April 18, 2011
Intended as a practical guide for community food activists who want to take the locavore movement across race, class, and city lines, this book illuminate ways in which consumers can become "engaged citizens." Especially important (and rare) is Hesterman's willingness to work constructively with corporate giants like Costco and the Kellogg Foundation. Given the current abundance of food writing that argues for a sustainable revolution, it's understandable that Hesterman (founder of the Fair Food Network) occasionally feels the need to justify his work. However, intermittent jabs he employs in order to distance himself from Michael Pollan read like sour grapesâespecially if the whole point is that we have to work together. Ultimately, though, each chapter provides methodical and thoughtful instructions for shifting how we eat along every step of every food chain from institutional kitchens (like college cafeterias) to public policy. The dedication to social justice is clear, genuine, and logically argued as a food issue. A helpful and hefty final chapter of "Resources" provides readers with a comprehensive national listing of organizations to join, support, or replicate.
May 15, 2011
A look at how food gets to the dinner table and suggestions for how it can be done better.
Many Americans take for granted their regular trips to the grocery store. Shoppers may not be aware that 80 percent of the country's meat originates from four suppliers. In fact, they may not know that there are areas in the inner cities of America where grocery stores do not even exist. Hesterman, a longtime advocate of sustainable agriculture and the founder of Fair Food Network, writes that our food system is broken and will not be able to continue supporting the world population for much longer. The author's deft explanation of our current cultivation and consumption of food should have families moving away from their supermarket aisles and into farmers' markets and community-supported agriculture programs. Hesterman urges much-needed change on the federal level, as well: "Moving from conscious consumers in our own homes to engaged citizens in our communities is the next step but...no matter how many of us decide to do this, the changes necessary to bring balance back into our food system will not happen without changes in public policy." Guides and resources are included to help the average consumer source food locally, and the author also includes a breakdown of federal legislation and how it should be amended.
A thorough, inspiring guide on how to restructure the food system for a long and healthy future, for consumers and legislators alike.
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