The Omnivore's Dilemma

I just finished watching a very insightful lecture given by writer Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto as well as many other life-changing books.

Amongst the many invaluable messages Mr. Pollan spoke on in his lecture, there were a couple of statistics that really jumped off the screen at me. I truly hope that you take the time to watch this insightful lecture, but in case you do not - here are those statistics I find most worthy of mention:


17% of fuel use is spent on the food industry. To put it in perspective, we currently use 18% of our fuel use for transportation. Think of the difference we could make in the world if we made a choice to eat locally and morally responsibly.

Many people complain that eating locally grown food is more expensive and that they can not afford to eat organic. There is two things they ought to consider:

1. You are paying more than the difference in cost when you ignorantly purchase unsustainable food from the effects on the environment, to your health, and even in your tax dollars. It's a higher price to pay on so many levels.

2. Food is the source of life - we need to be spending more on it. Really stop and think about that for a moment. It's probably THE most important thing you buy and it's an investment in your health and the well being of your children's planet.

We spend less now then we ever did on our food. We (the PLANET) spend less than 10% of our incomes on food. This is less than any other time in history. Thirty years ago that number was 18%! Think about that. Where is that extra money going? Cell phones? Television? Gadgets? Entertainment? Taxes?



With each item you buy you are making the world what it is. In this precarious age with so many concerns about bio terrorism and the collapse of wthe global economy, do you really want all of the precious food sources centralized? We have essentially done this with oil and look what this has brought us. You have an important say! Educate yourself. Read labels. Don't just buy "Organic," buy local. Locate and visit the farms in your community. Come down to the farmer's market and meet other people who celebrate and value food for what it's truly worth. I guarantee that you will notice a BIG difference in the social value of your supermarket experience vs. your experience at the farmer's market. In Worcester, there is one at 807 Main Street every Saturday from 10am to 2pm from June through September.

Educate yourself. Read, read, read!!! And most importantly - educate the children. Each One Teach One.

For more information check out:
http://www.farmfresh.org/