The More You Know

"The USDA tests 1% of cattle for mad cow disease. Kansas-based Creekstone Farms Premium Beef exporters wants to test 100% of its cattle for mad cow disease. But the Bush administration took Creekstone to court, and a US federal appeals court ruled that the USDA has the authority to stop meatpackers from testing more than 1% of its cattle."
-BoingBoing

Because we know this, and many other things about the meat industry in America, we do not ever eat what we refer to as "Mystery Meat."

When in Austin we attended the farmers' market on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings, taking the time to talk to the farmers about their products and making a selection based upon their practices and ideals. We were often surprised to find that a farmer might go to great lengths to follow organic farming practices only to make a glaring error of not having any idea what they were feeding their animals, or what was in the food. In a country where our meat-byproducts are turned into animal food and the prevalence of Mad Cow has caused 42 countries to ban the import of American beef, I care what our chickens are eating.

In Austin we were very privileged to have direct access to Thunderheart Bison and because of this we purchased primarily Thunderheart and chicken from a fantastic Frenchman and his family. Before we left we filled our RV freezer, entirely, with bison and hit the road.

We were pleased to find that this lasted us until we arrived in Wisconsin. Once here we attended our first Farmers Market a few days later in search of our new farmer fresh food. Having been to the Austin Farmers' Marke,t and knowing the many challenges farmers face when growing organically in a state like Texas, we were excited to see what we could get in a Farm Country state.

What we found was a big shock to us. At a market which spanned a great length down the main city street we found only 3 organic farm stands and of those, only two cared to discuss their farming practices with us, and none made any advertisement of their organic status.
At many of the stands we were flat out ignored when we asked about their farming practices and others still, when the farmers failed to respond to us, their customers did, "They spray." End of discussion.

It was the most disheartening, disappointing farmers market I have ever been to. I felt like leaving half way through, but I took it seriously, not just as a lesson to myself and children, but to be willing to ask what was apparently "the difficult questions." I was also determined. I felt sure that I had just not yet found the organic/natural stands and that perhaps they were all grouped together somewhere.

No such luck.

Near the very end of our time at the market we found the Cattalana Ranch stand, a woman of the same mind, and a well run stand selling almost entirely organic fruit and vegetables very willing to discuss not just their practices, but the things they have tried, the financial hurdles they have met and the organic situation at the market. Another interesting note: The organic stands charged the very same price as the chemically raised food stands.
I tried my very best to thank and encourage the few organic farmers, both verbally and financially, and we went on our way. Because the Catalana Ranch products are available at the tiny local organic store we have not been back to the farmers market.

That being said, the AP has this to say about the meat industry in America:

"A federal judge ruled last year that Creekstone must be allowed to conduct the test because the Agriculture Department can only regulate disease "treatment." Since there is no cure for mad cow disease and the test is performed on dead animals, the judge ruled, the test is not a treatment.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturned that ruling, saying diagnosis can be considered part of treatment."

We are unsure of what constitutes as Mystery Meat anymore, even from the farmers we know and trust. Because meat animals are slaughtered before the onset of symptoms it makes the prevalence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy a bit difficult to discern. Because most scientists believe that the disease may be transferred to human beings as Creutzfeldt Jakob disease, and as of 2008 it is known to have killed 200 people. We are no longer taking any chances and we are mad because one of those things I expect from this country is clean food and water. One of the things I expect to promise to my children is clean food and water.

One of the things I am most willing to fight for is clean food and water. I am not willing to stand for Prozac in my municipal water or Creutzfeldt Jakob disease for my babies.

No way, no how.

At this point you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed, especially if this is new information to you.

I understand. I really, really do. I often go through a period of days, following new information like this, of feeling a bit depressed and hopeless. Then I figure that it is what it is. I can pretend that it isn't so, or I can accept the situation and use it to motivate myself to do something about it.

What the heck to do about it? What can we possibly do when our own court system fails to protect us over the interests of big business?

We go grassroots, that's what. We do what we can and we join forces with all of those other people who believe the same thing... and there are a lot out there. I think we are all familiar with the old adage, "United we stand, divided we fall!" And here's another, because I love you:

"Never underestimate the power of a small group of thoughtful committed people to change the world; Indeed it is the only thing that ever has!"

Here is a simple place to start: Care2 is the largest and most trusted information and action site for people who care to make a difference. With nearly 10 million members Care2 is working hard, together, to make a difference, and they make it easy to be involved. You can simply request that action alerts be sent to you via email and those emails will provide you with the scoop and a link to either sign a petition, send a fax (service provided via internet) or send a letter (a service also provided by Care2 with your electronic signature)

For those of you who want to go crawl under the covers now, please be gentle with yourself. Take a little time to process.

The more you know!

xo