Looks like this might be an important movie.
FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.
Among several main characters, FRESH features urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthurs 2008 Genius Award; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael Pollans book, the Omnivore Dilemna; and supermarket owner, David Ball, challenging our Wal-Mart dominated economy.
Temple Grandin has a great book out titled Animals Make Us Human which details her work and the need for continuing work in fostering humane treatment of animals for consumption. Believe it or not, McDonald’s and KFC use her as a consultant for their product sources. (Though I would never touch that food…)
Gianna, this post was a great help to me…I had not heard of Will Allen’s work before and it relates directly to some projects that I am trying to initiate in the near future…thank you!
I struggle every time I eat out too NG…
And sometimes I do just eat something I wouldn’t otherwise…non-organic veggies or non-humane raised meat…
most of the time when Paul and I go out we just go to the local health food buffets that only serve humanely grown animals and organic food…
but of course there are so many times when if you’re with friends it’s not an option…
I tend to just do my best in those circumstances—and eat a few things that might not be organic but I stick to my no sugar or junk rules…
I think good, organic food and humanely cared-for animals is so important. It seems so hard to do when I go out in public. I think many people think I am a bit strange and should just loosen up on my values.
Last night a dear friend of mine organized an event. I know she and the organization could not afford…or felt like they couldn’t afford organic food and meat from humanly cared for animals. Many people came from out of town and they needed to be feed.
I was also starved. I went out to my car and got a cup I usually keep with me and my own spoon. I had some of the potato salad. But I didn’t have the pork. I seriously doubt it was humanely treated. I thought about just easing up on my values… What would one little meal hurt. Plus if it is already paid for…what else will they do with it…well I know it will be donated to a shelter.
Maybe the answer is just doing what you can. This same friend has a garden and is usually very careful about what she feeds her family.
Looks good… but Monsanto and others keep trying to make this kind of farming illegal… which scares me.