Another attack on American Agriculture by Chipotle

[cbcr]

Chipotle is at it again, they are attacking the American Farmer.  Was watching This Week in Agribusiness http://agbizweek.com and Orion Samuelson in his Samuelson Sez commentary discussed it.

Just as he said, "we need to start a campaign to find out who the suppliers are to Chiptle and ask them to stop supplying Chipotle products."

Looked it up and here is the link to their new attack http://farmedanddangerous.com/.

We as AMERICAN FARMERS need to band together and become more proactive and stand up to blatant attacks from companies and groups.

If the products that are produced by AMERICAN FARMERS are so bad and unfit, then maybe Chipotle should close its doors so that these products can't be sold to consumers in a finished product.

 

[herfluvr]

You are right.  This company is unethical.  If it were so concerned about only serving "humanely raised" beef the when their suppliers run short do they not serve beef?  Heck no!  They post a small sign that states they are serving beef raised in a fed lot.  They say they are so healthy.  Their start -up investor was Mcdonalds!!.  My good friend works in marketing meat.  He is from a cattle background.  It enrages him the marketing tactics Chipotle uses to put forth false statements to the public.  I find it interesting that they portray the industry they rely on so poorly.  Yes they are unethical but so are the suppliers that are there when they call to fill their orders.  The almighty dollar is winning.  I tell my friends, If you support a farmer don't support Chipotle.

 

[RyanChandler]

Where was the attack on agriculture?  I noticed the references to inhumane conditions and processes many producers engage in, but where was the attack towards the American Farmer? If you're not someone who engages in questionable practices, why would you assume the message is geared toward you?

 

[cbcr]

Where was the attack on agriculture?  I noticed the references to inhumane conditions and processes many producers engage in, but where was the attack towards the American Farmer? If you're not someone who engages in questionable practices, why would you assume the message is geared toward you?

Look at the bottom of the first page:

"A Chipotle original comedy series that explores the outrageously twisted and utterly unsustainable industrialized world of industrialized agriculture"

Then go to the tab http://farmedanddangerous.com/#/behind-the-scenes and go down to the bottom of the page and click on each one of the plates: GMOs - Antibiotics - Animal Welfare - Precessed Food.

Are these comments and the posted information  not an attack focused towards agriculture?

I don't care if it says on the home page that it is a comedy, when is giving and promoting false information funny?

 

[RyanChandler]

It looks to me as if they are attacking inhumane/unethical production practices; not the entire industry in general.  Until you acknowledge that these exist, you have no chance of disassociating/differentiating yourself.

 

[BTDT]

I have seen their tv ads, and if you listen to their message, it is very very clear:  Livestock raised by most farmers are done so in an inhumane, antibiotic fed, unhealthy way.  But they buy only "safe, healthy and humanely raised" meat and therefore you should eat there and no place else because "other places" serve food that is bad for you.

I know there are farms that do not do things correctly. I know animal abuse happens and I do everything in my power to stop those individuals. But to lump every livestock producer into the same group is, well, kind of like lumping all shorthorn breeders together!  The "good farmers" will have a hard time standing up due to the same reason "good shorthorn" breeders  are having, too much money and too much power and honestly, it is very time consuming to do things "right" and those that are doing it "right" do not have time to fight. 

 

[cbcr]

It makes responding and trying to get positive and TRUE information when the companies and groups that are spreading the FALSE information because they are so well funded.

Chipotle has tried to promote itself as serving food that is way superior to what the other food companies serve.  But it was announced a few months ago that they were having a hard time procuring the food products that met their criteria and were having to resort to using more conventional products.

So, if this is the case and as the old adage goes of fighting fire with fire, what would be wrong with a campaign against Chipotle that they are serving inferior products that may affect the health of their customers?  It is not a false claim, use their own words and put it in reverse.  If you question this approach re-read the second paragraph.

 

[knabe]

First they got caught massively hiring illegals.

Now they have to compromise their mission statement. 

