Food Ethics

Each of these pieces focuses in some way on the moral implications underlying food as a social phenomenon. In his piece “The pleasures of Eating” author Wendell Berry addresses the necessity of “eat[ing] responsibly” (64). His reasoning behind this edict holds his audience responsible for the “machines, drugs and chemicals” (67) which come into the world as a result of their “agricultural act[s]” (67). In this way, his rhetoric establishes a direct chain of responsibility from consumer to corrupt agricultural practice.

Following a similar theme, authors Dhruv Khullar and James Surowiecki focus on the importance of government intervention in the establishment of more ethical practices surrounding food. In his piece “Why Shame Won’t Stop Obesity” Khullar argues that an unhealthy “food environment” (128) created by overzealous advertisers is a primary cause of obesity. He argues that “public and political pressure” (129) is needed to curtail the phenomenon. Focusing on a similar issue, Surowiecki speaks about the “role of government” (123) in protecting people from unhealthy food choices. The community based rhetoric of both authors emphasizes their ethical support for regulation in the food industry.

“Grocery Gaps” “Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear” and “Soy Imperialism and the Destruction of Local Food Cultures” all focus on corporate entities and the ethical implications of their control over food production and distribution. In the first piece, “Grocery Gaps” the failure of the corporate sector to provide food to people living in low income neighborhoods is made abundantly clear. The author establishes that the promises of big grocery chains have “turned out to be hollow” (40). This author also draws attention to the fact that the “market penetration of fast food venders” (43) has created “food swamps” (42). Author Vandana Shiva picks up on this gloomy rhetoric as she elaborates on how companies, intent on selling soy products, have limited the availability of “culturally appropriate food” (143). Finally, authors Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele pick up on this gloomy theme of corporate impropriety in their piece “Monsanto’s harvest of fear.”  Using headers such as “Under Surveillance” (135) and “Control of Nature” (133) Barlett and Steele describe a corporate giant intent on crushing anything obstructing its path to higher profits. All of these pieces use rhetoric to expose a common theme of impropriety in the business of food.

These pieces make it clear that food matters because it is an industry and a community. By addressing the consumer’s role in food ethics, Wendell Berry draws attention to the importance of personal choices surrounding food. Dhruv Khullar and James Surowiecki argue that we need to address problems in the food industry collectively, and the rest of the authors and pieces I mentioned discuss those problems as they relate to corporate entities. In any case, these pieces contribute to an understanding of how and why food matters by focusing on all of the broad components and problems in our current system of food distribution and production.

FEAST Continued

Continuing my work with FEAST, I have had the distinct honor of meeting with their board of directors personally. We enjoyed dinner at the Universal Joint in West Asheville and discussed various points of import concerning the onset of spring. I received further clarity on the six month social media plan I have been involved with creating, and discussed my work to this point.

FEAST has given me a great deal of autonomy in working with them. Although their expectations for my final work are clear, how I produce the work is left to my own discretion. This has encouraged me to consider how I use my time, and how I could be more efficient. It has also taught me to judge my own work, as I have few opportunities for feedback before my pieces are requested for submission.

Working with FEAST has challenged me to take strides in becoming more mobile within, and aware of, the community in which I live. I had to find transportation in order to attend the meeting with FEAST mentioned above. Finding a way to provide for this need taught me one way in which I can be more self-reliant. Eating dinner at the Universal Joint exposed me to a new restaurant in the Asheville area. Experiencing this increased my knowledge about food in Asheville.

By meeting with FEAST’s high command, I was able to get a glimpse into the politics behind how this organization functions. I was able to witness the decision making techniques employed by those I’ve been directed by. In witnessing their disagreements I saw first hand the approach they use to run the organization, which is based on the presentation of facts and objective resolution.

I hope that my status in good standing with FEAST will allow me to attend more events in the community such as this one. I have a great deal of respect for the institutional body underlying FEAST, and I hope to continue being a significant part of its discourse. Providing my input in this way, I hope to expand the sphere of FEAST’s influence in Western North Carolina.