Monday, June 8, 2009

Food, Inc.

I recently began thinking out loud about starting a farmers market in my town. I was abruptly stopped in my tracks trying to clear the very first hurdle, and quickly realized that there will be numerous hoops to jump through before this thing gets off the ground. My motivation to organize this market is partly selfish (I don't want to have to travel so far to get local produce) and partly the product of my growing frustration with industrial farming.

The food industry is a topic that I think about often, so I was excited to learn about the film Food, Inc. The documentary explores how much we really know about the food we buy and, more importantly, eat.
"In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the the American Farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment."
You can learn more about the movie here. Find out where you can see the movie here, and see a list of 10 simple things you can do to change our food system here.

4 comments:

  1. I was JUST reading about this film the other day, can't wait to see it. Don't give up on the farmer's market - and don't let the "hoops" get you down!

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  2. Thanks for posting the link for Food, Inc. coming out in theaters June 12 in San Francisco, New York City, and Los Angeles! You can watch the trailer here:

    http://www.youtube.com/v/c2sgaO44_1c&hl=en&fs=1

    There is also a book companion to the movie, Food, Inc. available at Amazon.com. The book explores topics that were discussed in the movie, such as the industrialization of our food supply and the benefits of local and organic eating. Food experts including Marion Nestle, Eric Schlosser, Anna Lappé, and Michael Pollan take these topics to another level through thirteen fascinating essays, some of which have been written especially for this book. Check it out!

    Shannon Matloob
    Participant Media

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  3. thanks for the companion book info. I'll be sure to pick it up!

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  4. Your blog seems to be wonderful. I got some new ideas from your blog to be implemented in my own garden

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