2025 Farm City Luncheon Serves Up the Science (and Myths) Behind Food Labels
PALM CITY, Fla. - Organic, all natural, cage free, free range – what’s science and what’s marketing hype? This year’s Farm City luncheon dug into the confusing stew of food labels to help consumers make informed, confident choices.
“I work in agriculture every day,” said Rick Hartman, President of One Martin, “and I can still find some of these descriptions confusing or downright misleading. We were glad to bring in experts to help people sort out the truth from the dazzle or misdirection on food labels.”
The sold-out crowd at the Nov. 20 event at Rockin’ H Ranch in Palm City heard from University of Florida professors Dr. Danielle Treadwell and Dr. Todd Thrift as they sorted out fact from fiction.
“Healthy food choices shouldn’t be complicated,” insisted Dr. Treadwell, Associate Professor and State Extension Specialist. She described the American diet as “energy rich and nutrient poor” and warned against chasing after products that have labels that are marketing, not science-based. “All natural, cage free, hormone free, free range – these are all claims that have no certified authentication,” Treadwell added.
Dr. Thrift, Associate Professor of Cow-Calf Management and Beef Cattle Nutrition, emphasized that many labels lack oversight. He shared a common example: the popular phrase “no added hormones” on the packaging for a cut of meat.
“All meat and plants naturally contain hormones,” he said, “and no cattle raised in Florida are given added growth hormones.” He also underscored that Florida beef is free from antibiotics at harvest. “There are no antibiotics in your food,” he said. “There’s a test for that, and inspectors would shut you down if they found it.”
The takeaway? Trust labels that say “USDA Certified.” Beyond that, look deeper before accepting marketing claims at face value. And when in doubt, buy local. “That’s definitely the label with the most validity,” Thrift said. “It assures freshness and helps the local economy at the same time.”
The Farm City luncheon menu got the stamp of approval from both speakers for its high nutritional value and local sourcing. Donations of beef came from Adams Ranch in Fort Pierce, the potatoes and vegetables from Agri-Gators in Palm City, and the salad greens from House of Hope’s Growing Hope Production Farm in Palm City.
Now in its eighth year, the Farm City Luncheon has become a beloved community tradition that brings together farmers, ranchers, business, civic and government leaders, and residents to celebrate the people and places behind our local food system. Past programs have highlighted multigenerational farm families, aquaculture as part of agriculture, and stories from the fields and ranchlands that shape our county’s economy and way of life. The event is presented by One Martin in partnership with the Martin County Farm Bureau and a broad range of supporters in recognition of Farm-City week.
“We’re grateful to everyone who had a part in bringing food to our tables today,” Hartman said, “and to the agricultural community that is critical to our food supply here and across the nation.”
One Martin is so grateful for the generous support of the community partners who made the luncheon possible. Luncheon sponsors include Legacy: Apogee Golf Club, Ashley Capital, Becker Tree Farm; Stewardship: Midbrook 1st Realty; Tradition: Atlantic Fields Club, Gunster, Hartman Real Estate, Star Farms Corp., R.V. Johnson Insurance and Auto-Owners Insurance; Heritage: 2GHO, Agri-Gators, Bull Hammock Ranch, CAPTEC Engineering, EW Consultants, Inc., Family Lands Remembered, Lucido & Associates, Ralicki Wealth Management & Trust Services, Shearwater Marine, Swallowtail Enterprises, Team Parks, UES, Wedgworth’s, and Yamacraw Hill, LLC.
To view the photo album from the event, visit the One Martin Facebook page.
For more information about One Martin and the annual Farm City Luncheon, go to www.onemartin.org/farm-city-week/, email info@onemartin.org , or call 772-287-5272.
About One Martin
One Martin is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more informed citizenry and providing opportunities for civil discussion on topics of importance to Martin County. To learn more, visit www.onemartin.org or follow along on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OneMartinCounty