Jul 6, 2020
How do we honor the people who produce our food when most of us never set foot on a farm or ranch? Our guest this week suggests the key is educating yourself about the benefits of food and choosing what you want without giving into what other people may think.
Joe Anderson is a fourth generation farmer in Idaho & has been farming probably all his life, but as a career since 1983. Like many farmers, he knew that's what he wanted to do from an early age. When not farming, he serves his industry as an Idaho Wheat Commissioner, or is out on an adventure somewhere seeking new people and places.
Key questions:
What does a Wheat Commissioner do? They decide how check-off dollars are spent:
- Research
- Marketing (including international marketing)
- Education
What would do you wish people would know about what you do?
- It is about more that what happens in the field.
- Farmers spend a lot of time educating themselves about what they produce and the market for their products.
Has wheat been modified to have more gluten?
- Starches and proteins have not changed in the last 50 years.
- Wheat has been selected for yield and baking characteristics.
- Wheat production is customer driven. They want a consistent product. Through universities and research create better baking traits.
- Gluten is a combination of wheat proteins. It is the active part of what makes bread work.
How is GMO wheat different?
- There is no GMO wheat. The label is marketing, not nutritional.
- There could be some other GMO ingredients (soy or canola oil for example)
Is the gluten-free label frustrating to you?
- Some people need the label to avoid gluten allergy, however many products never contained gluten.
- Ham has always been gluten-free.
- It is frustrating.
Do you want to go back to the “good old days” of farming?
- Equipment now is better e.g. tractors didn’t have cabs to protect from dirt and weather or GPS equipment.
- The early days were rather brutal.
- Now we have tools to prevent erosion and save top soil (better chemicals help reduce tillage and keep nutrients)
Links:
Joe Anderson on Instagram: instagram.com/lewistonjoe
Twitter: twitter.com/beemerjoe
Food Bullying: How to Avoid Michele Payn: http://foodbullying.com
Embrace Your Heart with Eliz Greene: http://www.embraceyourheart.com/
Food Bullying Podcast’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/foodbullyingpodcast