Dirty boots, callused hands, diesel trucks, and Wrangler jeans.
These are things that someone might think of when talking about agriculture. And in all honesty, 5 years ago I may have just thought of these few descriptors too. Now- nearly 5 years and soon-to-be 2 degrees later- I’ve added some new words to the list.
Green, innovative, holistic, opportunity, leadership, far-reaching, future forward.
My name is Jacqueline and I am the founder of the Urban to Ag page. For our first blog post, I want to take the time to give you a clearer picture of the reach of agriculture and how YOU fit into the industry. Because whether you know it or not, you come into contact with agriculture every day!
The dictionary defines agriculture as, “the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products,“ but agriculture encompasses far more than most people realize. While the agriculture industry includes every food product you find in the store, tractors, cattle and dirt fields, it also includes our companion animals, vaccines, clothes, retailers of goods (i.e. grocery stores), processors (i.e. companies that take fluid milk and turn it into all kinds of yummy goods such as cheeses, yogurt, and ice cream), and many other people and products!
I’ve included a list below of a few of the everyday items that all rely on agricultural products to be made:
1. Footballs
2. Crayons
3. Toothpaste
4. Jeans
6. Glue
Do you use any of these items? If so, then you are directly influencing and supporting agriculture!
When talking about agriculture and our food system, we happen across many potentially polarizing topics and labels. Organic vs. Conventional. GMO vs. Non-GMO. Gluten Free. Dairy Free. Cruelty-Free. Vegan. All these words labeling and categorizing products can be confusing and overwhelming, but ultimately, they are all part of one system and one industry. It's all part of agriculture with one mission- to provide products desired by consumers.
Every purchasing decision you make affects the agriculture industry and trends. So, let me be the first to welcome you to the agriculture family! We are glad to have you!
If you have any questions about the information provided in this post, please follow the underlined links to their sources or contact me directly.
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