Who Can Efford these Products?

"Leonord's Maple Syrup Stand" producing Pure New York Maple Syrup

Leonard has been traveling to the Syracuse Farmer’s market since 1988 and explains to our group that there are several other people with stands at the market that are his major competitors. He didn’t seam to feel that companies like Aunt Jemima or Log Cabin despite their lower price points. Leonard’s Maple Syrup from the farmer’s market sells for $.34fl oz where as maple syrup from a super market averages at about $.25/fl oz. The main difference between Leonard’s product and the more popular, well known brands are the quality of the product and the contents. Most commercial syrups are made of corn syrup, while pure New York maple syrup is made from sap from a sugar maple tree. Although the addition of corn syrup to the commercial maple syrup helps to lower the price of the product, there are a lot of negative heath effects of the product. Corn syrup has a high correlation to America’s growing obesity rate, and, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes. Foods that contain corn syrup are often high in calories, low in nutritional value and particularly difficult for the body to metabolize. None of these adverse health effects have been linked to Leonard’s products as of yet.

Sweet Grass Farm is a 60 acre grass farm in Upstate New York, about 45 minutes east of Syracuse. Their animals are raised on a pasture, without any antibiotics or hormones. The beef and lamb are completely grass finished, while the other livestock are supplemented with an organic grain mix. Livestock are rotated over the farm and neighboring grass land, so that they are always on fresh clean pasture during the grazing season. The meat is sold at the farm and at the Regional Farmer's Market in Syracuse. Tests performed on Sweet Grass Farm’s beef have shown that it has at least twice as much conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as conventional feed beef. This is due to the cattle’s ability to graze naturally versus eating grain, hay and other feeds. CLA is a fatty acid found in beef and dairy fats that is absorbed by cows when they graze on an open pasture. It has been found that CLA has cancer-fighting properties and reduces fat and preserves muscle tissue. CLA can only be obtained through foods such as whole milk, butter, beef, and lamb. The human body cannot produce CLA and eating free range beef is one of the easiest ways for the body to absorb it.

PRICES
Filet Mignon- $16/lb vs. Wegmans $13.99/lb
T-bone- $12/lb vs. Wegmans $10.99/lb
London Broil- $6.25/lb vs. Wegmans $4.29/lb
Ground Beef- $3.75/lb vs. Wegmans $2.19/lb
Chicken $2-$2.50/lb vs. Wegmans $1.99/lb
Turkey $2.50-$3.50/lb vs. Wegmans $ $2.29/lb
Pork tenderloin- $7/lb vs. Wegmans $2.99/lb






In 2007 Mother Earth News conducted an egg testing project. They compared the nutritional information from an official U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient for commercial eggs and compared them to the eggs from hens raised on a free range pasture. Free range eggs had:1/3 less cholesterol, 1/4 less saturated fat, 2/3 more vitamin A, 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids, 3 times more vitamin E, 7 times more beta caroten. Free range eggs come from chickens that are able to move freely on a pasture or are housed in moveable pens that are rotated frequently to maximize access to fresh pasture and protect the birds from predators.

Extra Large, Free Range Eggs from the farmers market- $2.75
Egg-Land's Large Cage Free Organic Brown Eggs from Wegmans- $3.79




The company’s line of products is available at local grocery stores and community co-ops throughout New York State. The company’s cheese is made the old-fashioned way. Nothing is mass-produced, and everything is hand-cut. The cheese is made locally made in Heuvelton, New York and although it is not an organic product it is all natural. The difference between organic and natural is quite significant although many people do not know the differences.Organic foods are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste, or sewage sludge. They were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. In regards to meat and animal products it means that they were raised without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. Organic produce can not be genetically modified. Natural foods have a lot less standards to meet. Basically a “natural food” is a food that is minimally processed. Natural foods do not include ingredients such as refined sugars, refined flours, milled grains, hydrogenated oils, sweeteners, food colors, or flavorings.

Cheese bought from Wegmans-
Jarlsberg Semi Soft Part-Skim Milk Cheese-one pound- $6.99
Wegmans Cheese, Buttery Brie, Medium- one pound- $10.99
Wegmans Italian Classics Pecorino Romano –one pound- $9.99
Or Farmers Market Cheese selling for $2.75 a block or 2 blocks for $5, any assortment combination.