January Blog
Eggs, has anyone been able to escape this topic as of late? Suddenly, that neighbor with those backyard chickens doesn’t seem so extreme anymore. Full disclosure, I am one of those neighbors with the chickens in the backyard. There may also be a stray cat or two I feed as well.
Ok, on a more serious note, so what is up with the eggs and what is our solution to this problem? What about all the other issues we are seeing within our food chain?
If there is one thing the pandemic has taught us, it is that most of us had no idea how much we rely on planes, trains, and automobiles to bring in most everything we use. Refer back to the toilet paper debacle. How do we stop this from happening again? I can hear our collective voice screaming “Stop relying so much on other countries and California for everything!” And to that I say GREAT START! How do we do this? Can this be done? Is there really a way? And to THAT I say, There's a start!
Some quick facts on why the price of eggs has went up:
The U.S. Dept of Agriculture has stated that the bird flu affected more than million birds in both commercial and backyard flocks. Resulting in a depopulation of around 44 million egg laying hens.
The cost of bird feed and other supplies have went up in price significantly
Soaring gas prices affect transportation
This is where I come in to preach the gospel of supporting our local farmers of course. Did you know that Indiana is one of the top 10 states in Agriculture in the U.S.? We have some of the best land to farm on right here, often literally in our backyards. So, unless you want to throw your hat in the ring and become a local farmer, (statistics on that for another day) the next best thing to do is buy from them. And, thanks to social media, farmers markets, and small or locally owned grocery stores, have become easier and easier to find. South Shore Indiana is also a great resource that helps our region connect with local markets and happenings, as is the NWI Food Council.
I would also encourage you to support our local establishments who invest in our community by purchasing local. In whatever capacity makes sense for them. Change happens when we modify our habits in small and in big ways.
One last statistic for you that I found eye opening.
Hoosiers spend roughly 14 billion annually on food expenses and spend an additional 10.5 billion eating at restaurants. Shifting just 10% of the household food expenses to local purchases would translate to a 2.5 billion infusion for Indiana's farm and food economy. —Jodee Smith, Indiana University
If you have any questions or are interested in local food procurement for your business, please reach out to me anytime.
I have included a recipe you can eat for breakfast or any other time of the day. When I make this dish I like to use Howe Farms bacon, Janie's Mills grits and eggs from my backyard. I invite you to try the same. Howe Farms is a great place to visit for local meat pick up in Winfield, Indiana.
Cheers,
Anna Martinez, Farm to Chef Coordinator
