KUFM Commentary

By Sandy Courtnage, MFU Communications Director

November 21, 2006

Turkey Season

It’s that time of year again – it’s turkey season in the United States.  This year, like many folks around the country, I’m hosting family and friends for a holiday meal, which, in our family, means a turkey. 

For some time now I’ve been trying to support local farmers and ranchers with my grocery budget.  I make food purchases from producers who are as close to home as possible.  Now that my garden has been put to bed, and the farmers markets are closed, it’s not as easy or the choices so varied.  But I thought I’d extend the buy local goal to our holiday meal.

Now my definition of local is rather fluid – closer to home in the summer and more regional as winter approaches.  The overarching goal is the same, however:  to support family farmers and ranchers.   

For our family meal, it won’t be difficult to find Montana grown and raised turkey, potatoes, squash or sweet potatoes.  But – what about the cranberries?  Do I not buy them?  And, if I don’t, how do I handle the looks around the dinner table when I say there are no cranberries because we are having a locally grown and raised Thanksgiving dinner this year?  This I know for sure:  my family is loving and supportive, but they don’t all share my enthusiasm for what they call my social causes.

Cranberries – or no cranberries – that’s just one food decision.  But there is one over-riding cause, however, that remains deserving, is the law of the land, yet remains in administrative limbo. 

I’m talking, of course, about country-of-origin labeling – or COOL as it is popularly called.  Almost a year ago in this same forum we talked about why the measure has not been implemented even though Congress passed the law in 2002. 

From a producers or consumers point of view, the logic behind this delay is as scarce as cranberries grown in Montana.  But if you follow the money trail, it’s not surprising to find out that millions of dollars have been spent to lobby Congress and the executive branch on COOL.  Many of the groups that want to keep COOL under wraps are some of the biggest names in agribusiness, such as Wal-Mart, Cargill, Tyson Foods, the American Meat Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers of America.  Their goal is to control the food system, keep their purchases as cheap as possible, and avoid having to tell you that the single pound of hamburger you purchased yesterday could come from 1,000 or more different animals.

Yet, in spite of the millions of dollars spent to kill COOL, we will continue to work for its rightful implementation.  It only makes sense that as we shop for our families, it be as easy as possible to make informed food purchases and to make locally grown and raised food choices if we so desire.

So, this year at Thanksgiving, the turkey, the potatoes and the squash are the easy finds locally.  As for the cranberries – they’ll be on the table too.  They are like the friends and family I don’t get to see often because of hectic schedules or long-distances.  We relish the opportunity to enjoy, if only now and then. 

For the Montana Farmers Union, I’m Sandy Courtnage.  Thanks for listening.