Newsletter 2016 1204

Upcoming Order Deadlines

Madison:

Order by Sunday, December 18, 2016

Pickup Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Hattiesburg (12:15 - 12:45) & Hattiesburg Hwy 98 West (11:15 -
11:45)

Order by Monday, December 19, 2016

Pickup Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Picayune (2:15-2:45)

Order by Monday December 19, 2016

Pickup Wednesday, December 21, 2016

MS Gulf Coast (3:45-4:15)

Order by Monday December 19, 2016

Pickup Wednesday, December 21, 2016

We believe in transparency, as there’s no better education about what it is we do, how we do it and why, than an honest and straightforward conversation about any aspect of our farm!

Are you struggling with what to buy an adult child for Christmas. Why not consider gifting our 25# Ground Beef and 25# Pork Variety Share that are on sale for the December Pickup. Click the Buy Now button above

So, what is the fastest dollar growth trend - according to the Non-GMO Project website their retail partners report that Non-GMO products are the fastest growth trend in their stores this year. Annual sales of Non-GMO products now exceed $16 billion.

They go on to state that a 2014 consumer survey found that "80% seek out non-GMO products, with 56% saying non-GMO was key to brand buying." A 2015 consumer poll also found that 93% of Americans and 88% of Canadians support labeling of GMO's. The Non-GMO Project Verified Facebook page has more than 1
million highly engaged followers, who act as passionate brand ambassadors spreading the word about their trust in the Butterfly and whose demand continues to drive the movement forward.

Why does Nature's Gourmet Farm go the extra mile to ensure ONLY Non-GMO feed is used to grow our animals? Because as a small farm your families health matters to us. We take the trust and responsibility you place in us seriously. Unlike industrial ag farmers (who are several levels removed from the consumer) we meet you face to face with your order.

Dr. Mercola (which you should be reading if you are serious about your food & health) recently wrote:

The Exorbitant Cost of 'Cheap Food'

Americans have become dependent on cheap convenience foods that can be "prepared" in five minutes or less—or without taking both hands off the steering wheel. More than 17,000 new processed food products are introduced each year. Bright, catchy packaging conceals foods laden with chemicals, unhealthful fats, and high fructose corn syrup, all of which contribute to today's skyrocketing rates of obesity and illness, especially
among our youth.

Americans spend less on food than any other industrialized nation—an average of $151 per week, which amounts to less than seven percent of their income. How can such a low value be placed on something so important for your health and longevity?

The US beef industry has managed to cut its prices in half since 1960. Unfortunately, cheap food contains cheap and toxic ingredients... and you get what you pay for. Food imports have increased four-fold over the past decade, overwhelming the FDA with inspections. Of the 200,000 shipments from China in 2006, less than two percent were sampled for quality and safety.

"Cheap food" isn't cheap when you consider all of the hidden costs associated with it. You make your first payment at the grocery store—just consider this your down payment, because you may be paying for it FIVE more times!

Subsidies:
At tax time, you pay for "cheap food" a second time with your  contribution to agricultural subsidies. Processed food is mostly corn,  canola, soy, rice, wheat, and sugar. These products (along with cotton)  account for 98 percent of subsidies.

Foodborne
Illnesses: You may pay for cheap food a third time if  you visit your doctor as a result of foodborne illnesses. CDC estimates  that foodborne illnesses such as E. coli and salmonella cause 5,200 deaths  each year in the US.
Mass scale operations are riddled with quality control  problems, leading to outbreaks of illness and food recalls.

Chronic
Disease: You pay for it a fourth time  if you return to your doctor later for a chronic illness—heart disease, obesity, diabetes, stroke,  and cancer—consider these "foodborne" illnesses that just take a  little longer to manifest. According to CDC, one in three children born in  the year 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes.

Environment:
As soon as the factory farmer files for bankruptcy and leaves, you pay for  your food a fifth time. This is what often happens when they are asked to  clean up their land—a monumental expense that often results in bankruptcy,
sticking the rest of us with the tab.

Energy:
The sixth time is when you pay your fuel bill. Processed foods and imported foods have an extremely large energy footprint. One-fifth of US fossil fuel consumption goes to the growing, packaging, and transporting of food.