Why Choose American Grown?

America is celebrating its 250th birthday this year. In that time, she’s seen generations of families find their footing, land developed, laws passed, wars fought and won. And through 250 years, the American farmer has always been there, feeding and clothing fellow Americans through every change. 

Today, store shelves have brands from all over the world. “Made in China.” “Grown in Mexico.” With so many choices, and some even cheaper than the American options, how should consumers know what to choose?

Why should you choose American-grown? 

Safety

Produce grown in the United States is monitored by multiple government agencies at the state and federal levels. These agencies have food safety standards that American farmers must uphold. When produce is imported from outside the United States, it is not guaranteed that it is held to the same food safety standards as domestically grown produce. Other countries may not have the same standards of safety for washing, spraying, or transporting fruits and vegetables as experienced in the United States. American-grown produce is held to a consistent food safety standard that Americans can depend on.

For example, an American corn farmer may face pesticide regulations from the EPA at a higher level than a foreign grower. An American cabbage grower may get his water tested regularly for diseases such as E. Coli, while a foreign grower may not be required to do so. While several countries do have food safety regulations in place, the United States has a much higher Food Security Index compared to countries that regularly import fruits and vegetables such as Mexico, Brazil, Honduras, and others.

https://impact.economist.com/sustainability/project/food-security-index

Economics

Consumers may find that American-grown produce typically costs more than foreign produce. The overhead costs for farmers to ensure food safety are higher than growers in other countries with less food safety regulations. The simplest food safety practice, such as wearing gloves and hair nets in packing facilities, can add up to thousands of extra dollars per year. Training and certifications, along with the audits that check these processes, add to American farmers’ overhead costs. If processes are not to standard, producers can be fined until they are corrected.

While consumers may pay a few cents more for American-grown produce, they can be assured that their food has a grade to meet before it lands on grocery store shelves. 

Supporting American farmers 

Just as you may want to support a local bakery down the road or family-owned clothing store in your town, buying American-grown produce means supporting American farmers. It goes beyond just an American Flag sticker on a wrapped head of lettuce or plastic clamshell of strawberries. Choosing American-grown supports the land that grows your food and your families. Here at Baker Farms, locally grown and safe produce is important to us because we feed the same items to our family when we gather around the table. We are proud to be American farmers feeding other American families.

We urge you to choose American-grown.