Nathan Sheets is running for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, hoping to improve food safety and support local farmers. A honey entrepreneur, Sheets built Nature Nate’s from a single beehive into one of the largest honey companies in the U.S. His goal is straightforward: to make food cleaner and healthier for Texans.
During a recent forum, he spoke about the challenges farmers face today. Many are struggling financially. In the last six years alone, Texas has lost around 17,000 farms. Sheets believes it’s crucial to help farmers stay in business and prevent them from selling their land to larger entities, like data centers or solar farms.
To support this, Sheets proposes a new initiative called Grow Texan. This platform would help farmers sell directly to consumers and retailers, akin to an Amazon for Texas products. He argues this would enable farmers not just to survive but to thrive.
Sheets is concerned about the health of Americans. He points out that chronic diseases have surged since the 1970s, with around 70% of Americans now suffering from at least one. He attributes this health crisis to our diet, heavily reliant on ultra-processed foods filled with chemicals.
While advocating for healthier food options, Sheets also supports some deregulation in agriculture to lessen costs for producers. However, he acknowledges that regulation has its place when it comes to food safety.
His campaign is partly motivated by a desire to bring ethical leadership to the Texas Department of Agriculture. Sheets claims that the current commissioner, Sid Miller, is more focused on personal branding than on supporting farmers. He highlights how Miller’s images appear across promotional materials, suggesting this detracts from the Department’s mission.
As Sheets battles for the position, he aims to create a clear vision for Texas agriculture and food culture—one that inspires both producers and consumers.
Recent studies show a growing trend toward organic and locally sourced foods, which aligns with Sheets’s goals. The USDA recently reported a 38% increase in organic food sales from 2020 to 2021. This indicates that people are more conscious about what they eat.
In summary, Nathan Sheets aims to transform Texas agriculture by emphasizing health, sustainability, and direct market access for farmers. He believes that with the right vision, Texas can create a more nutritious food culture.
For more details about the state of agriculture in Texas, you can visit the Texas Department of Agriculture’s official site here.
