Quick: What movie are you most looking forward to seeing this summer? I’m going to guess that a few of you threw out some Terminator and Transformers. Perhaps those with kids came up with Up or Night at the Museum 2. And for those foodies out there I’ll bet Julie & Julia was in the forefront of your mind. I don’t blame you, all of those movies look great. But there’s one movie coming out in the summer of 2009 that will be derided, ignored, and receive the longest list of excuses for not seeing or caring about.
Food, Inc will get lauded by the Alice Waters’ of the world, and ignored by you. We’ve gone far beyond saying people have to take personal responsibility when it comes to eating food that is actually good for you. Hell, the vast majority of people in America barely eat anything that is actual food. Food like substances is what makes up the American diet. Items designed to satisfy you immediately, make you happy, and even to make you addicted. When you eat this horrible food you almost always feel a sense of euphoria. Your brain is getting the glucose it wants in vast quantities, and so you are happy. But make no mistake: you’re not eating food.
I’m honestly flabbergasted at this point with the food industry and what it’s doing to our country. I cannot believe that schools allow snack cakes and prepackaged boxed foods with a list of 28 ingredients to ever hit the cafeteria. It costs the same, and often times a little less, for a school to utilize a lunch program based on whole foods. Foods that are cooked by those lovely lunch ladies who have become shovelers of sugar and fat for our kids.
Below is the first trailer for Food, Inc. And if you want to know how the country is going to react just read what Munch Monster co-owner, and Cinema Blend Head Honcho, Josh Tyler says on the subject. The sad thing is that in terms of produce it’s not really true. As long as you buy local you can eat great food cheap. The problem is those organic labels and year round produce at grocery stores come with a heavy price. But ask yourself this: If asparagus is not in season where you are in the middle of November, how did it get into the produce department? It got there by being shipped, and you’re paying for that extra cost.
Ask any farmer in this country if they can provide you with a cheaper food source and you’ll get a nearly uniform yes, provided you’re willing to buy from them. If you support the local farmer, they’ll in turn support you. As the trailer for Food, Inc says, “You have the power.”
