From specialty crop farms and a tofu production plant in Japan to the Panama Canal, local farmer David Mool shares his international experience with the Illinois Ag Leadership Program in this week’s Farm Fresh Podcast.
Listen for the Farm to Table segment every Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. on WJBC radio.
To see photos and more details from the trip, click here.
Audio PlayerFor buyers opting for organic foods, do perceptions about the products match reality? Brenna Ellison, a University of Illinois Food Economist and Researcher decided to take closer look at how the organic label affects what people think of the taste, nutrition and safety of food products.
The study used an online survey to compare how an organic label affects perceptions of strawberries – a “virtue” product (food perceived as healthy) and chocolate sandwich cookies – a “vice” product (not as healthy/junk food) at two retailers.
Find out how organic opinions stack up in this week’s Farm Fresh Podcast. Tune in every Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. to hear the Farm to Table segment on WJBC Radio.
To read more about the research, click here.
For buyers opting for organic foods, do perceptions about the products match reality? Brenna Ellison, a University of Illinois Food Economist and Researcher decided to take closer look at how the organic label affects what people think of the taste, nutrition and safety of food products.
The study used an online survey to compare how an organic label affects perceptions of strawberries – a “virtue” product (food perceived as healthy) and chocolate sandwich cookies – a “vice” product (not as healthy/junk food) at two retailers.
Find out how organic opinions stack up in this week’s Farm Fresh Podcast. Tune in every Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. to hear the Farm to Table segment on WJBC Radio.
To read more about the research, click here.
Audio PlayerTo mandate labeling or not to mandate labeling? that is the current question about foods made with ingredients containing ‘GMOs’ or Genetically Modified Organisms.
Take a deeper look at the issue with Tamara Nelsen, Senior Director of Commodities for Illinois Farm Bureau in this week’s Farm Fresh Podcast.
For more about GMOs check out our Pinterest Board.
Listen to the Farm to Table segment every Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. on WJBC Radio.
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What does a mom who makes pesticide recommendations for farmers feed her own children? Organic. Homemade. Conventional. Store bought. I use it all.
Yes, I sometimes bought organic baby food. I bought it for the convenience of the pouch packaging. I bought it for the unique food combinations. I did NOT buy it because I thought it was more nutritious or better than conventional.
I am somewhat particular about the country of origin of the foods I feed my children. Any food grown in the US or Canada I am completely comfortable purchasing.
I will admit that I think twice when I see produce, particularly berries, from other countries and often opt not to purchase them. Berries have soft skin that can be easily bruised during transport and I am not as comfortable with the control measures for complex pest management strategies in other countries. But, I obviously buy foreign grown bananas because they aren’t grown in the US.
My master’s degree is in Weed Science. I studied Herbicide Physiology and lots and lots of chemistry. My master’s thesis involved glyphosate (aka Roundup). Yes, I sprayed it myself – gasp!
I studied the chemical structures of herbicides, how they breakdown in the environment and at what speed, which products should be used in what situations, and how the herbicides fit into the entire cropping system.
I am very comfortable the pesticides used on our food in the US. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registers chemicals after review of the pesticide ingredients, crops to be used on, the amount and frequency of use, timing and also how the pesticide should be stored and disposed. They determine the risk of potential harms to humans, wildlife, and non-target species.
The EPA also determines a pesticide tolerance – the maximum amount of pesticide residue that can legally remain in or on a particular food. It takes generally 8-10 years from discovery to registration of a herbicide.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors and enforces pesticide tolerances in both raw and processed foods. Meat, poultry and eggs are monitored and enforced by the USDA. Food grown domestically and imported food are both monitored for pesticide residues.
Bottom line – I trust the safety of the food I buy because I trust the science behind it.
