CONVERSATION ON FARM SIZE AND QUESTIONS ABOUT “BIG AG” FOCUS OF
OCTOBER 24 FOOD DIALOGUES
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® to Convene Farmers, Ranchers and Food Pundits for
Discussion in Boston
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. (Sept. 13, 2013) – There are many factors that influence food-purchasing decisions, including the methods used to grow and raise food. Increasingly, consumers are hearing they should be concerned about larger farms, and may be making purchasing decisions without understanding how food is grown and raised on farms of any size. U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) will address the differences, and similarities, between large and small farms, at its next Food Dialogues event, which will be held in Boston on Thursday, October 24. The event will stream live online at www.fooddialogues.com.
Timed to Food Day, the Food Dialogues: Boston event, “Does Farm Size Really Matter? From environmental stewardship to animal care, are small and big farms that different?” will feature a panel of farmers, ranchers and food pundits. The panel will explore farm size and ownership and will address recent attacks on industrial agriculture and food production. Panel participants will be asked to address questions such as:
- What is a factory farm? Is it fair to call any farm or ranch a factory farm?
- How do standards and regulations differ on small or big farms and ranches?
- Who runs big farms?
- Are family farms still thriving in America?
- Is entertainment and creative advertising attacks on large-scale, production agriculture a new take on marketing smaller, niche brands and companies?
USFRA will announce the full-panel line-up in the coming weeks, and is inviting speakers from all sides of the topic. USFRA plans to invite farmers – big and small – advocates and consumer brands to the conversation. USFRA will be extending an invitation to Chipotle to participate on the panel. The company recently ignited attention on this topic with its new animated film and video game concepts.
For more information on this event, including how to register, visit www.fooddialogues.com. Follow USFRA on Twitter @USFRA using #FoodD or on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/usfarmersandranchers. Content from previous panel discussions can be found at fooddialogues.com.
About The Food Dialogues
The Food Dialogues signature events are designed to bring together farmers, ranchers, industry experts, pundits, media and consumers for dynamic panel discussions on some of today’s most pressing topics related to food and food production. Since its launch in 2011, the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance has hosted five major events, including 14 panels across the country that streamed live online.
About U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA)
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) consists of nearly 80 farmer- and rancher-led organizations and agricultural partners representing virtually all aspects of agriculture working to engage in dialogues with consumers who have questions about how today’s food is grown and raised. USFRA is committed to continuous improvement and supporting U.S. farmers and ranchers efforts to increase confidence and trust in today’s agriculture.