Kitchen

[sfnative]

On 12/13/2014 forrestwolf said:

Yes......The Chinese bought out Smithfield, but it is because they liked the American pork so much better, so the pork is American product owned by the Chinese........I don't buy Smithfield due to their cruelty to animals that I know about......Never will again.....NOW...I live in an agricultural part of South GA, that grows all of their products, and sends them to China for processing, and then shipped back to the USA, so in reality, the food is grown in the USA, olives, watermelons, pecans, peanuts, greens, beans, and so on and so on, but sent back to the USA for selling, hence the CAN they are in is from China, but the food grown in the USA........so you are shunning a country for products grown in the USA.....Look for Margaret Holmes products still American grown and American canned......As for many products...pineapple (DOLE no longer US company), coconuts, bananas, mango, and such, are not USA grown, therefore, have to come from other countries......Chilean fruit is some of the best I have ever had......GA now produces more blueberries than peaches, and has become the #1 exporter of such, but you can not buy GA blueberries in GA......They are imported.......... Blame the USA for you having fruits, seafood, and such, from other countries, and the price that is so high......

I don't give a fig about the fact that the raw materials were grown here, shipped to China, reprocessed or whatever, then sent back here to sell. I still will not knowlingly purchase them because I don't believe in supporting a communist government that is polluting this planet like heck and has such egregious human rights violations. The buck stops with me.

And I willingly pay more here for US grown to market/store and have no reason to blame anyone. Actually, in my newly adopted home town the prices for produce, both regular and organic are waaaaay cheaper than in California, so I'm pleased as punch!

As far as the Chilean produce is concerned, I've purchased and thrown away perhaps more than 80%. Haven't purchased any in some years now.

[forrestwolf]

On 12/13/2014 sfnative said:

On 12/13/2014 forrestwolf said:

Yes......The Chinese bought out Smithfield, but it is because they liked the American pork so much better, so the pork is American product owned by the Chinese........I don't buy Smithfield due to their cruelty to animals that I know about......Never will again.....NOW...I live in an agricultural part of South GA, that grows all of their products, and sends them to China for processing, and then shipped back to the USA, so in reality, the food is grown in the USA, olives, watermelons, pecans, peanuts, greens, beans, and so on and so on, but sent back to the USA for selling, hence the CAN they are in is from China, but the food grown in the USA........so you are shunning a country for products grown in the USA.....Look for Margaret Holmes products still American grown and American canned......As for many products...pineapple (DOLE no longer US company), coconuts, bananas, mango, and such, are not USA grown, therefore, have to come from other countries......Chilean fruit is some of the best I have ever had......GA now produces more blueberries than peaches, and has become the #1 exporter of such, but you can not buy GA blueberries in GA......They are imported.......... Blame the USA for you having fruits, seafood, and such, from other countries, and the price that is so high......

I don't give a fig about the fact that the raw materials were grown here, shipped to China, reprocessed or whatever, then sent back here to sell. I still will not knowlingly purchase them because I don't believe in supporting a communist government that is polluting this planet like heck and has such egregious human rights violations. The buck stops with me.

And I willingly pay more here for US grown to market/store and have no reason to blame anyone. Actually, in my newly adopted home town the prices for produce, both regular and organic are waaaaay cheaper than in California, so I'm pleased as punch!

As far as the Chilean produce is concerned, I've purchased and thrown away perhaps more than 80%. Haven't purchased any in some years now.

I agree with what you are saying, but I have no choice....fresh fruits and vegetables locally or USA grown are not available to me.....although grown here, all are shipped over seas.......My family own 100's of acres and my family farm grows these items that is all bought and shipped over seas, and we are payed a stipend not to grow tobacco, per the USA government, as this land was an origional tobacco/corn/chicken farm, and this is the way it works with US farmers.....and they do have to live and eat, just like the rest of us, and in this day and time, you go where the money is, and that is shipping to other countries so the farmer can feed his own family........Take it from someone who deals with this every day.....and what the government does to the "little farmer" every day......and YES....the "little farmer" does give in to the government in order to feed their own family......KOBE beef is now raised in Texas to supply to Japan....where it was a luxury in the USA......I would gladly buy local and USA grown, if it was available, but in TRUE agricultural country, it simply does not happen.....Families will feed their own no matter what the cost, and if you think everyone should buy organic, then I can tell you some stories there, involving the government, that would make your skin crawl, and the little man will choose to feed his family........always...... If you are not a BIG farmer, really check into it, and REALLY see what the government.....and not just this administration, is really doing to your food supply.......AND where the food really comes from.....I am not speculating, I KNOW........

