Our Own Backyard: The Priceless Value of Whole Foods and American Farmers

As a 54-year-old woman, a mom, and a cancer survivor, I’ve learned to value life in ways I never could have imagined. But I’m also a farmer, deeply rooted in the soil alongside my husband, a fifthgeneration farmer. Our roots run deep in agriculture. The land is not just where we grow our crops—it’s where we grow our life and as we navigate the complexities of the modern world, there’s something I’ve come to realize that’s more important now than ever: what we grow in our backyards is priceless. Today, the health industry is booming—a billion-dollar machine churning out products, pills, and promises. Yet, as a farmer who works the land every day, I know the truth: the solution isn’t in fancy packaging, gimmicky ads, or the latest trend. It’s in the ground. It’s in the whole foods that come straight from the farm. The health food industry will tell you it has the magic answer. It’ll try to sell you powders, pills and pre-packaged meals, that promise the world. But here’s the secret: we don’t need any of it. What we need is what our American farmers have been growing for generations—the whole, nutritious foods that have sustained us for centuries. Whole foods—real, unprocessed, straight-from-the-earth foods—are the cornerstone of true health. Vegetables, fruits, grains, and meats grown by farmers like us, here on American soil, are the very foundation of a healthy diet. Let me tell you, what’s growing in our backyard is far more valuable than anything you’ll find inside the walls of a grocery store. We are fortunate. As Americans, we have access to the safest, highest-quality food in the world. Our farmers are out there, day in and day out, ensuring that the food we eat is not only abundant but also healthy and safe. That’s something we don’t talk about enough. The truth is, we don’t need more boxed meals or pre-packaged snacks. What we need is a return to our roots. We need to support the farmers who are growing the real food that nourishes our bodies. The vegetables, the grains, the fruits—they don’t need a label with promises of health. Their value is in their simplicity. As someone who’s lived through cancer, I’ve come to see that what we put in our bodies matters more than anything. The closer our food is to its source, the better it is for us and what better source than the farms that have been in our communities for generations? What better way to feed our families than by supporting the people who dedicate their lives to growing the healthiest foods on the planet? At the end of the day, what’s grown by American farmers is not only priceless but also irreplaceable. Our health starts with the food we eat, and the best food doesn’t come from a factory or a billion-dollar marketing campaign. It comes from our soil, our backyard, and our farmers. So let’s turn back to what really matters. Let’s focus on whole foods, real foods. Let’s appreciate the incredible gift we have growing in our backyards. Because what we have right here is everything we need. Hope you’ll follow along in this new series for health and wellness.