American Farms

5 A Day CSA
Growing Healthy Families

5 a Day CSA provides locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables to individuals and families, helps small farmers maintain their land, and we hope to also to have a positive impact on the health of our members. Studies have shown that those who eat more fruits and vegetables have lower rates of diabetes, cancer ,heart disease and hypertension-

What is a CSA? Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA) is a partnership of farmers and consumers for the benefit of both parties. In our CSA, the produce is delivered to a specified site for pick-up by you the member. Our CSA seeks to provide fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables directly to consumers. We provide weekly distributions of produce to individuals and organizations.

What is Health? According to the World Health Organization, health is a state of physical,spiritual and emotional wellness- not the abscence of disease and illness. Unfortunately, many Americans are unhealthy due to poor nutrition, lack of exercise and poor stress management. Studies have shown however by eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, the risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer can be reduced. The precursor to these conditions ,Metabolic Syndrome, can be helped as well.

The importance of American Farms- The farming landscape has been increasingly consolidated and includes a dwindling number of seed suppliers ,offering patented genetically modified seeds, as well as commercial growers. Want tomatoes in winter? The majority of tomatoes found in stores in the winter come from either Florida or Mexico. In Florida, tomato pickers earn 45 cents per 32lbs of tomatoes picked. In some cases , workers are virtual slaves-forced to work for little or no pay. Florida, according to one federal prosecutor, is ground zero for modern day slavery. This is the reason that the Coalition for Immokalee workers has organized and demanded better wages from the large buyers of these tomatoes. Whole Foods, Burger King, Yum's and Subway have agreed to a penny per pound surcharge for wages as well as third party organization to monitor conditions in the field and wages for workers. The Campaign for Fair Food continues to work with companies such as Chipotle to sign on to this arrangement and ensure fair wages for workers in the tomato industry.

Save Organic Farming

This letter is written by the Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association which would like your support and assistance to halt the spread of GE alfalfa which could affect the organic beef and dairy industry. Be the Change!

STOP GE ALFALFA FROM COMING TO A FIELD NEAR YOU

The USDA is on the verge of approving the use genetically engineered alfalfa. This spring, Monsanto’s Roundup Ready Alfalfa Seeds will be coming to a field near you - unless there’s a huge outcry. The USDA says it can mitigate the cross contamination of organic
crops by limiting where GE alfalfa is planted. History has shown that this does not work. (Witness the discovery of Roundup Ready Corn in remote mountain areas of Mexico hundreds of miles from where it was planted -see the film The World According To Monsanto).
GE alfalfa has the potential to destroy the livelihoods of organic alfalfa growers. Since alfalfa is a feed source for organically raised cows, there could also be a significant negative effect on the organic beef and dairy industry. In corn, soybean, and cotton plantings,
researchers have observed that weeds develop a resistance to Roundup. These resistant weeds become “superweeds”, and farmers need more pesticides and herbicides to deal with the problem - costs grow along with the weeds, and more toxics are released into the
soil and groundwater. Add your voice to the groundswell of opposition to Roundup Ready Alfalfa. Sign the petition at http:// food.change.org/blog/view/usda or follow Nick Maravell’s lead and write directly to President Obama and USDA Secretary Vilsack. (Letter excerpted below.)

Dear President Obama -

Despite three District Court rulings and a Supreme Court decision that makes planting GE alfalfa illegal and requires USDA to formulate a valid management plan, the agency is putting the deregulation of GE alfalfa on a fast track. While conceding that GE contamination is a major problem, USDA's Environmental Impact Statement relies on faulty data and fails to recognize the scientifically-validated promiscuous nature of GE gene flow in crops It also overlooks the widespread corruption of conventional seed varieties by GE strains ...along with documented severe economic injury to farmers and markets. And, there is no mention at all of possible health consequences from eating GM crops, such as alfalfa sprouts… Before any release can happen, there must be independent scientific evaluation of public health, environmental, and economic consequences, ongoing government oversight and protection, and a plan for compensation of those harmed by accidental contamination. Until USDA meets these reasonable conditions, it is not prudent, necessary, or beneficial to approve commercial release of GE alfalfa.

Nick Maravell

Ne huli ka lima iluna, pololi ka opu;

Ne huli ka lima ilalo, piha ka opu.

~Hawaiian proverb~

When your hands are turned up, you will be hungry;

When your hands are turned to the soil, you will be full.

No Farms,No Food!

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5 A DAY CSA:Growing Healthy Families