I have neglected blogging for a long time. Many reasons, mainly too busy. But today I am frustrated and want to "vent." I am angry about the latest contamination in our food supply.
I come from a long line of farmers; they not only would plant vegetable crops, cultivate fruit trees and vines, but also have dairy cows, cattle for beef, chickens for eggs and meat - almost as self-sufficient as the pioneers were. By bartering with the neighbors, they cold survive when times got tough. Over the years, one by one, they would have to take a job in a plant or factory, working "swing shift," and still farm. This was necessitated by the falling prices of their produce and the higher cost on their part. When they took their goods to market, they were told their prices were too high and it could be imported for much less. In fact, in many cases, the government would subsidize the import in order to promote "international trade." Then, slowly, our local farmers had to rely totally on their jobs and only farmed as a hobby and the large fields and pasture land became small gardens. For the most part, their farming days were over. There is not a one of them that depend on their farm any more. In fact, most of them have sold the land that had been in the family for generations to land developers. It is no wonder we now HAVE to import food products from overseas where it becomes tainted and poisonous to our beloved pets.
First it was cats, then dogs; next we are told hogs got some of this feed. The latest is poultry. I have a dear friend who lost her precious 3 year old, 18 pound, registered, and expensive RagDoll cat to the tainted food. She thought she was being careful in watching what she fed him, but he got sick before her brand of food was recalled. That grief she now has most likely could have been avoided if our government would support our own farm industry instead of encouraging corporations to look for a cheap bargain.
How many days will it be before we learn it is in "human" food? Do we trust that we have not gotten hold of it already? (What about all the spinach, lettuce, ground beef, and peanut butter recalls?) Who do we blame? It is no longer feasible for most of us to grow our own vegetables, fruits, and slaughter our own meat, or bake our own bread. We have become dependent on supermarkets to supply our food needs. We have been trusting far too long.
I think it is time we return our loyalty, and demand our government also support, our own farmers, ranchers, poultry farms, and hog farmers to name a few. Let the foreign consumers deal with their own problems and not export it to us.
