While I'm attending the Pastor-Theologian program this next week, I'll be reading Michael Pollan's new book, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. It was published about two weeks after my article at the Journal of Lutheran Ethics on Eating Theology.
Our family gives a good deal of thought to where our food comes from, how it was grown and handled, and how the workers were treated who grew or harvested it. We try to purchase fair trade and organic, although we give in quite often and purchase food that doesn't meet our highest ethical criterion. Pollan's book is a wonderful resource if, for no other reason, it's reporterly attempt to remind us of where exactly food was before we put it in our mouth.
When I watched a bit of the May Day immigration march on Monday, there were signs to the effect "Who picked you veggies today." Further clearifying the connection of consumption, ethics, human rights that your essay brings up.
ReplyDeleteHave you had much of an oppurtunity to see any immigration demonstrations? It makes me think too of how important immigrants are in rural and small communities.
I read your article in LJE, which was excellent. It has really provoked a reflection on how I eat-- in all its various respects. Right now, my habits are pretty terrible. The best I've ever eaten (and the most I've ever enjoyed shopping, cooking, & eating) was when I was carless for a year and a half-- I lived a block from a natural foods co-op and bought local organic vegetables and bulk foods. But I've become much lazier.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the provocation.
The New Yorker had a nice peice on Pollen's book and the modern organic food industry.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newyorker.com/critics/atlarge/articles/060515crat_atlarge
Yeah, that article in the New Yorker is, I think, an exerpt from Pollan's book. It's been getting considerable press.
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