Is it even a tomato anymore?

In Chapter 1, Across Space and through Time: Tomatl meets the corporate tomato, we follow the process of production, distribution, and consumption of tomatoes.  Two journeys are explained: the Tomatl, indigenously produced by Mexican families, and the corporate tomato, mass produced and shipped internationally.  Much like examples in the article by George Ritzer, McDonaldization of Society, the production of tomatoes has become “rationalized.”  The system is completely based on efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control.

The corporate tomato is planted and picked by hand by Mexican workers that make less than a U.S. hour wage for a whole day of work.  The tomatoes are then selected and graded to ensure all the best are going north, leaving the rejects for sale in Mexico.  Next, the tomatoes and truck drivers enter the battle to get over the border, to enter the United States and continue their travels to the market in Canada.  After countless quality checks and truck checks, the shipment will finally be passed to continue.  Getting into Canada is much easier, but again quality is checked.

Now selected based almost entirely on appearance, these tomatoes have been completely changed from their original indigenous form.  The tasty and local food for Mexicans has now totally changed lifestyles, and is not the fruit it used to be.  The new varieties are owned by companies, and is would be hard to come by the original wild tomatoes of Mexico.  Full Mexican families work all day in the fields and factories planting and selecting tomatoes, then must do what they can to have their own land to farm for their own livelihood.

It is incredible to think that every tomato we see has gone through this extensive process.  Every day in every dining hall, restaurant, and grocery store, there are piles and piles of tomatoes.  The quality is top notch here in the U.S. just because we send our rejects straight back to the people who work so hard to produce them.  It does not seem fair, but we want our cheap prices, and yearlong tomato supply, so there is no way around it.

It’s amazing how many chemicals are used, and is clear why winter tomatoes taste so much worse than summer, local, fresh ones.  They are artificially refrigerated, ripened, and glossed to look perfect, but truly they are just a creation to fill the vacancy.

It was funny to hear that McDonald’s purposefully chooses the tomatoes that look best, even if they have no taste.  Clearly, this industry is skewed for certain parameters, and not necessarily the one’s we expect or hope for.

Do you think if people knew the great lengths it takes to get these tomatoes, they would be willing to accept tomatoes as a summer fruit, not year-round?

Do you have a problem with the fact that there is this much industry behind a tomato?

Do you think the Mexican workers are glad for the work?  Or is it their only option now?

At least it looks like a tomato!

Does Thin = Morally Superior?

Are thin people better, more self-controlled people?  In her article, Can’t Stomach It, Julie Guthman points out the situations in which writers like Michael Pollan alienate and degrade fat people.  These authors point out the dilemma of our unavoidable, instinctive desire for sweets and fats.   Pollan states “if food is abundant and cheap, people will eat more of it and get fat.”  If this claim is true though, why isn’t everyone overweight?  Given our oversupply of food and subsidies that keep prices low, we all have the option to indulge endlessly on this abundant and cheap food.  Not everyone is fat though, which is where his argument goes wrong.  Somehow, Pollan himself along with many other people in this world are able to live above their own unavoidable instincts.  Guthman explains that writers like Pollan feel as though they are “morally superior” to fat people.  By their great self-control, they can fight their desires and do what is “right,” by eating the right food, in the right portions, from the right sources, to stay the right size.

By claiming to have all the answers for other people who can’t seem to control themselves, aka fat people, Pollan and other writers like him put themselves above others.  They create the idea that being fat is shameful and pitiful, and that we should simply feel bad for the fat people who couldn’t hold back from their animal desires.  There are many other aspects to this situation though, which Pollan and other writers do not acknowledge, such as availability and price of the “right” food.

While I read Pollan’s articles and book, I was swept up in his smooth and intriguing writing, and he was easily able to mind wash me into believing him and agreeing with his claims.  It is a very valid point though that he seems to hold himself morally above others.  While, sure, some fat people are just overindulging upper-class people who have every option to change their eating habits, I think it is fair to say that most fat people are of a low class.  This makes it again easy for Pollan to look down on these people, but it is not fair.  The food that Pollan recommends for the betterment of this issue is not available to the people who need it most.  People do not necessarily choose to consume only fast food, and they may have all the self-control necessary to eat food like vegetables instead of fast food if offered, but this option may just not be there.  It is an unfair assumption that all people are fat simply because they do not have the self-control to fight their animal instincts. 

Do you think that if healthy foods were available and cheap for everyone our society would be less obese?

How could we make this happen with our food industry already so solidified as segregated?

Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

            In chapters 5 and 6 of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Pollan exposes some of the tactics used by corporations in the food industry.  Corporations manipulate us into buying into their systems.  They manufacture the crops available (mostly corn) into irresistible delights.  And it turns out we innocently love this.  Humans are wired to crave and go crazy for fat and sugar, as well as overindulge in food when we are presented with large portions.  This is because when food is scarce, it is necessary to stock fat in our bodies for fuel when food is unavailable.  The corporations know this, and we accept it whether we know it or not.  And when offered these items for cheap, we can’t help but satisfy our cravings. 

In chapter 5, Pollan compares the situation in 1820 and to our dilemma today.  In 1820, corn whiskey was available and cheap, and due to the natural human desire for intoxication, people couldn’t help but overindulge frequently.  Nowadays, sweets and fats are overabundant and inexpensive, so we all eat these treats readily, in the same way we used to consume alcohol.  And while we are continually warned of our overconsumption and the dangers of obesity, the government continues to subsidize corn, the leading provider of our cheap, abundant calories in the form of high fructose corn syrup and countless other additives.

While it is an extremely smart business technique to push our evolutionary buttons, I can’t help but feel somewhat used and abused.  Human bodies are not evolved for the types of food we provide for ourselves today.  I think it is safe to declare that it would be impossible to find anything in nature that is as sweet as candy.  It is fairly strange if you step back and think about what we are giving ourselves.  We have endless calories at hand, and it doesn’t take but a phone call to get those calories in our hands (thanks to the luxury of delivery).  But should we really be giving ourselves these treats?  I have never been one to believe in dieting, maybe some people have the power, but I have strong instincts and they tell me to eat that sugar and fat, and love it too.  Yes, we are all subject to manipulation from these corporations, and we will continue to willingly comply.  Not only that, but we will appreciate when these corporations provide us with just a little extra of these endless calories, feeling great as we snag a deal, when, in fact, we are again being used, this time to consume the extra calories on the market.

Clearly there is a change in the food we intake from our early ancestors, but would it be healthy to eat as they did?

Do you think if someone had never eaten anything as sweet as candy, they would never crave that ultimate level of sweetness?

Should we fight this manipulation, or do we just go with it and eat everything in moderation as is now recommended?