Mary Hendrickson wrote:
> Dale and Douglas:
>
> If you want to live in the international trade world
You're offering me a choice?
> and think farmers and rural communities around the world can survive and
> prosper in that
> context, fine.
First of all, do you mean can or do you mean have to?Secondly, do you mean
in general? I don't think it works that way. On what basis are you
generalizing? Some farmers are better off protected from imports, while
others are hurt by closed markets.
It's clear that you have no idea of what I personally do - Among other
things, I organize and arrange funding for sustainable agricultural
projects. I also arrange direct sales contracts which provide a better deal
for farmers, rather than a chain of intermediaries. You're addressing a
situation you mostly ignore on the basis of too many unquestioned
assumptions. I made a legitimate request for information which is getting
sidetracked by irrelevant (to me and to my request) and mistaken
assumptions.
> A few of them can, and some farmers and communities are
> doing wonderfully in the dominant food system.
The dominant food system? You mean the digestive tract.
I personally eat local food. Which do you think is more local - Hawaii,
Costa Rica or Oaxaca, Mexico?
> I'm glad, however, that
> people like Misha can take your "constructive" criticism, Douglas, and
> not be fazed by it.
Mishas is not fazed by my "constructive" criticism for 3 reasons:
She is a mature and thoughtful person.
She knows I like her.
She knows I'm right, in this instance.
> For many of the people I work with in both inner
> cities and rural areas, the global organization of the food and
> agriculture system has done nothing but take away their livelihoods and
> their access to good wholesome food. Don't call Misha and others like
> us some "ivory tower" academics because believe me we are out there
> working with farmers and consumers every single day, and we are trying
> to understand what works and what doesn't work.
I would never think of calling either Misha or Mary "ivory tower" academics
because I know that both of you are out there working with farmers and
consumers every single day, trying
to understand what works and what doesn't work. On the other hand, the
particular comments I referred to showed a distance from the issue as I saw
and still see it.
The context was the need to grow pineapple using technology coherant with
organic principles, in order to provide a better product and (obviously), do
it in a way that is at the same time economically viable for the farmer.
(That was the context. Now think a bit about your opening statement. Where
are you coming from)?
The seasonality issue was later raised in a manner that largely ignores the
above. Seasonality is not a problem for some items, for others, it is. For
people who want to grow pineapple for their own use, a time frame as limited
as is that in which pineapple flowers naturally may not be a problem.
However, a lot of people´s livlihood and futures are at stake and unless
forcing floration can be shown to produce demonstrably bad results (as I
have found forcing ripening does), I am inclined to consider it as a perhaps
imperfect but still viable option.
I think the solution to this matter is to invite both of you down to visit
some time. As of right now I can assure both of you of my unwavering
loyalty to each of you; as professionals, as developed human beings and as
women. What do you say! When can we do that? Just tell me when and where
to pick you up. I like both of you. Let's change the food system together.
(But we still have to send Dale pineapple 6 months a year). Nothing follows.
> Seasonality can be an important function in reestablishing
> community-based food systems. It can help people get in touch with how
> a basic necessity of life is produced and consumed. It can help farmers
> in places like the Midwest compete within a global food system that
> externalizes environmental and social costs of year-round production.
> It can help farmers and eaters build the ties that make communities
> vital, vibrant, and viable. Of course, seasonality isn't the only
> thing, but rather a part of revisioning and reestablishing what a food
> system rooted in place and community can be. If you think that's pie in
> the sky, fine. However, don't tell that to the farmers, rural
> communities, and eaters in both rural and urban areas that are seeking
> to change the food system and being successful. If you want to know how
> successful these endeavors can be -- in terms of quality of life as well
> as economic viability -- you can ask people in the Iowa Network for
> Community Agriculture, the Kansas City Food Circle, the MACSAC
> coalition, the Just Food organization in New York City and on and on.
> Or ask the individual farmers and eaters who are involved in these
> projects. And don't tell me these alternatives are so small they are
> insignificant. They are very significant for the people who are
> participating in them and we are learning every day what kinds of
> alternatives to a dominant system work and what kinds don't do as well.
> That's not ivory tower -- that's action at the local level.
>
> Mary
>
> --
> Mary Hendrickson, Ph.D.
> Network Coordinator
> Food Circles Networking Project
> University of Missouri Outreach and Extension
> Department of Rural Sociology
> Columbia, MO 65211
>
> Tele: 573-882-7463
> Fax: 573-882-1473
>
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--Douglas M. Hinds, Director General Centro para el Desarrollo Comunitario y Rural A.C. (CeDeCoR) (Center for Community and Rural Development) - (non profit) Petronilo Lopez No. 73 (Street Address) Apdo. Postal No. 61 (Mailing Address) Cd. Guzman, Jalisco 49000 MEXICO U.S. Voice Mailbox: 1 630 300 0550 (e-mail linked) U.S. Fax Mailbox: 1 630 300 0555 (e-mail linked) Tel. & Fax: 011 523 412 6308 (direct) e-mail: dmhinds@acnet.net, cedecor@acnet.net, cedecor@ipnet.com.mx
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