Dec 16, 2016

Video series aims to educate consumers about ag

Ron Goldy was waiting in his dentist’s office one day when a video playing in the corner caught his eye. The video was high-definition, with no narration – just music playing in the background. The subject was the U.S. national parks.

Goldy, a senior educator with Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, thought, “We could do that with agriculture!”

He approached Becky Hulbert and Kraig Ehm – both with the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources creative department – with his idea, and they agreed to help him put it together. The idea was to make videos that show consumers how their food is produced.

“I work with some of the best growers in the country, and it is hard to help those who are at the top of their game,” Goldy said.

On the other hand, Goldy has learned that the general public doesn’t understand how food makes it to the supermarket shelf. It’s a major problem for agriculture, and he’s constantly wondering how to tell the industry’s story to the average consumer. That’s why the videos are so important.

The first video, about the process behind pickles, is on MSU Extension’s YouTube page. Goldy plans to make others on cherries and apples this summer, and one on the pickle harvester in the first video, since people have inquired about how it works. He would like to make up to 10 videos, so they can be looped, and wants them to run anywhere people wait: doctor and dentist offices, airports, movie theaters, government offices, etc.

– Matt Milkovich, managing editor