DOWN on the FARM
with Tom Willey
Visit Your Farm
Peter Singer, Princeton bio-ethics professor, in a commentary “Look your dinner in the eye” (New Scientist/ 7 Oct. 2006), argues that our anonymous food production industry must throw open its doors and windows to the public. In researching his book, The Way We Eat, only 14 of the 87 food companies he approached allowed the author and his staff access to production facilities. The few that welcomed scrutiny were mostly small organic producers. Singer believes the meat industry, in particular, would find its practices profoundly challenged if they were required to operate behind glass walls.
It was always a pleasure to show off the farm to customers who attended our hosted tours. The spring tours were filled with a heightened anticipation of all of summer’s bounty yet to come. In the autumn, with every row boasting of summer’s waning gift or the promise of the garden’s winter sustenance, we hope that our successors, Food Commons Fresno will soon be hosting tours once again. All people are no less dependent on the generosity of the soil and the weather than are food producers. We loved sharing not only what you found in your weekly box of T&D Willey produce, but the awesome wonder a productive gardenscape can bestow on your soul. Soon the folks at Food Commons will be able to show the responsibility they feel to raise your food in a fully transparent process and environment.
Next guided farm tour: TBA