One Change

I recently read an article in The Nation called "One Thing to Do about food a Forum". In the article various people from the food community gave their opinion on what one thing could change Americans perspective on food. A few of the ideas include Michael Pollan's idea to weigh in America on the farm bill or Peter Singer who says don't buy factory farm products. These ideas really show how people feel about the industry. For example Peter Singer really takes a negative jab at the industry and basically to sum up his argument believes if we ditch the industry the food system in America will be fixed. Michael Pollan's idea is to weigh in Americas input to the farm bill. He believes that this could impact the speed of the food systems change in America.

It seems to me that a lot of the answers to the question posted by The Nation were a direct attack on the industry and I believe this is wrong. American is pulled and swayed by supply and demand. It is not up to the government to fix the industry it is up to the people to mold it with their food dollar. However their is some things that will probably not change if you want to eat. For example factory foods will always exist to feed the masses. If you take your food dollar away and by organic this or organic that it will also increase in scale and become factory much like Kellogg has changed organic production today.

Wendall Berry seemed to have a better idea of how to motivate the food system. That is through two things knowledge and hunger. In America it will take a famine for people to truly appreciate the food we have and see what is important and the knowledge will help them see where issues stand.

What is truly important in our system?

How would you change it?

What if we did stop buying industrial food products what would be the result?