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#realpigfarming :: Lexi Marek – The Answer Includes Women

Friday, October 20, 2017

Education Lifestyle

The Answer Includes Women.

We’ve all heard it. With less than 2 percent of the United State’s population directly involved with production agriculture, we have to share our story with consumers about what farmers do. This is especially important since the majority of Americans are removed from the farm.

It’s almost impossible to walk through a grocery store without reading the words ‘organic’ or ‘all natural,’ and if you talk to people about why they buy the more expensive, specialty grown food products, often their reason isn’t because they truly think it’s better, it’s because they are scared not to. Consumers now are scared of what is in their food because they have a perception of how a farmer raises their food and are unable to connect with the reality of farming.

But the question remains, as 2 percent of the population who is connected to agriculture, how do we connect with the 98 percent of others who have no clue?

Statics show that women are still making the purchasing decisions at the store. Women are buying food that is labeled ‘all natural’ and ‘organic’ because they want what is best for their family.

Then, the next question at hand is with the average farmer being a 65-year-old white male, how are suburban moms going to relate? The answer is, they don’t.

What’s the solution to connecting with women? It’s simple: women. Women own 30 percent of the farms in the United States; therefore, women are in the industry. Agriculture just isn’t for the 65-year-old white farmer; agriculture is broad, and there is a place for everyone.

Four years ago, a company called FarmHer was created to shine a light on a sector of agriculture that isn’t typically seen, the women in the industry. By focusing on stories and images that portray lifestyles on the farm, the people making purchasing decisions can feel at ease knowing that farming has a face.

Women relate to other women.  Women are also making decisions in the grocery store and on the farm. As agriculturists, it is important that we continue to grow food that will meet and provide for consumers, and by sharing the stories of women in agriculture, consumers can be more connected to the farm like they have been in past decades.

Farmers work tirelessly to provide food for the world, and by working towards making a connection with consumers, everyone will have a chance the make an educated decision in the grocery store.