Fascinating piece on the future of groceries frmo Dwell—though I’d recommend that Dara O’Rourke try thinking about how many families making under $35,000 a year—the US’ fastest-growing market segment—are likely to be walking around with “supercomputers in their pocket.” Just because I, and all the other urban, hyper-educated folks I am friends with, have a Blackberry/iPhone/Droid doesnt mean most of America does.
No surprise to hear that eating sustainably is expensive—probably too much so for most folks—but nice to see the Atlantic’s food channel making the point. Price is probably the biggest reason that sustainable food gets flagged as elitist, of course—particularly because higher food prices seem to be about the only solution being proffered, usually by university professors and bestselling authors who have plenty disposable income to move around. It would be awfully nice for someone to notice that it doesn’t matter if pricier food is “worth” the extra expense when you don’t have the resources to make that choice.
Grocery auctions? This is a new one for me, but since there is one in Michigan, I think I might have to go to one.
Note that the critique in this piece—that such venues might not be particularly adept at keeping food fresh—is somewhat self-serving, as it comes from a supermarket industry pundit. (Yes, there are such things.) That said, he could well be right.
How do I love thee, Adam Drenowski:
The problem is that the fiscal policies of the last two decades have created a permanent underclass that has become obese and diabetic. The only way out of this is to promote jobs, education and yes, health reform. Larger portions of broccoli are not going to do it on their own.
Or perhaps it was Tom Laskawy, of Grist.org:
Why, then, the furor over reform proposals that would allow the food stamp program to favor — even subsidize — the purchase of healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables over snacks and soda?
Could this controversy result from a belief on the part of pundits and policy makers that being poor in America means acquiescing quietly to a substandard diet? Healthy foods, in this line of reasoning, are a luxury that should be reserved for those who can afford them.
