Production Problems

One of the main issues I hear people discussing when it comes to food production is the natural vs. organic vs. conventional debate.  Many people don't know the difference between natural and organic, but they do believe that both produce superior food when compared to conventional growing methods.  When discussing this issue, many state that that natural/ organic food is simply "healthier". 

I think what we often forget is that healthy food and "organic" or "natural"  aren't completely synonymous.  For example, the latest trend diet is Paleo, which basically means only eating things that a cave man would eat.  No processed foods, cheese wiz, donuts, cakes, Twinkies, grains, bread noodles, rice, etc.  While all of the foods might be "natural", I have seen recipes for Paleo Pound Cake.  I don't know about you, but in what way is eating a pound cake a good part of a diet built around erasing simple sugars from your pallet?  By making a pound cake, a person on the diet has inadvertently found a loophole to sabotage their quest for better health.  I also believe that eating grains in general is something that is good for your health, but that is an entirely different matter. 

When arguing about food production, we need to remember to keep the issues separate.  Crash diets, natural, and organic are all part of the American food culture.  As farmers we can produce healthy food that may not fit into each of those labels.  At the same time, we want to make sure that people who say they went to eating only "grass-fed" meat because it is better for you than conventional beef is an opinion, not a nutrition fact.  A health fact would be eating that a bowl of peaches is better for you than eating a box of Little Debbie snack cakes.  Our obesity problem doesn't stem from conventional farming, but individual food choices made by individuals.  Most people outside of the agricultural community never really think about that distinction.     

Resolution

Here we are, halfway through the first month of the year.  At the farm, our budget has been tweaked, and our evaluations have been finished.  For the first time, I had the responsibility of evaluating a few of the farm's employees.  I had to take myself from being a coworker to being the boss, the manager. 

Over the past year, I have learned how to complete many of the jobs on the farm, and in doing that I have become friends with many of the people I work with.   During evaluation time, I have to suspend my friendly relationship for a managerial one.  I am not sure, but I felt like the evaluations were actually more stressful for me as an evaluator, since it was my golden opportunity to talk seriously with people one-on-one and gather information on what I can do better as a manager. 

Probably the most learning value comes from the evaluations that are hard to give.  My first negative evaluations taught me how to be firm, but not unkind.  I had to figure out how to in control of the conversation and get my point across.  It is hard to do, but it is necessary in order to keep the respect of the employees as a whole. 

While looking a the farm's financial and personnel performance in the last year, managers need to make sure that they are also taking time to receive evaluation.  This can be a combination of self assessment, and outside feedback.  While this review might seem to be the least important in your business, it can be a decision that has highest return in potential benefit.  By evaluating our own weaknesses, we realize how we have grown in the last year, areas in which we need to improve, and what type of people we need to surround ourselves with to keep the company viable.