What to Look For

The purpose of this site is to make it easy for our community to find information, sources, food and products that are responsibly produced by local agricultural businesses that are committed to quality and caring for our communities resources.

In recent years there have been many reports and documentaries showing the effects of our countries shift to large factory farms. Documentaries such as Robert Kenner’s “Food Inc.” , Stephanie Soechtig’s “Fed Up” and the latest Fair Oaks Farms undercover videos released this month shows the clear need for us to start looking at where we get the food that we feed our families. As consumers we have to start asking questions about the what is safe, sustainable and responsible. Finding out that there have been a lot of unsafe, poor quality and extremely misleading food and livestock products passed on to us as the consumer can be over whelming. It leaves people asking, “where do I start and what do I look for?”

The simple answer is that you start locally and here are some things to look for.

Good– Local producers that have detailed information about their operations, products, licenses and mission statement readily available on line or in their markets, booths or packaging. Contact information is provided.

Better-Local producers that meet the minimum for “Good” sources but also give details about, antibiotic use, animal housing and feed, GMO use, additives, sanitation practices and sustainability programs. Contact information includes the ability to easily talk to someone on the phone in addition to online contact. The producer explains how their products are no spray or natural but may not be “certified organic”. The farm, homestead or facility is open to the public at some level and you can see it first hand.

Best-Local producers that meet all the minimum for “Good” and “Better sources but also have “certified organic” status. Contact includes website, phone and site tours. Many of the best local producers have on site markets, classes,tours and special events. Some even have winery’s and cafes

Now that you know what to look for, here are some examples from around the Lynden community.