2016 is a pivotal year. This year we get to vote for our future. This year’s decisions will effect us for years to come. It is a year where you don’t want to waste your votes. It is a year to vote early and vote often.
Wait, you thought I was talking about the Presidential election? Sorry, this is a farm newsletter, not a political blog. I’m talking about an election far more important than the Presidential election. I’m talking about the election that will determine what you will eat, how it is raised, how it will get to you and where your food comes from. I’m talking about the vote you cast every time you purchase food, whether it is from your local farm, your fast-food drive-through or your big box grocer. Every time you purchase food you are electing the future source of your food. It is a pretty heavy burden to bare.
The reason I mention this today — other than it being an election year — is that we here at Fresh Earth Farms are supporters of ethically-produced, locally grown, sustainably-raised food. Everyday we vote this way and, more importantly, give you the opportunity to vote this way without you having to do the research — we do it all for you (at no extra charge!)
If you prefer hamburgers that come from cattle raised in their own filth in a feedlot with thousands of other cattle fed unnatural corn grown a thousand miles from the feedlot feel free to shop your local fast food joint. On the other hand, if you prefer to eat meat from animals raised on pasture, roaming the country-side, happily eating what animals are meant to eat, consider buying MeatShare (with several new configurations this season).
If you prefer salmon raised in giant pens, fed gmo soy pellets with a dye added to give their flesh a pink hue, where their feces is dumped into the ocean off the coast of Norway, then purchase your farm-raised salmon from Sam’s Club. However, if you prefer to support a sustainable fishery where the seafood is harvested by small, independent fishermen and fisherwomen whose livelihood depends on the ocean continuing to produce for generations to come consider buying SeafoodShare or SalmonShare.
If you prefer tasteless loaves of doughy, white bread made in a large factory by faceless factory workers and shipped across the country then purchase your bread at your local Cub Foods. If instead you prefer a delicious, hand-made, crusty Italian or sourdough bread, made without preservatives or unnatural ingredients by a family-owned and operated local bakery, consider buying BreadShare.
I could say the same thing for Fruit, Cheese, and Coffee. If you eat any of these items please consider buying them from us. Not only do you support local business and sustainable farming but you also help sustain our farm. Though there isn’t a lot of profit margin in the items we resell, there is some, and every little bit helps make this farm successful.
Please do not let cost discourage you from purchasing these items. We realize that if you buy a few of these with your veggies the price can easily get into four digits. So take advantage of our payment plan. Feel free to spread the cost over several months or even the whole season if necessary. Whatever works for your budget we are willing to do.
And finally, to make purchasing these extra items a bit more affordable, we’ve created packages deals that provide a a discount. Take a look to see if any of these fit your lifestyle. Or, if you have a particular set of items that you think would be of interest to others, do not hesitate to let me know and I will put together another package. If you already put down a deposit and you want to purchase one of these packages either use the “Personal Check” payment plan and subtract your deposit from your payment or contact me for a coupon code you can use when checking out.
Help us help you to eat more ethically and sustainably. Consider buying add-on shares today!