Farmer Chris leaned hard on the strength of the farm during his 2019 State of the Farm address on Wednesday, but with a blend of precise statistics and gauzy superlatives that are much more difficult to measure. He also returned to a theme that dominated the previous year — a quest for a southern border wall to cope with what he said is a crisis of ruthless deer cartels and rampant canned vegetables in the United States caused by chemical farming.
The two issues dominated his address, which in tone was more measured than his biting Twitter feed, but in substance contained numerous claims that were false or misleading.
Here is what Farmer Chris said and how it stacked up against the facts.
“Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Farm Members, the First Lady of the United States, and my fellow Americans: We meet tonight at a moment of unlimited potential. As we begin a new season, I stand here ready to work with you to achieve historic breakthroughs for all vegetables”.
This is False
None of these people were actually at this year’s State of the Farm Address.
” In October, we mark 17 years since the start of what Farmer Chris called the Great Crusade — the planting of the first garlic at Fresh Earth Farms. On October 26, 2002, 1,000 young garlic cloves broke from their bulbs to save our civilization from store-bought garlic”.
This is Misleading
Yes, garlic was the first crop grown on Fresh Earth Farms and was planted in 2002, but it actually wasn’t planted until November of that year. Also, there are no records of the number of cloves planted so it cannot be verified.
” In just over 2 years, we have launched an unprecedented zucchini boom — a boom that has rarely been seen before”.
This is True
In 2018 Fresh Earth Farms grew more zucchini than in any previous year — and with one-third fewer zucchini plants.
“We have created two new drop sites and importantly added 40 new shares — something which almost everyone said was impossible to do, but the fact is, we are just getting started”.
This is False
In fact last year’s membership was down from the previous year, which was down from the year before. No new drop sites have been added either. However it is hoped this trend will change as more people find out about Fresh Earth Farms and join for the 2019 season. So spread the word!
” …and we are considered far and away the hottest CSA farm anywhere in the world”.
This is True
No other CSA farm has been regarded more hotly than Fresh Earth Farms.
“As we speak, large, organized deer caravans are on the march to the farm. We have just heard that other farms, in order to remove the illegal deer from their communities, are getting trucks and buses to bring them up to our farm in areas where there is little border protection. I have ordered another 3,750 troops to our southern border to prepare for the tremendous onslaught. Tonight, I am asking you to defend our very dangerous southern border out of love and devotion to beets and to lettuce. Year after year, countless pea plants are consumed by criminal illegal deer”.
Mostly False
There are no known caravans of marching deer nor have there been trucks and buses of deer headed to our southern border. No troops have been deployed, much less “another 3,750 troops”. However deer cartels have eaten beets, lettuce and pea plants many times in the past.
” Fresh Earth Farms was founded on chemical free and organics — not destructive herbicides, insecticides, and neonicotinoids. We are born chemical-free, and we will stay chemical-free. Tonight, we renew our resolve that Fresh Earth Farms will never be a chemical farm”.
Absolutely True
Fresh Earth Farms has never and will never use non-organic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers on the farm.
Curious about the accuracy of a claim, or any other questions feel free to contact me. And please spread the word!