Russell and Jeanie, This was an engaging interview with many pertinent topics for all consumers and Montanan's. I found myself writing a brief essay about the key points of your interview because as a member of a family who has persevered here since the 1860's, I related to so many things Jeanie shared. I hope we can find ways to blaze a path to some solutions to the issues that are affecting all of us in someway because "hiding our head in the sand" will not work. Firstly, I was most shocked by the "Beef Check-off" or "rip-off" as I would more likely tag this program because I have participated in research that shows that economically we hardly count any products that are sold inside Montana regardless of how many times that dollar circulates from person to person, then to shop sales and paid invoices. Secondly, I was confounded by the truth in purchasing laws that we do not have. I'll never look at a package of "grass-fed beef" again without considering that it probably is a foreign import. I was raised on a barter system that traded all agricultural products between one another; I knew where my meat came from, my milk and eggs. I have grown to hate the Styrofoam trays, the baby-diaper like pads beneath our meat and the plastic wrap----all which make the pork taste like beef that tastes like chicken. Regardless of the convenience or the price, I can't tolerate the taste. We can do more to support agribusiness in Montana and we need to do it. With so many states suffering from land, water and human damage from PFOAS (Forever Chemicals) Montana may become the Food Basket for America, but only if we can keep our soil, water, air and agricultural products clean and level the playing field in the marketplace.
Russell and Jeanie, This was an engaging interview with many pertinent topics for all consumers and Montanan's. I found myself writing a brief essay about the key points of your interview because as a member of a family who has persevered here since the 1860's, I related to so many things Jeanie shared. I hope we can find ways to blaze a path to some solutions to the issues that are affecting all of us in someway because "hiding our head in the sand" will not work. Firstly, I was most shocked by the "Beef Check-off" or "rip-off" as I would more likely tag this program because I have participated in research that shows that economically we hardly count any products that are sold inside Montana regardless of how many times that dollar circulates from person to person, then to shop sales and paid invoices. Secondly, I was confounded by the truth in purchasing laws that we do not have. I'll never look at a package of "grass-fed beef" again without considering that it probably is a foreign import. I was raised on a barter system that traded all agricultural products between one another; I knew where my meat came from, my milk and eggs. I have grown to hate the Styrofoam trays, the baby-diaper like pads beneath our meat and the plastic wrap----all which make the pork taste like beef that tastes like chicken. Regardless of the convenience or the price, I can't tolerate the taste. We can do more to support agribusiness in Montana and we need to do it. With so many states suffering from land, water and human damage from PFOAS (Forever Chemicals) Montana may become the Food Basket for America, but only if we can keep our soil, water, air and agricultural products clean and level the playing field in the marketplace.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments, Kim. I thought Jeanie brought up so many important issues.