YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

The fundamentals of food

By Gene Hall

It's always interesting to watch the ebb and flow of food debates.

Organic. Local. Natural. And more.

Some consider their choice the only way.

Marketing finds a bandwagon and beats the drum. How many buy gluten-free without understanding why?

Health aspects are fiercely debated. The virtues of one are trumpeted at the expense of another.

But it all boils down to you. Truth is, you decide how farmers grow the food you eat. It's called the power of the dollar.

Some are willing to pay more for what they want. That's why we have organic farmers. And a growing demand for free range meats. There’s freshness of locally grown. Truth is, all are part of the American food scene.

The vast majority of consumers want to know that their food is safe. And they want a reasonable price. They don't worry too much about hype. They want to trust the farmers who grow it, the government that regulates it and the retailers and companies that bring it to them.

It’s food choice 101. Consumers choose. Farmers provide.

The preceding commentary is brought to you by Texas Farm Bureau, the “Voice of Texas Agriculture.” Called “Your Texas Agriculture Minute,” TFB will issue thought-provoking editorials each week—via print and audio—to spark understanding of agriculture in the Lone Star State and its impact on each and every Texan.

You may read this week’s editorial above or listen to the audio version.

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