Thursday, December 11, 2008

Food For Thought

I write to you today to ask for your consideration.

No I'm not up for an Academy Award.

I'm asking for your consideration of an issue near and dear to my heart. That issue is agricultural policy in the United States. 

Since Richard Nixon's administration, the United States has been manipulating farming through various incentives provided to both industrial and independent farmers.  While I'm all for efficiency and understand economies of scale, these incentives have both destroyed natural food systems and created problems far beyond edible industry. Energy policy, the health care system and even national security are all significantly worse off because of the various Farm Bills that have been passed in the last 40 years.

But don't take my word for it.


And definitely don't take his word for it...

Author Michael Pollan is leading the charge to change our hypocritical, wasteful and damaging policies with well-written, fun (and frightening) to read books about the state of the American food system. Whether you just read one of the articles below or check out The Omnivore's Dilemma (or one of his other books) in it's entirety, I promise that you will be a significantly more informed food citizen.  We eat (at least) three times a day, yet most fail to consider where exactly that food is coming from and what the consequences of our food choices are.  After exploring Mr. Pollan's writings, you will appreciate the impact of the choices that we make, every time we exchange money for food.

Your Reading List

The Omnivore's Dilemma - (Introduction and First Chapter)

The Futures of Food

Unhappy Meals

Farmer in Chief


After you've checked out this literature, I encourage you to sign this petition encouraging President-Elect Obama to appoint someone Pollan and other food luminaries support to the position of Secretary of Agriculture.

He Already Loves Arugula...

I wouldn't bother writing if I didn't think it was vitally important to both our nation's future and your very own taste buds.  

Thank you for your consideration.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"Animal Vegetable Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver is also a great source that touches on all these topics. :)