Farmers' Market Share: Whole Wheat Bread

• Thanks for the article. Great to hear that farmers are going back to nonGMO crops even in Monsanto-land!

• First, thanks for taking the time to write such a thoughtful comment. I appreciate your time and energy. Regarding the local focus: in case you're a new reader of this blog feature, that is the focus of my writing for the RFT. There are certainly financial caveats to the local purchases, and I've actually addressed it in some previous columns (if you want just a brief take on my point of view, I suggest you read my entry about cauliflower from the end of October). I never intend to make others feel less adequate and I've tried to highlight the financial aspects of the food supply chain in the past. As a social worker, I am very acutely aware of cost as a factor in food choice and in food availability. If you want my most heartfelt opinion on matters of food justice, I suggest you read my 150 word commentary on the state of food stamps in America, found <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/opinion/l06food.html">here</a>. A final word regarding CAFOs: in addition to my social work background, I am also working on a graduate degree in public health. The American Public Health Association came out strongly against CAFOs in 2003 for their environmental health effects, as well as their contribution to the epidemic of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. I may focus on food in this blog, but I can also talk about the science of what I am saying, and having a food production system based on treating animals as meat and dairy widgets rather than complex living systems is just plain dangerous. My food choices are only my own. Please don't take that to mean that I don't care about the impact on my choices, or about the options available to others.

• It is nice to see someone takes interest in understanding their food. Unfortunately, Ms. Nelson feels she has to fortify her article and ego by using "foodie" standard bugaboos about CAFOs and the predominant food supply chain. It shouldn't be necessary to vilify the food choices others make to feel good about your own food choices. Then we get into the fallacy of the "local" foods. Two or maybe three of the seven ingredients listed in the the recipe that Ms. Nelson included in the article are not produced anywhere near St. Louis. For the vast majority of people, healthy eating just doesn't equate to a local diet. And, when one looks into the true carbon foot print, procuring local foods often is less efficient. If you have the time and money to go part way local, buy all means do it. But why do so many food writers find it necessary to try to make others feel bad about their food choices when local doesn't work for them?

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