By Illinois Radio Network/Greg Bishop
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois farmers are making changes as consumer habits shift.
Consumers are asking organic farmers for more transparency in how their food is grown. They’re also asking questions about the farming processes that are used for the organic fruits and vegetables they buy.
“People are asking where their foods are coming from and what [farmers] are doing,” said Raghela Scavuzzo, local foods program manager at the Illinois Farm Bureau. “They are not just asking about your certification.”
Farmers are responding positively to the changes in consumer behavior, welcoming the chance to tell their farming stories.
“Farmers are great people to ask questions because they know what they are doing on their farm and they understand why they are doing it,” Scavuzzo said. “And, so they are wanting to tell their story, and they are wanting to share it.
“They want to make sure that the consumer understands that the farmer is working really hard to make sure their food is safe, healthy, and for the consumer and they would never grow something they would never feed to their own children,” she added.
Farmers must follow regulations set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to sell organic food. These regulations are getting stricter, requiring increased reporting and auditing of farming operations.
Some farms are choosing to use organic practices without certification, allowing the consumer to make a choice about the food they buy that meets their personal preferences.
“A farm may not be organically certified, but they may be doing things that you find really really important to you when you are buying from your farmer,” Scavuzzo said.
