hello ED ,
this is one of those questions that is a very personal one really. Each of us will have our own particular standards , morals , beliefs etc .
My first requirement would be GM free . I will not accept any GM at all, full stop . Sadly there are cases where GM stuff is used without the general public knowing ,and then there are the times where GM crops have contaminated non GM crops (something we were told could never happen !!). In the USA 2007 permission was granted to grow GM rice for medicinal purposes. The GM rice in question has HUMAN genes in it !!!! I personally find this so outrageous I could easily commit crimes to stop this practice. First they turn herbivores, Cows sheep etc, into cannibals, now they are doing it with us !!! So GM is out for me .
My next requirement is organic!! I then know there are no poisons in the food . For non organic farmers to grow acres of one crop , they drench the crop in all sorts of poison, so that nothing survives and eats the crop before sale . Try growing cabbages and you will see what I mean . Go for a walk in a non organic veg crop , it is weird . Nothing there apart from the crop , no flies caterpillars slugs nothing . But of course this does us no harm at all , perfectly safe , as safe as GM maybe ? as safe as beef was due to BSE ? There is very strong evidence that this (BSE) came about to due to pour ons along the backs of cattle , being used at 4x above known safe levels , and then these parts (spines etc ) being used in burgers , mince etc. Once again we were all told that this was all perfectly safe to do .
Next would be local/seasonal supply . Local, so that there is less fuel used to transport millions of tons of food all round the world . Also , so that farmers (organic ones) , and smallholders can earn money and survive . Or for those with the inclination ? , grow your own (organically) . The best all round solution to my mind .
These are my preferences . Not everyone will agree with them, or the order , but I think more than a few will ?.
cheers
Russ