In the cloak of increased production and profits we have turned to intensive farming.
But intensive farming has come with a high price to our health.
Today the health of all Americans are at more risk than ever before because of the chemicals that we ingest into our bodies through the food we eat.
Cancer, Alzheimer's and other major illnesses are on the rise and said to be linked to the chemicals absorbed into our bodies.
Will we ever be able to go back to farming the natural way? The use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides is rampant in intensive farming.
Animal farms with over populated conditions and pollution lead to animal sickness and diseases.
Intensive farming is carried out in the majority of these working farms leading to more chances of us consuming unwanted chemicals in our diet.
The disadvantages of intensive farming are manifold.
The environment is altered with the creation of large open field to facilitate efficiency and profits.
But this upsets the natural habitat of the animals that live there.
Improper handling of vast, open spaces lead to soil erosion.
The use of pesticides may give us a 'healthy looking' crop but in effect we are ingesting the residual chemicals left in the plant.
Massive amount of nitrogen based fertilizers contaminate the rivers and lakes which will eventually destroy our environment.
Animal rights activists have been up in arms against the intensive farming of poultry for a very long time.
Overcrowded, inhumane conditions have lead to the prevalence of diseases among the birds.
The incidence of 'bird flu' cannot be over emphasized here.
Even the eggs produced by such birds remains a threat to our health.
The overuse of antibiotics on the birds have affected our health too.
We have listed the disadvantages of intensive farming.
So it looks like the only advantage to the consumer in intensive farming is the lower priced food which we are actually paying for with our health.
If only Americans were to pay a little more for their products, they would actually be paying less for their medical bills.
A good example will be our regular 'Michigan grown' apple.
One is the product of intensive farming whereby the apple is covered with an invisible pesticide residue layer that does not wash off.
The other is the organic apple, free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
It is grown by your hardworking, hometown organic farmers who are experiencing a very hard time competing with the chemical giants.
This may sound dramatic but it is not.
Supporting your local farmers support your health.
The choice is in yours.
Make the right one today.