The meat they "want" is out there. They just don't want to pay for it.

A sensible marketing decision.

People will remember the mission statement and the video on Netflix how great they are versus the one on McDonald's but never remember the slippery slope of the details. It's been proven over and over, facts matter less and less, especially when contrasted with emotion and opinion.

 

[herfluvr]

http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2014/02/17/opinion-a-farmers-challenge-to-chipotle/

Seems like a reasonable request

Can anyone out there supply a link as to where they do buy their meat?

 

[knabe]

Can anyone out there supply a link as to where they do buy their meat?

Brazil?

 

[herfluvr]

I have searched a lot and I cannot find any place they say they buy their meat from.  Niman ranch is one supplier.  here is a list of ingredients.  Not sure how they think their food is so superior.  I see all the things they say they are against on the ingredient list
http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/menu/ingredients_statement/ingredients_statement.aspx

I believe Sysco is a supplier which is a supplier for a lot of other mainstream restaurants  http://sysco.com/documents/Catalog-MeatSuppliers.pdf

ewwww!  http://www.allgov.com/usa/ca/news/top-stories/sysco-accused-of-storing-perishable-food-in-unrefrigerated-storage-lockers-130712?news=850539

Chipotle wants transparency as to the conditions and feed the meat they buy but try and find where they get their meat from.  Next to impossible.  The do not even post their guidelines for responsibly raised animals  They just say they follow Whole foods guidelines. I smell something fishy

 

[knabe]

follow is a vague word.  doesn't mean they do it to the letter.


i wonder if chipotle reads this site.

 

[Telos]

Both Chipotle and Whole Foods operate on the fine line of legality. They have been caught on occasion. GMO's primarily.

They play off of a very ignorant population of consumers, investing millions of dollars for "Slick" marketing campaigns. Manipulating the mindset and poo-pooing production agriculture. They're experts in creating a sense that their so called hand selected growers are better then all others.

If you have hypertension, Chipotle is not the place you want to eat. Loaded with sodium.

"Whole Food Market" equates to "Whole Paycheck". Average store is less then 7% organic of total food stuff. Very misleading. Their Fish Markets are some of the best, though. Other products they carry which are found in most other stores are usually much more expensive then nation average. Prepared food section is pretty good but again very high sodium content in many products.

 

[RyanChandler]

The ambiance there justifies the premiums.  Go to the one off Lomo Alto, in Dallas. You'll run into some of the best looking women in the country- most of whom will be sportin their post workout yoga gear  <beer>

 

[chambero]

Did you know that Whole Foods serves Heat Wave beef?  I'm serious.  Kirk Duff had an exclusive contract to sell them natural beef under the brand name "Premium Natural Beef".  We've been in their program for three years.  They pay very well, but their audits are very intrusive.

Never been in one of their stores though, I tend to go to Central Market if I want good stuff.  Xbar - if you drag one of those out of Whole Foods in that part of Dallas you might have to sell your cows to pay for her upkeep.

 

[GoWyo]

The ambiance there justifies the premiums.  Go to the one off Lomo Alto, in Dallas. You'll run into some of the best looking women in the country- most of whom will be sportin their post workout yoga gear  <beer>

Those kind of babes take a long time to de-program.  Knock yourself out though.  (thumbsup)

 

[Telos]

X-Bar is correct about the Lomo Alto store. I worked there in the seafood market and did have a birdseye view of all the customers that walked in the store. Many doctors, lawyers, perfessionals and their wives... Whoever and whatever came into the store. Not only this select group, but we also had many that used their food stamps and bought expensive fish and meats. I had a twenty percent discount and still could not afford to shop there. Workers are trained to look in to the shoppers carts and upsale by suggesting other products. The pastry department is all frozen product that they thaw out and repackage and is loaded with just as much fructose syrup and sugar as other supermarkets. They have created an illusion that there food is healthier then their competitors.

Heat Wave Beef... Sounds good.

Their success...Is based on a very naive consumer.