6 Farm News First > BetterFarming.com Better Farming August 2016 LETTERS It seems to me that social media has allowed people to become the worst possible versions of themselves. Gone are the days when people could disagree, but still have respect for another person’s opinions. Instead, we are living in a world of intolerance, judgement and too often, violence, many times flung by people with fake names and fictitious credentials. Social media allows this to proliferate. Now, I am an avid user of social media, but you can always find me, under my full name on any applica- tion. I own up to what I say. The case which bothers me the most is when farmers turn against farmers, something that seems to happen a lot on social media. Organic advocates spew hate at conventional farmers. Producers who use genetically-modified (GM) seeds are vilified by those who choose a There was some good news for Ontario farmers recently as the Greenbelt Fund announced a major project this fall which will feature Burnac Produce, the largest produce distributor working with the world’s largest foodservice chain, Subway res- taurants, to use and promote local produce inside Subway sandwich shops this harvest season. Burnac is very happy to work with Ontario growers to develop the proper specifications and packaging for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and onions to replace product that in the past would have often been imported. A lot of work goes into converting big foodservice chains like Subway, that has national and international programs in place, to think outside the box and prepare a specific supply program for a specific market where possible. This project will help to educate growers of the expectations of the big chains, educate franchisees how The price of intolerance Local produce coming to sandwich shops non-GM route. Farmers who don’t use antibiotics are accused of cruelty by the mainstream livestock industry. What happened to the understand- ing that we all are producing safe, affordable food to the best of our abilities and are striving to find a market which delivers a profitable price? Farmers have always chosen different methods of farming, based on their specific situation, but in my mind, never before has there been such intolerance and animosity. Has social media allowed us to become these ‘venomous’ creatures? Is there a way back to honest debates, respect for other farmers, and most importantly, a unified image to consumers? We have a tough enough time telling the farm story, but a much harder time telling it while bringing down each other. Karen Daynard KD Communications Guelph Karen Daynard to recognize and use Ontario pro- duce, and most of all educate Ontar- io consumers that local produce is being served in stores. We hope that the Burnac project will also serve as an example to other leading foodservice chains that it is possible to satisfy the public’s demand for locally-grown foods even if it is just for a limited time. Many thanks go out to the Greenbelt Fund for the tremendous support in getting this project kick-started and to our farm part- ners that are growing this produce as you read this! David Capobianco Director of Foodservice Burnac Produce Ltd. What happened to the understanding that we all are producing safe, affordable food to the best of our abilities and are striving to find a market which delivers a profitable price? Better Farming readers receive the top insight on Ontario ag in each and every issue. We’re the trusted source for commercial farmers. A $41 ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION IS A 44% DISCOUNT ON NEWSSTAND PRICES. CALL 1-888-248-4893 EXT. 255