A Search For ‘True Security’ (Continued from Page A 1) sources, and public health. The current state of world af fairs and our dependence on oil for growing and distributing food add up to profound insecurity in our food system, according to Ritchie. “For me, this question of secu rity has become central, has be come one of the dominant ques tions in everyday life,” he said. “We know now how the interna tional oil industry is so central to the destabilization of our person al and national security.” The movement toward a war with the large oil-producing country Iraq “brings the food de pendency on oil front and cen ter,” said Ritchie. Most U.S. food production de pends on petroleum-based chemi cals and diesel fuel. Transporting food over long distances also re quires large quantities of fuel. “All these things make our food security completely en twined with oil,” Ritchie said. Ritchie compared the current U.S. food system to that of the ancient Roman Empire, during the period of time when a thriv ing population of small-scale, “yeoman” farmers were being displaced by a shift toward con solidated grain production run by large landowners. Tim Bowser, left, accepts the RASA Sustainable 4eader Award from board member Lee RASA Presi dent Kim Miller looks on. v > * *'» n T"*'' i > Give Tour Calves a Helping Hand... The New Born Calf OPTI-START / OPTI-CARE contains a source of live, natural occurring microorganisms to help support the natural developing micro biological environment In the digestive tract Give your cows a helping hand... The High SCC Cow Boost Immune System - Shed Down Infection Use IMPRO GEL CAP FORMULA Give L 1 each Dairy M Cap Each • 1 each Dally R Cap Cow f 1 each Fresh Cow C Cap Feed 2oz. MVP Dairy Boost dally for 30 days. IMPRO PRODUCTS YOUR SOURCE FOR ALL NATURAL ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPORT * AARON GROFF & SON LLC 103 Clearview Drive IT « WVw Ephrata, PA 17522 (717) 354-4631 (800) 468-4909 Ray K. Espenshade Carl Deibert Lewisburg, Pa. Bedford, Pa. (570) 524-7566 (814) 623-6443 Carl Close Country Garden Farm Supply Glen Rock, Pa. Mifflinburg, Pa. (71 7) 235-2730 (570) 966-3944 The Roman Empire was built by these small farmers, who had their own security, and were de voted to the state, according to Ritchie. But the shift toward cen tralized food production and the subsequent lowering of grain prices drove these farmers out of business and brought about a “bread and circus” policy. Dur ing this era, masses were fed to a minimal degree and their minds were kept occupied by circuses, Ritchie said. “This eventually weakened the Roman Empire and allowed out side forces to crush and destroy it.” The U.S. has entered a similar state of vulnerability, Ritchie said, in large part because of the industrialization and consolida tion of our oil-dependent food system. “It’s clear today, if you destroy your small farmers and your food security inside a great nation, you will weaken yourself to the point that you will invite and be vul nerable to outside attack.” Repeated low prices for milk, grain, and other farm products have caused many farmers to lose faith in their ability to provide a secure livelihood for themselves and their children. “Panic is a very good descrip- ♦t 1 J RASA conference participants enjoyed a lunch prepared from Pennsylvania-grown products. tion of what happens when year after year, harvest after harvest, the price you receive is below your cost of production,” Ritchie said. True food security will have to depend on thriving independent growers, processors, and market ers, according to Ritchie. “We need local control, we need local energy... we need local food supplies.” A shift in that direction is al- RwiLiest K-Mag for your fami bv talking with vcmi loia ferttei dealer loam mor** at www kmag com Visit baok-to-basics.net for acditional ip'onnat.on on propc-' so I for.ihK and sulfur - all in a readily available, water-soluble, sulfate form It's also very low in chloride, has a low salt index and won't change soil pH. K-Mag supplies your alfalfa with the nutrients needed to produce higher yielding, better quality forage Your cows will benefit from a more nutritional diet to help them produce more milk Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 15, 2003-A2l ready taking place, Ritchie said. He described “a movement of farmers moving toward sustaina bility” individuals and groups like PASA who are engaged in running farms, food-processing facilities, and local food distribu tion groups that are profitable, support the community, and take care of the environment priorities Ritchie called the “triple-bottom line” of a sustainable food sys tem. s /wj if/COlohii I', (■ it a i«Ms. *ia ji' ::rl- -r i :■- IRBC “PASA is part of a much larger movement,” he said. In addition to farm-based groups across the country, a number of larger companies “have also begun to think about this triple-bottom line,” Ritchie said. He gave the example of Cargill-Dow, an international corporation working on a biode gradable plastic made from non- (Turn to Page A 22)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers