HW 7B

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan   Chapter 6: The Consumer A Republic of Fat

     Precis: Back in the 19th century the only way to get rid of all the corn surplus was to make an enormous amount of very cheap corn whiskey and sell it to customers. As expected an obesity epidemic took hold of the consumers. However, the top food corporations still rule over the people as long as they continue to have cheap super sized meals which they stuff all their corn in. 

Gems: " While the surgeon general is raising alarms over the epidemic of obesity, the president is signing farm bills designed to keep the river of cheap corn flowing, guaranteeing that the cheapest calories in the supermarket will continue to be the unhealthiest.( Pollan 108)

Thoughts:  After reading I wondered to myself why do the companies have to be cheap and feed us unhealthy products can't they just pay more and charge more. While this seems like a good idea, this is a business strategy. Quite a good one if I may say so myself. It would even be a bit hypocritical for me to be upset with them, if I  were put in the same shoes a these business men I would do the same thing. As much as I hate to say that it's true for me. Now ask yourself what would you do?

Chapter 7: The Meal

     Precis: The way our western world seems to work is convenient for food. For example cars 19% of meals are eaten in the car. The car comes equipped with cup holders, front seat and rear seats. To top this all off you can order, pay for, and pick up your food without even opening your car door. Thats the 21st century for you. You can  even eat with one hand hence the chicken nugget. This is pure genius you no longer need a fork and plate which makes more convenient, and automobile friendly. If you live 21st century New York City convenience is how we usually live.

     Gems: The marketers have a term for what a salad or veggie burger does for a fast food chain:" denying the denier." These healthier menu items hand the child who wants to eat fast food a sharp tool with which to chip away at his parents objections." But Mom, you can get the salad..." ( Pollan110)

    Thoughts: Fast food strategies have changed greatly over time some for better some for worse. However,what always seems to remain is the idea to make the consumers life easier, whether its eating without a plate( hence the precondimented burger). Apparently fast food has become a comfort food which supplies nostalgia, carbohydrates, and fat(just great). Scientist now claim relieves stress, and bathes the brain in chemicals that make it feel good.

Chapter 8: All Fresh Is Grass

Precis:  Joel Salatin is one of a few farmers in America that has a true organic farm. Every organism plays their role in the farm and benefits it in their own way. Whether it's the grass, or the birds, or the chickens they each contribute. Many farms claim to be organic(obviously not this one) while not being organic, since they don't ever change their industrial methods.

Gems: They'd arrived by Eggmobile, a ramshackle portable hen house designed and built by Salatin. Why chickens? " Because that's how it works in nature," Salatin explained. " Birds follow and clean up after herbivores."(Pollan 126)

Thoughts: I think Mr. Salatin is doing an amazing job on his farm. He is very productive which I think is good . In this chapter it mentioned how by the end of the season Salatin's grasses will have been transformed by his animals into 40,000 pounds of beef, 30,000 pounds of pork, 10,000 broilers, 1,200 turkeys, 1,000 rabbits, and 35,000 dozen eggs. Pretty impressive if I must say so myself.

Chapter 9: Big Organic

Precis: How you label certain foods can really appeal to people. A good old certified label tells the consumer a little about how a particular food was produced, this can mean no harmful pesticides or no growth hormones.  Organic is a very powerful word, with no interfering from the government, farmers and consumers work together and have built a 11 billion industry, which has become the fastest growing industry sector of the food economy.

Gems: "The bare bones information travels in both directions, of course, and farmers who get the message that consumers care only about price will themselves care only about yield. This is how a cheap food economy reinforces itself."( Pollan 136)

Thoughts: I think farmers succeeded in creating the new food chain on their farms; the only problem with this is that they have to live up to the expectations of supermarkets.Nature can't seem to be the logic of capitalism, which  cheap energy is always there to support.

Chapter 10: Grass

Precis: A week was spent at Joel Salantin's home, to educate myself and assist with his grass farming work. Grass farming isn't just about grass. it's much more than that it involves making hay, nurturing cattle and chickens, and growing vegetables without any pesticides or chemicals that could be hazardous. While at this farm I learned that the most productive way to obtain energy for our bodies is by eating a plant, or an animal that has already eaten a plant. Salantins farm seemed to be farm from a industrial farm which is good in my opinion. Industrial farming is just so cheap and convenient( what our society seems to be based upon). However, Salantin did not fall victim to this and continues to not have an industrial farm.

Gems:" The animals come and go, but the grasses, which indirectly or directly feed all the animals, abide, and the well-being of the farm depends more than anything else on the well-being of its grass"(Pollan 187).

     "One of the principles of modern grass farming is that to the greatest extent possible farmers should rely on the contemporary energy of the sun, as captured every day by photosynthesis, instead of the fossilized sun energy contained in petroleum''(Pollan 188).

Thoughts:Salantins farm was very different than the ones that I see on TV. Although I never knew there were two different types of farms(organic vs industrial) I thought they were both good because heck its a farm. I was obviously wrong and this is why I enjoy reading this book, because it takes these complicated and weird ideas and shows me the pros and cons( very important part) and allows me to judge again.