[Free Rider]

My pet peeve in the dumbing down of cooking skills... Sysco.

I'm one of the stats of people growing up not knowing how to cook, but learning later on because of being sick of processed, filler-filled, commercially prepared junk.

[shroomgirl]

there are changes happening.....USDA monies are being allocated for pilot programs, schools are changing over....removing soda machines, adding healthier alternatives. The more recent fast food shops in STL are Asian....more Japanese sushi/miso/salads/noodles.....I'm seeing lighter less fried at the new places.

Farmers' markets have grown exponentially in the past 5 years......organic is booming across the US, it has a double digit growth for the past 7-8 years.

Cooking demos, events with food venders/stages.....all have increased.

KY, you of all people could speak about the dirth of seed companies....many had gone assunder a few years ago. There has been movement to bring back more heirloom seeds....more chefs requesting fun produce actually meats too.
Bill Heffernin (Mizzou) did research on our food system that followed foods back to parent companies...90+ of prepared food comes from 3 companies. Scary shtuff. 3 companies are in charge of a huge percentage of our food supply.

Dumbing down.....I've not had a television for 8 years, it was detracting rather than adding quality, whereas computersites can provide more interaction and value. such as this thread.

[phatch]

Originally Posted by shroomgirl

tI've not had a television for 8 years, it was detracting rather than adding quality, whereas computersites can provide more interaction and value. such as this thread.

In February of 2009, my one TV turns into a pumpkin. At this time I have no plans to go HD or get a converter box. The value isn't there. I don't do cable or satellite so I have no legacy options there either. It will just be a monitor for the movies I own.

Lots of terrible technologies still hashing it out in the HD arena, mainly the crippling stupidity of HDCP, especially as it applies to computers.

Phil

[KYHeirloomer]

>90+ of prepared food comes from 3 companies. Scary shtuff. 3 companies are in charge of a huge percentage of our food supply.<

Actually, go back one more step, and it's actually one company that controls the food supply in the U.S., and it's working hard to make that global.

>KY, you of all people could speak about the dirth of seed companies<

I'm not sure how valid this contention is. Sure, there's been a lot of conglomerating. And a number of seed houses have closed their doors. But, by the same token, there's been a lot of start-ups too, particularly internet-only seed companies. To my knowledge, nobody has done a count of them. Among traditional mail-order companies, there are 254 seed houses offering open pollinated and heirloom varieties.

There's also been a growth in mail-order plant companies. That is, folks who sell seedlings ready for transplanting, instead of seeds.

So, without being able to document it, I would feel comfortable claiming that there's been a net gain in suppliers---particularly of open pollinated and heirloom varieties.

>actually meats too. <

Here, again, I don't know how valid the claim. I know lots of chefs talk about this. But are they actually buying? I have a friend in Michigan who raises grass-fed, antibiotic-free beef, and can't sell it. And it's not a money thing. Her beef averages $1.65/lb live weight, which works out at something like three bucks or a little more hanging weight.

My gut feeling is that the demand for old-fashioned meats is almost 100% driven by upscale chefs, and mostly applies to poultry and game.

However, what is on the increase is the number of people raiseing heirloom livestock.

[shroomgirl]

>Lots of terrible technologies still hashing it out in the HD arena, mainly the crippling stupidity of HDCP, especially as it applies to computers.<

Huh? boy I feel techie ignorant....accronyms aren't computing HD, HDCP,.....but the jist I'm picking up is that you feel the same way, can't figure out why your waiting 2 years.


My seed company info is several years old actually 2000ish when the Seed Saver guy spoke at an MOA, Missouri Organic Association meeting about open pollinators. Dr. Mary Hendrickson spoke of seed companies being bought by Monsanto.....again several years ago. Good to know the numbers are up.

one company huh, boy that's reassuring....wonder if the CEO is into good food.

As to meats.....the demand for whole pigs, chickens, lambs are growing....most grassfed cattle guys have them sold at an early age or sell at markets. Good beef is difficult to access in any regular quantity.
I've got a pig coming in Wed. and have sold the hams, ribs, both loins, a shoulder that I'm not sure I wanna part with, some liver for brunsweiger and the feet. Leaf lard , some offal and a shoulder are left for me...and the belly/head.....I may have to buy another pig soon just for some personal consumption.....piece meal out the pieces I don't want.

