My take on the common theme that is expressed in this thread, in different
ways, is that as the "organic industry" has moved more and more into the
mainstream, including acceptance of conventional (exploitive) business
organization and relationship models, the *important* work of changing the
food system on a more fundamental level still requires our attention.
This goal and the legitimation of the organic label in the federal
government are not mutually exclusive--personaly I see the latter as one
step that could (if done right--this is of course the kicker) move things
in the right direction on several levels. My recent experience visiting
Cuba with the Food First sustainable ag delegation confirmed that sense of
how quickly positive things can happen when "the establishment" gets behind
it (and this is not a blanket endorsement of everything the Cuban govt may
do!).
I have long argued that the more radical grassroots folks should let go of
the bureaucratic business of regulating the organic label, which the govt
is much better at (without abandoning citizen participation & oversight of
"our" bureaucrats), and put that energy into the kinds of projects that
many of you point out are of greater import to the bigger picture (e.g.
fair trade, local economies, health, to name a few).
The subject is far from exhausted--lets keep at it!
Happy Spring,
Grace Gershuny
At 01:17 PM 3/20/00 -0600, Mary Hendrickson wrote:
> Hi all, I would like to reply to a couple of threads discussed in the
>last month. Interesting stuff! YES! it becomes as
>convenient to eat food that supports farmers, workers, communities and the
>nature in which we are embedded as it does to participate in a globalized,
>industrialized food system that is based on returning wealth to corporate
>shareholders. In essence we are replicating the same structure
>of the globalized, industrialized food system in the organic arena.
> But most of all I tell people to GET INVOLVED with their food in any way
>possible! A farmer edition is already available on our website and the
>consumer one will be there by mid-April. Mary
>--
>Mary Hendrickson, Ph.D.
>Food Circles Networking Project
>University of Missouri Outreach and Extension
>106 Sociology
>Columbia, MO 65211 Website: http://www.foodcircles.missouri.edu
>Tele: 573-882-7463
>Fax: 573-882-1473
>
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