Things to Ask Your Farmer

FOOD, Inc. is now a book. (In a very untraditional manner, the book followed the film.) This book has many interesting articles, including a chapter called "Questions for a Farmer" which is a great source of things you might want to ask your local grower about his or her farming practices. The article is arranged according to types of food. For instance:

Questions for a Farmer: Beef

1. Was the animal raised on pasture?

2. Was the animal fed anything else besides grass (supplements, byproducts, additional feed)?

3. How was the animal finished?

4. Was the animal ever given antibiotics?

5. Were hormones, steroids, or growth promoters ever given to the cow?

Questions for a Farmer: Eggs

1. How was the animal raised? On pasture, indoors, confined? Was it caged?

2. How much time do the hens spend outdoors each day?

3. Was the hen force molted?

4. What was the hen fed?

5. Was the hen fed antibiotics?

Each question also has additional explanations as to why that issue is important. This article was put together by the group Sustainable Table. You can find more questions on their website or in the book Food, Inc.