Chapter 9 entitled "Big Organic" by Michael Pollan is about his story of following the packaged foods from Whole Foods back to where they came from. It also discusses the truth about industrial organics. The big time organics have sold themselves to the industrial system. Pollan says the organic movement was founded on three methods of production, alternative systems of distribution, and alternative methods of consumption.
Gene Kahn, the original owner of Cascadian Farms, now a completely owned subsidiary of General Mills says, " You have a choice of getting sad about all that or moving on. We tried hard to build a cooperative community and a local food system, but at the end of the day it wasn't successful. This is just lunch for most people. Just lunch. We can call it sacred, we can talk about communion, but it's just lunch." This man lost his farm which is very sad. People talked of eating organics in 1990 but they never bought organic. After he lost everything he joined the industrial business. However, the whole problem cannot be blamed completely on the farmers. The people are a big part of the blame as well. If small sustainable agriculture is not supported then they will be forced to sell out or will eventually end up broke and go under.
This chapter was by far one of the more interesting ones I have read so far in the Omnivore's Dilemma. Pollan made some points that really made me think about what I am eating. My family along with me are health conscious and organic foods are definately more expensive. Some of Pollan's ideas make me re-think my shopping habits and if what I am eating is the best or healthiest choice for me.
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I also thought this chapter was really interesting. I found it intriguing the way Pollan traced organic foods to where they came from. I think eating organically is a healthy way of consuming foods. There is no way that pesticides can be healthy for anyone. I think the most important method of production that the organic movement was founded on is alternative methods of consumption.
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