Is Integrity Food Worth The Effort?

Whether we face the fact or not, integrity food sourced from local farms—that care about more than the almighty dollar—is not the most convenient or the cheapest option out there. I’m sure most of you can attest that it takes extra commitment—not to mention time and money—to dedicate to integrity food. Is it worth the extra hassle and cost to commit to it? Obviously, many folks don’t think so, or the relatively few-and-far-between direct-to-consumer farms would be grossly overwhelmed with product demand.

I can call to mind a lengthy list of factors that play a role in the future of the food in this country, many of which are cause for concern and will continue to worsen if the American consumer does not intervene and take an avid interest in his food and where it comes from.

That said, I have come to realize that integrity food is not the easy option, therefore many people will choose not to pursue it. Perhaps it could be compared to the practice of moral integrity in our lives. As much as I wish it were otherwise, the fact remains that many people do not practice honesty and integrity in their interactions with others. Greed, self-interest, manipulation of others, pride, and the love of money control many relationships and transactions, both on a business and individual level. Too often, short-term self-gain plays a larger role than fairness or concern for the well-being of others, or the long-term consequences of distrust and discord caused by the lack of integrity.

Obviously, honesty and integrity is not the path of least resistance, otherwise more folks would live by it. Anyone who lives and practices moral integrity knows and recognizes that it’s rarely the easiest way to take, nor is it the natural human response in most circumstances.

By the same token, integrity food is not the easiest meal, and requires extra discernment to find a local trustworthy source, more effort to obtain as well as additional preparation in the kitchen. However, I submit that the rewards for choosing integrity food mirror those found in practicing moral integrity in our actions. Such as the knowledge that we’re investing in the health of the next generation, the satisfaction from knowing that we’re making real-world contributions to regenerate farmland, and that we’re helping to leave our nest a better place than it was when we came, one bite at a time.

Actions of integrity may not be the most advantageous in the short term but are well worth the effort on the long run. Integrity food is the same and has the ability to build long-term health in ourselves and our children that become immeasurable. Let’s fight the good fight, battle the odds, and savor the benefits. And that’s the View from the Country.

The Definition – Integrity, [in·teg·ri·ty]

1. Possession of firm principles… the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards