Read and go ask some questions!

This last week has really taken me for a ride within the farm markets as well as at the grocery store. A journey down a path that I did not see coming. While at a local farm market I was told they were selling BT Corn. I was not sure what that was so I passed on getting some. However, when I got home I did the google thing and googled BT corn. HMMM

As I read about BT Corn and other GMO's I was shocked at what I was reading. I then did a youtube search on them. Even more interesting. I soon realized that most of the food we get at the grocery store from brands we know,love and trust contain GMO's. Let me explain to you how that particular day went for me.

Once I got home and did some searching on the Internet. The definition of GMO'S :

A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes. Transgenic organisms, a subset of GMOs, are organisms which have inserted DNA that originated in a different species. Some GMOs contain no DNA from other species and are therefore not transgenic but cisgenic

So the plants in the USA that are GMO'S include Soybeans, sugar beets, BT corn and cotton. What these crops are is a plant who is round up ready (A pesticide) These plants actually have the pesticide chemical within it's DNA! That's right.... We are eating the chemical.

We all know that industrial farming has taken over our country. So have GMO crops. 90% of soybean crops in the USA are GMO. Almost 70% of corn is now BT corn. Sugar is right up there as well.

As a consumer we are not told that GMO's are in our food. There is currently no law to label a product as containing GMO'S. The FDA has said it is safe to eat. However the list of scientist who think other wise is rather large. The animals in test labs did not do so well. Keep in mind that very little was done in studies before it was put onto the market place. Many countries will not allow GMO'S to be sold or grown.

Once these crops are grown they take over fields like a storm. They even have the ability to change a regular stalk of corns DNA in BT Corn! That's right... A couple row's of BT corn will change the genetic make up of an entire field.

After looking into this I pulled all by food from my cupboards. I began to call the phone number listed on the box or can. To my dismay all of the big brands including Kellogg's, Quaker, Campbell's, bettycrocker, green giant corn, etc all contain GMO within the ingredient list :( Every company said close to the same thing. The FDA has approved GMO's or that they can't guarantee that GMO's aren't in their products because it's not the law to know what the farmer's are growing.

So at this point I believe that each person should know what your eating. Even if it's coming from a brand you grew up with. Chances are that it's not what it use to be. Do your own research and see what the scientist are saying. Knowledge is everything...including your health!

Since GMO's were put on the market in 1996 Autism has gone up 556%, The honey bee's have begun to disappear (GMO pollen is deadly to our planets pollinators), The monarch butterflies are disappearing, Cholesterol and diabetes has risen, obesity is at high levels,etc.

Please take the time to read this

American Academy of Environmental Medicine Calls for Immediate Moratorium on All Genetically Modified Foods

Man Hands and Lil Eggs

This past week was really amazing. I went to the Ypsilanti farm market and got some great stuff. The people were all very nice and full of information. I left with a variety of foods and a couple really funny stories...

While looking at a lg bag of the small golden potatoes for $1.00 I asked the little old lady who must of been about 75yrs. old where they came from. She informed me that she picked them from her small farm right there in Ypsilanti. She then proceeded to tell me they were picked by her just the night before. Right after that statement she reached her hands out to me and showed me her hands. It was straight out of a Jerry Seinfled episode. Such a small cute lady with MAN HANDS! They were large and dirty with years of dirt deep within them. She said,"Honey you don't get these hands without picking the goods yourself."

As I strolled down through the market I met another interesting fellow. He was selling EGGS. However the chicken eggs were already gone :( But that didn't stop him from telling me about his OTHER EGGS. Quail eggs. For $3.00 I bought a dozen. When I got home I did a google search on Quail eggs. The next day I decided to fry them up in a lil Calders butter. They were really pretty good. So small that I broke them with a steak knife!!! The size of the yolk was about the same as a dime!!!! The kids loved seeing them cooking in the pan. I'll tell you the conversation was flowing at our table that morning!!! :)

Before I left the market I also picked up an amazing cantaloupe for $2.00 and some radishes for $1.00. The Michigan veggies are really bountiful right now. I recommend a visit and stock up.

July Veggies include:
Broccoli, beans, cauliflower, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet corn, summer squash and beets

Before I forget to mention it let me also tell you about the Taylor Wednesday Farm Market. Michigan Cherries are mid season right now. There were a couple farmers there with great prices. Absolutely delicious. In fact my kids ate a pint of them before we even got home!

About the mission

As I sit back and reflect on the food choices I have made for myself and my family over the past 5yrs I start to question myself. Although I stay away from the hustle of the fast food industry and try to limit the JUNK FOOD isle while at the market there are still questions I have. From the unknown items listed in the ingredients of packaged foods my family loves. To the biggest question of them all.....Where did this food really come from. It says packaged by.....but who's farm did it come from??? It looks pretty and even healthy with all the natural looking pictures on the package. However I really don't know where it originated from.

I also can't help but wonder how long ago were these fruits/vegetables picked? Who picked them and was it far from ripe?? How many miles did they travel before they ended up in my kitchen??



Summer of 2009 I will go to local farm markets and talk to the farmers. I will learn not only where the food came from but what their story may be (both farmer and food). Do they use pesticides and what do they feed their animals?? I hope to have all my unanswered question answered and an amazing variety of foods available for myself and my family.