I’ve got a question for you…
When you buy a package of beef at the grocery store, shouldn’t you have the right to know where that animal came from?
Here’s the problem: today, a "Product of USA" label is voluntary. And beef that doesn't carry that label doesn't necessarily have to tell you where the animal was born, where it was raised, or where it was processed.
As a farmer, I know where our animals come from. I know the farms, the land, and the people raising them. I know the work that goes into producing the food that ends up on your family's table.
I believe you deserve to know that, too.
We used to have Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling—MCOOL—which gave consumers more information about where their food came from. That ended in 2015, and today, a lot of that information is simply not available to you.
I don't think that's right.
This isn't about telling you what you should buy. It's about giving you the information so you can make your own choice.
If I’m buying food for my family, I want to know where it came from. I suspect you do, too.
Transparency shouldn't be controversial. It should be standard.
So, if you believe consumers should have the right to know where their beef comes from, I encourage you to contact your state and federal representatives. Call them. Email them. Write a letter. Visit their office.
Let them know you want Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling back.
Farmers and ranchers know where their cattle come from.
I think American families deserve to know, too.
📸 Photo: Mexican cattle at the Nogales export and quarantine facility near the U.S. border.