[MissBetsyW]

I used to purchase the "Danish Cookies" in the round blue tin at my drugstore. At that time, they were made in Denmark. A couple of years ago, I noticed a change. Looking at the tin more carefully, I saw that they are now called "Danish-style Cookies" and in very small print it read "Made in China." Needless to say, I have never purchased these "Danish" cookies again!

[chickenbutt]

On 12/13/2014 MissBetsyW said:

I used to purchase the "Danish Cookies" in the round blue tin at my drugstore. At that time, they were made in Denmark. A couple of years ago, I noticed a change. Looking at the tin more carefully, I saw that they are now called "Danish-style Cookies" and in very small print it read "Made in China." Needless to say, I have never purchased these "Danish" cookies again!

Oh nooo! I liked those, too. Usually, every year, somebody from my husband's office gives us one of those tins (which he gives to ME!) and I enjoy them a lot.

[sfnative]

On 12/13/2014 suzyQ3 said:

On 12/12/2014 chessylady said: Like other things in our country,oversight and inspection is almost nonexistent and it is up to us to protect ourselves. Food from China is not subject to the same standards found in America even though our standards may also be low. If you choose food based on the lowest price, you may be shortchanging your health. Top Ramen noodles are cheap but they have been found to be harmful in several respects. Thanks to the Internet we can research many food stuffs. You can change you and your family's diet for the better.

Yes, and it may get worse, given that some who would actively try to LESSEN regulations on food, air, water, etc, under the guise of protecting profits are ready and waiting to do just that.

It it NOT almost nonexistent!. Just one example: if it were that bad, the cases of e. coli deaths would be through the ceiling!

Do you eat Mexicn cheese? I don't, because that country doesn't regulate hardly anything that counts. Too many illnesses from their cheeses to suit me.

With such a statement, I'm surprised you eat anything that you don't grow in your garden.

[chessylady]

According to an NBC news report in 2011, 2.06% of imported food was inspected in 2010. At that time, the FDA expected to inspect 1.59% in 2012 and 1.47% in 2013. This means we are going backwards while foreign imports are going up. I would call those numbers almost nonexistent. I expect it to get worse in 2015 when so called business friendly lawmakers start stripping more money from the FDA budget.

[HonnyBrown]

On 12/13/2014 suzyQ3 said:

On 12/12/2014 chessylady said: Like other things in our country,oversight and inspection is almost nonexistent and it is up to us to protect ourselves. Food from China is not subject to the same standards found in America even though our standards may also be low. If you choose food based on the lowest price, you may be shortchanging your health. Top Ramen noodles are cheap but they have been found to be harmful in several respects. Thanks to the Internet we can research many food stuffs. You can change you and your family's diet for the better.

Yes, and it may get worse, given that some who would actively try to LESSEN regulations on food, air, water, etc, under the guise of protecting profits are ready and waiting to do just that.

Speaking from an environmental standpoint, not food, US regulations are very stringent. They will not lessen no matter how big or powerful the lobby groups are.

[hennypenny]

large corporations such as Monsanto are spending billions to avoid labeling of foodstuffs. They are using chemicals that are part of the agent orange formula and don't want us to know.

I am very fortunate to live in CA where we have year round farmers markets. I only buy from farmers that I know. We shop once a week.

[HonnyBrown]

henny, vinegar is a part of Agent Orange, so your second sentence isn't saying anything.

Most cities, suburbs, towns, etc., if not all, have farmers' markets. I live outside of DC and we have quite a few that are year round, one being at my job.

FYI, vendors at farmers markets are allowed to import their produce! Check your market's website to find out if it has a distance requirement and also to find out which vendors are certified organic.

[suzyQ3]

On 12/14/2014 HonnyBrown said:

On 12/13/2014 suzyQ3 said:

On 12/12/2014 chessylady said: Like other things in our country,oversight and inspection is almost nonexistent and it is up to us to protect ourselves. Food from China is not subject to the same standards found in America even though our standards may also be low. If you choose food based on the lowest price, you may be shortchanging your health. Top Ramen noodles are cheap but they have been found to be harmful in several respects. Thanks to the Internet we can research many food stuffs. You can change you and your family's diet for the better.

Yes, and it may get worse, given that some who would actively try to LESSEN regulations on food, air, water, etc, under the guise of protecting profits are ready and waiting to do just that.

Speaking from an environmental standpoint, not food, US regulations are very stringent. They will not lessen no matter how big or powerful the lobby groups are.

I don't share your optimism. Whether we are speaking of the environment or we are speaking of food or we are talking about any health and safety issue, there is a strident call from one part of the political spectrum that has recently advanced in numbers to weaken or even gut many such regulations.

Whether this is pure ideology or whether it's a cozy relationship with business is irrelevant.