Sneak Peak: I've Seen a Glimpse of the Future of Food and Farming
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"At the recent Eco Farm conference I was surprised to find the dominating corporate influence among the home-growers and anarchist farmers."
Eliot Coleman speaks representing a counter-corporate model that would promote small local farms and self sufficiency.
Excerpt:
"Gary Hirshberg, in contrast, sells his certified organic yogurt in Wal-Mart. In fact, he's a big supporter of Wal-Mart. He's a big supporter of big business, and has perfected a rap on how BIG is going to change the world. Hirshberg's speech was successful in that he's basically a politician.
He wooed the audience with his charm, his humor, and constant affirmation about all of his heroes -- the small farmers out there. He aligned himself with the entire movement around organic by using the classic stats that prove healthy food is better for everyone.
He talked a lot about "our children" and "poor people" and "carbon footprint." It all sounded legit until you realize this guy's company is owned by the same corporation who owns Dannon and Evian (how can he be "for" the health of the environment when he's in bed with bottled water?) He kept talking about his friend Tom Vilsack and how they were just in the oval office talking to Obama about healthcare. He came across as a real leader, and agent of legitimate legal change. There were frequent smatterings of applause after he pressed each progressive talk-button.
But wait a minute. We had just spent the last three days talking about how to get more people farming, more farms in urban areas, healthy food to low-income communities, and how to decrease the negative impact of large scale agriculture (as Wes Jackson put it: The biggest enemy of the environment.) Now there's a bigwig on the podium telling us it's not farming, but buying that's going to save the world. Now, I'm not saying we have to choose one or the other -- big or small -- but what's the model we're striving for? What kind of society do we see ourselves becoming in the future? Big businesses and their CE-Whatevers bloating the economy? Or a culture of self sufficiency, ownership, and access?"
http://www.alternet.org/food/145482/sneak_peak:_i've_seen_a_glimpse_of_the_future_of_food_and_farming?page=3
This is the story of the big corporation that puts small communities out of business.
Stonyfield Farm sells his organic yogurt in Walmart.
Selling your soul to the devil.
This is not an inspiring model for the Organic Movement that wants to reach self sufficiency, independence. This only feeds the power that controls us.
Join the Organic Movement:
http://current.com/groups/organicgreen/
Eliot Coleman speaks representing a counter-corporate model that would promote small local farms and self sufficiency.
Excerpt:
"Gary Hirshberg, in contrast, sells his certified organic yogurt in Wal-Mart. In fact, he's a big supporter of Wal-Mart. He's a big supporter of big business, and has perfected a rap on how BIG is going to change the world. Hirshberg's speech was successful in that he's basically a politician.
He wooed the audience with his charm, his humor, and constant affirmation about all of his heroes -- the small farmers out there. He aligned himself with the entire movement around organic by using the classic stats that prove healthy food is better for everyone.
He talked a lot about "our children" and "poor people" and "carbon footprint." It all sounded legit until you realize this guy's company is owned by the same corporation who owns Dannon and Evian (how can he be "for" the health of the environment when he's in bed with bottled water?) He kept talking about his friend Tom Vilsack and how they were just in the oval office talking to Obama about healthcare. He came across as a real leader, and agent of legitimate legal change. There were frequent smatterings of applause after he pressed each progressive talk-button.
But wait a minute. We had just spent the last three days talking about how to get more people farming, more farms in urban areas, healthy food to low-income communities, and how to decrease the negative impact of large scale agriculture (as Wes Jackson put it: The biggest enemy of the environment.) Now there's a bigwig on the podium telling us it's not farming, but buying that's going to save the world. Now, I'm not saying we have to choose one or the other -- big or small -- but what's the model we're striving for? What kind of society do we see ourselves becoming in the future? Big businesses and their CE-Whatevers bloating the economy? Or a culture of self sufficiency, ownership, and access?"
http://www.alternet.org/food/145482/sneak_peak:_i've_seen_a_glimpse_of_the_future_of_food_and_farming?page=3
This is the story of the big corporation that puts small communities out of business.
Stonyfield Farm sells his organic yogurt in Walmart.
Selling your soul to the devil.
This is not an inspiring model for the Organic Movement that wants to reach self sufficiency, independence. This only feeds the power that controls us.
Join the Organic Movement:
http://current.com/groups/organicgreen/
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- groups:
- Community, Green, Unfeatured, Organic
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- tags:
- Walmart, Small Business, Local Food, self sufficiency, 5 more
