Know your food! Know your beef! Get the Real Dirt on farming and food.

Now, more than ever we want to know the back-story to what’s in our food – how it was made, what ingredients go into it, where it comes from and how it was raised. There’s lots of good information out there and lots of misinformation as well.

There’s now a great new resource available to Canadians about agriculture in Canada and what happens on our farms, ranches and out in our fields: The Real Dirt, produced by Farm & Food Care in collaboration with other groups such as Canada Beef.

This publication answers to the top things Canadians are asking about food and farming with the simple facts on how crops are grown, how farm animals are raised, why farmers might use GMOs, pesticides and antibiotics, and how more than 200,000 farm families in Canada do their jobs. It’s the perfect resource for educators who want to talk about agriculture in their classroom and for all of us who are seeking to know more about who and how Canadian foods get to our tables.  And yes, there is a section on beef raised in Canada as well – our pride and joy!

If you didn’t get a copy of the Real Dirt on Farming insert in the Globe & Mail last month, you can review an online version at www.RealDirtonFarming.ca  And if you want to order a printed copy you can order the full 50-page version from Farm & Food Care (and also at the Make it Beef e-store).

If you want to go on the tour that was hosted by Farm & Food Care to talk about The Real Dirt with bloggers, chefs and food writers, just click to see the video clip! Canada Beef was on the bus to answer all the beefy questions around nutrition and culinary know-how.

So go ahead and take a peek – see what is happening out in the field(s) in Canada, beyond your grocery store or farmer’s market.