Last month we talked about greenwashing and how the deliberate misleading of consumers is happening more and more, especially with words like ‘regenerative’ and/or ‘chemical free’. Produce can even be labelled as organic with no requirement whatsoever that it be produced organically (however it can only be labelled CERTIFIED organic if it has been produced under an audited verification system). 
So, if you are wanting to know where your food comes from and what type of production management has produced the food you are consuming what do you do? Find the source to start with, that means connecting with the producer. Connecting with the producer means you will be most likely sourcing your produce from local small farms who sell direct to consumers or via small retailers with personal relationships with the grower. That’s a great place to start and the more you support these businesses the more you disrupt the current food system of centralised distribution controlled by a very few big businesses. We saw the inherent weakness of centralised distribution during COVID lockdowns and empty supermarket shelves. But I digress…
You’ve found a grower you’d like to get food from. What questions can you ask to find out what their values are around food production? As a very basic start try these:
What’s your definition of regenerative? (The variation in answers is huge!)
How do you improve soil health?
What do you do for weeds?
What do your animals eat? And what about in poorer seasons? (if you are buying animal products)
What happens if you get a disease/pest/fungal outbreak?
Do your ‘chemical free’/’regenerative’ practices extend across your whole farm (ie not just in production areas)?
The answers to the above should be enlightening and can form the basis of your decision on whether or not you want to eat the produce from that farm. Oh, and ‘we only use chemical when we have to’ is a weak answer and means they are not chemical free. That response also begs the question – ‘What failed in your management so that you ‘had to’ resort to chemical?
For certified organic and non-certified but chemical free produce, with provenance, come and see us at the Kandanga Farm Store. We will happily answer the above questions and any others you have.
By Amber Scott
