Entry #7, Fresh
Food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity -- These are the main issues that come to mind when I think about the food industry in America. We are living in a time that convenience is a priority, and we often sweep the repercussions under the rug. While most people are educated enough to know that "Big Food" is not sustainable, how many are actually putting in the effort to make a change?
In Ana Sofia Joanes's documentary "Fresh," a handful of revolutionary entrepreneurs get the spotlight, and an opportunity to share what they are doing to remedy the harm caused by industrialized agriculture. These activists range from sustainable farmers to locally sourced grocers, all of whom are having a positive impact on the environment, community, and economy. Joanes's documentary lends an air of optimism to consumers who feel a lack of self-efficacy, and giving hope that we are actually able to make a difference.
Although many of the people featured in this film made notable contributions to Joanes's point, one agricultural activist particularly resonated with me: Will Allen. Known as an urban farmer, he created an organization in Milwaukee called Growing Power. His vision to create a nonprofit farm in the heart of the city had wonderful impacts on the urban community. Will Allen focuses on educating people about what sustainability truly means, and he even lets people take home some of his precious worms in the hopes of creating cyclical and ecological gardens in their homes. Seeing someone like Will Allen, truly generous and community-driven, gives me hope that we can make the necessary changes to repair the damages inflicted by Big Agriculture.
Most people are aware of the basic issues in our consumer culture. Due to our modern "on-the-go" lifestyles, we want our food quick and cheap. But do we really stop to consider the dangers of monocultures? What about the workers who are exploited by factory farms? How much longer can the environment hang on while we pump harmful gasses and toxic waste into the air, water, and soil? This is an enormous issue that we are facing today, and the only ones with the power to make a change are us, the consumers. Have you ever heard the phrase, "vote with your dollar?" By choosing to buy food that is locally sourced and sustainably produced, each and every one of us can make a statement that becomes a movement, and eventually "Big Food" will go back into the hands of family farms and local grow-ops.
Nice take on the film I was also impressed by will. I was also interested in the guy who parents bought a farm in bad condition and he kept the farm teaching multiple generations to his family. I find all this fascinating, yet my mind can't get passed is it truly do-able. I have seen some of the community gardens, but it seems so small compared everything else. including affordability. I have always wanted to farm living on a farm when I did a stint in a Childrens home I loved cutting the grass and the animals and would want to do it again but financially it seems completely out of reach.
ReplyDeleteA great, thought-provoking reflection on the state of our food industry. Like yourself and Abril, I too found Will Allen to be inspiring by leading the charge for positive change. I agree that the choices we make at the grocery store have far-reaching implications for our health, communities, and planet. I like your call to action to "vote with your dollar" as it reminds us that our individual decisions shape the future of our food system. This is a great take on the film and a great blog as always Kamran, keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteHi Kaman! I enjoyed reading your blog. I liked how you inserted the full movie. This gives the readers a chance to watch the film and go along with your blog. I also found Will Allen very inspiring. Overall, keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteWill Allen is inspiring and seemed to have a strong impact on many of the students in our course.
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