting farmers in being good stewards of the land, they are also helping farmers protect their livelihood by “keeping the EPA away?”

by

Christmas Tree Tax or Check-Off?

Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time?  Or have you been a part of a conversation where someone misrepresents you? Christmas tree farmers across the country are currently victims of both.

Michigan is traditionally one of the top Christmas tree growing states, supported by their own Christmas Tree Association.  Growers there and across the country have been working with the USDA for several years to create a check-off program which would require growers to pay 15 cents for each tree sold. The pooled earnings would then be used in a promotion program to support Christmas Tree farms, similar to other check-off campaigns such as “Got Milk?” promoting the dairy industry, “Beef: It’s What’s for Dinner” endorsing the beef consumption and “The Incredible Edible Egg” encouraging egg sales and about 15 other USDA promotion and research boards for agricultural commodities. When a check-off program is approved, a board of industry representatives is formed to make decisions on how to promote or research the commodities involved (see a recent USDA check-off blog here).

This promotion program could have helped Christmas tree growers fight competition from artificial trees, which has plagued the industry for years. Because of lost market share, Christmas tree growers petitioned to set up its own promotional program after years of concern. And recent threats have come from environmental groups, who claim Christmas tree farms are bad for the environment, because of the loss of trees.

The whole conversation came to a halt right before Thanksgiving, as the White House announced its decision to reverse the decision to approve the check-off program. Apparently, conservatives, such as Rush Limbaugh, accused the USDA and federal government of spoiling Christmas with a new “tax”.

So is it a tax or a check-off? You can decide. But I will tell you that out of all the taxes I pay, none are pooled to promote an industry I am directly involved in; which means Christmas tree growers were just in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with misrepresentation from many, and an impending presidential campaign at the center of it all.

On a side note, I found a comprehensive list for Christmas tree growers in Delaware on the DE Department of Agriculture website.  Do your part to support our neighboring farmers and buy your live tree local this year!  

by

Giving Thanks

I love Thanksgiving. Everyone loves Thanksgiving. It’s the holiday where all families can come together and do one thing only and do it well…..EAT!!! No wrapped gifts in sight; just good food, family and laughter. I’m so fortunate because my grandmother loves to cook and she handles all the details, even at the age of 76. I helped her set up and prepare and I even ran to the store for some extra canned peas but other than that, I have no idea how much the full spread cost her for all 26 of us. So I did some research.

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, a traditional Thanksgiving meal will cost 13% more this year than last. The turkey alone will cost 22% more. Much of the increase can be linked to higher cost in energy, meaning fuel for transportation. Inflation is also a factor. According to a new USDA forecast, food prices in 2011 are projected to increase by 3.5 to 4.5%. Prices for cereals, bakery products, poultry and processed fruits and vegetables are forecasted to rise rapidly in 2012, even though inflation is expected to slow. Two things automatically come to mind: I should budget more money for groceries next year and I definitely take advantage of my grandmother’s cooking and her gratuitous nature.

I am thankful for the awesome holiday dinner I shared with family yesterday. But as I think ahead, I worry about tomorrow. How will the less fortunate be able to afford food in the future? With a growing world population, how much more will prices inflate? How available will food products be? How much more will fuel prices increase? I traveled to Detroit recently for a work related policy conference and by touring the city I learned the last national grocery store chain left the city in 2007. Most Detroiter’s shop for groceries at a corner gas station. This makes me even more thankful not only for yesterday’s meal but all year-long.

I also can’t help but think back to my last post on GMO’s: The Rest of the Story. The facts above reinforce the need for genetically engineered crops. You see, not only do they increase farmers’ production and yields but the oil from these plants can be used in alternative fuels, known as biodiesel. When used, biodiesel can reduce transportation costs and fuel emissions; positively impacting rising food prices, our environment, and even our economy.

Finally, I’m thankful for American farmers, especially those in Delaware including my family, and the fact that they are the reason food was so good yesterday and all year-long.

by

GMO’s: The Rest of the Story

Last Tuesday the major headline in the Delaware News Journal was this: GMO’s: 10 simple questions (and some surprising answers). It was a broad article; offering a quiz to better understand GMO’s and claiming to provide additional information from experts on both sides of this controversial topic. However, I don’t feel as though it truly represented both sides.

My first concern is for the impartial reader who will decide to research the topic more and may begin with the campaigns mentioned, which are against GMO production. The campaigns and studies in support of GMO’s were not mentioned, which leaves the reader misinformed. My second concern is the negative tone this article places on our food system and food safety. And my last, and probably most important concern, is that a grower of GMO’s was not mentioned, interviewed, or photographed for this article.

 Here are the facts that should have also been included:

  • Farmers in Delaware produce GMO crops. Farmers (and gardeners) have been creating plant hybrids for a long time. It is a more efficient way to produce greater yields as American farmers feed approximately 155 people a day. In 1960, that number was 25.8.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  estimates the number of people experiencing food-borne illnesses annually continues to decline. 99.99% of meals eaten everyday are consumed safely without incident.
  • The USDA strives to ensure that all foods in this country meet the same high standards of safety.
  • Every plant improved through the use of biotechnology for food is examined by the FDA and EPA for potential health risks.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) reports current foods containing biotech ingredients have passed human health risk assessments.
  • There are campaigns in support of farmers who grow GMO’s such as the US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA).
  • There are campaigns targeting consumers such as CommonGround, which motivates farm women to engage with consumers to enhance American’s trust in food and farming.

 There is much more to this conversation and topic and I believe all consumers have a right to choose. I just hope consumers look at both sides of story. Keep in mind, as our population steadily grows, American farmers will be pressured to produce more on fewer acres. Nearly all estimates of future food demand prove they will have to double agricultural production by 2050, if not before. Biotechnology, including GMO’s, will be the only way this will happen.

by

To Blog……Or Not To Blog?!

I’ve mulled over it long enough. What’s the correct way to blog? What’s my point? Are there too many other blogs out there now? And the list goes on and on and on. So I narrowed it down to my final 3 concerns:

  1. What angle to write from? (my perspective or Little Wagon Produce perspective)
  2. Can I keep up with it? (family, boyfriend, full-time job, part-time jobs, friends, etc)
  3. Do I really have something unique to say and, more importantly, who will want to read it?

And here’s what I realized:

Sooner is better than later. I knew I would regret it if I didn’t start this winter, since it’s my down time from the busy summer. I decided to portray my perspective for now because I’m learning so much in my new full-time position with Nemours and I have much to share about how it connects with my agricultural background.  I know it will be unique because I have a broad range of topics to cover from the history of ag, family experiences, customer recipes, consumer myths and questions, and local policy issues relating to ag. Plus I have a new project called Common Ground to tell you about, too. Therefore, I feel it would be very selfish of me NOT to share! I haven’t quite figured how I’m going to keep up with it but I’m hoping it comes naturally. I also pray that this blog will give me great contentment as I strive to inform, educate, and shed light on topics that are in much need of transparency.

Ok, enough said, I’ve got blogs to write! 🙂