There are foodies that pick up info from chefs who pick up/share info with farmers.......general public looks to the foodies/chefs for info on what's good to eat. That is the impetus for starting a chef run grower's market with cooking demos every week. Varieties became a theme song......locally grown, heirloom were catch phrases.....now some of us are delving more into heirloom meats. Berkshire, Red Wattle, Ossabow, Duroq, Tammworth....all pig names that are gaining some recognition amoungst our chefs that enjoy using whole animals. the 250# live weight piggie I'm getting Wed. is a mix of 5 breeds, that came in second in the heirloom tasting I hosted the end of last Oct. Price point and availability made it more desirable than the others.

[allie]

Thank you Cookie for the response.

I really hope no one feels I was complaining. I guess I have just felt intimidated because I am strictly a home cook and when it comes to different ethnic foods and more gourmet, I am lost! I want to learn but feel stupid at times to ask questions or comment. I see terms here that I've never heard in my life. In fact, it was here that I first heard of foie gras! I've never had it but at least now after seeing it here and googling, I know what it is. That is why I joined. I want to learn and be the best cook whether at home or elsewhere that I can be. I've had a job offer recently based on a friend who's eaten some of my home cooking. It didn't work out because I wasn't available on the weekends due to my kids. One day I'd love to either work for someone else or have my own small place cooking the foods I love. That is one thing I think I do well and love to share with others. Thanks to all of you, I think I will continue to improve both my techniques as well as branch out into new and different!

I'll try to post more often and ask more questions. The whole feel of the site seems to have changed in the past 6 months and is more welcoming to people like me. I'm sure some of the older members have noticed that I post more now than I did before and it's because the whole feel seems to have changed. That's a great thing!

[Ishbel]

Allie
I, too, am a home cook. I have taken lots of cooking classes, but I only cook for family and friends nowadays. Don't be intimidated, your views are as relevant as anyone else's on here!

[deltadoc]

Originally Posted by KYHeirloomer

>90+ of prepared food comes from 3 companies. Scary shtuff. 3 companies are in charge of a huge percentage of our food supply.<

Actually, go back one more step, and it's actually one company that controls the food supply in the U.S., and it's working hard to make that global.

We just re-watched Soylent Green last night. Soylent controls 1/2 of the world's food supply.

Your post is very scary. So was the movie. "Before you know it they'll be raising us like cattle to make food for the rest of the world"....

doc

PS: Remember Tuesday is Soylent Green day!

[shel]

Originally Posted by KYHeirloomer

>90+ of prepared food comes from 3 companies. Scary shtuff. 3 companies are in charge of a huge percentage of our food supply.<

Actually, go back one more step, and it's actually one company that controls the food supply in the U.S., and it's working hard to make that global.

I'm curious to know what the three companies are and what one company controls the food supply in the US. Care to share?

Shel

[KYHeirloomer]

"Who has the seed controls the feed," as my friend Jeanne Lane says.

Directy or indirectly, commercial agriculture in this country is controlled (via seed, chemical, and legal clout) by just one company and its subsidiaries & so-called trading partners.

I'll leave exactly who that is as an exersize for the student, Shell. But, just to give you a hint, the company name starts with M. And ends with "onsanto."

[KYHeirloomer]

the green is worth fighting over.

[Mezzaluna]

Could another one begin with "A" and end with "rcher Daniels Midland"?

[shel]

Originally Posted by KYHeirloomer

"Who has the seed controls the feed," as my friend Jeanne Lane says.

Directy or indirectly, commercial agriculture in this country is controlled (via seed, chemical, and legal clout) by just one company and its subsidiaries & so-called trading partners.

I'll leave exactly who that is as an exersize for the student, Shell. But, just to give you a hint, the company name starts with M. And ends with "onsanto."

I suspected that's what you'd say. Unfortunately, their reach has extended beyond our borders.

Shel

[shel]

Originally Posted by Mezzaluna

Could another one begin with "A" and end with "rcher Daniels Midland"?

Between the two we're in deep trouble ...

[shroomgirl]

Now imagine living in STL, home of Monsanto......now imagine living in STL with WashU, Monsanto and Mo Botanical Gardens trifecta, that joined forces a few years ago and SHOCKED St. Louisians.
Or how about Danfield......yellow rice feeding the world......
How about community grant monies and the neighborhood gardens being funded by....ta da....Monsanto.....
I've held my ground for years and not taken nor worked with consoriums that were flush with cash from the exploitation of farmers....many times friends have said to take the money and do good.....nope.

Monsanto funds research at our land grant college ag school....mizzou. funny how organics never seem to get the validation in research, no money no plots.
When the state has a professional group help trouble shoot, who do they hire to moderate? A Monsanto lifer.

A long time ago I stopped the negative and just started pushing the positives of local, organically grown, naturally raised products........it was fun to just reel off the junk again for oldtimes sake.