The Omnivore s Dilemma We are what we eat

The Omnivore’s Dilemma We are what we eat

Pollan’s Ponder § § § What am I eating tonight? A simple enough question For most of humanity, a simple set of answers § But WHAT am I eating?

Hunting and Gathering § Pretty obvious answers § This animal, that plant § § Seasonal variations Locational variations Nutritionally successful Droughts, winters, occasional disaster

Solar Agriculture § § Seiferle Local crops Local trade Energy balance

Planes, Trains and Automobiles § § § Tractors too Brute force application of energy Plowing Cutting Collecting Irrigating

Now: Pivot systems in Montana

Low Energy Precision Application § For a typical initial cost of $3, 000, a farmer can convert an existing mediumor high-pressure pivot system to a LEPA system. § Using these rates, the estimated cost savings in electricity is estimated to $476 per year § IRR of 14. 9%. § Does NOT include water savings

My Grandfather’s Century § An interesting chapter about how lives changed during his life. § What about food in mine?

Growing up in Canada § § § § Summer garden Winter root cellar Farmer’s stands Canned vegetables Fresh and local dairy Meat was special GREAT apples

On The Island § § § § Shopping centers Grocery stores Mom housekept Dad worked NEVER touch the water Regular electricity blackouts Regular snow ins § A pantry was vital

On The Lake § § § § Crystal clear water Fresh fish Fresh game Fresh berries Summer garden Farmer’s markets Community corn roasts § Fresh corn, fresh butter, fresh meat

Downtown § § § Montreal, the world’s city Every food from anywhere Farmers’ market at the docks Yeah maple foods French, Jewish, Italian, Polish, German, Indian, Chinese § No chain restaurants; Dunn’s, The Main, Lafleur’s, BUM § Smoked meat, pickles, cole slaw, hotdogs

Home delivery § § The Egg Man Milk and dairy Knife sharpening NOT the Good Humor truck

Playing with Food § Work at 14 § Riding home at 2: 30 am § 11 restaurants 11 closures § Can get work any given day

70’s-80’s § Fake food § Modern chemistry § Truly yucky § Mostly hydrogenated oils § Really horrible stuff, but cheap § Consumer dislike – markets work § Real food producers protest

80’s § § § § Real food Not unusual for a bill to be over $500 Fresh veggies and fruits and dairy Still mostly local except lettuce Great meat Some frozen fish from across the pond No artificial stuff California produce

New Years Dinner § § § § $400 bottle of wine bet Fresh raspberries for dessert Peach Melba Beef Wellington, Veal Saltimbocca, etc $400/couple plus booze. 25 cents per berry From Chile

Grad School Cooking § The real move toward the meat heavy diet. § Fewer grains and veggies § Far more sugar in desserts

Grad School Eating § § § Tired of eating prime rib! Too much red snapper Succulent lamb

A Real Job: Faculty § Boy, did I get fat! § Knowing how to cook, loving to cook and having money § Relearning how to cook § Good Texas fruits and veggies § 192 down to 142

Ignoring Food § Being a junior faculty member § Good cooking, good food, good life § Good restaurants, good food, good life Now the 90’s § But never getting really fat again

More prepared foods § § Some good pastas and sauces Mum’s recipe card from the 60’s! Good frozen veggies Chain restaurants that are not fast food

Meat is a Normal Good § BBQ most nights § Who keeps a Pork Wellington in the freezer? § Becoming American § But cooking healthy and fresh

Class Break

The Industrialized Garden § § Farm Aid 1985 Similar to fisheries Bigger, faster, and cheaper From an ox and a plow to a combine

Corn

We Did Good! Corn data series started 1866 yield/acre year total output year high 160. 4 2004 11, 807, 217 2004 Low 18. 2 1901 730, 814 1866 881% 1616%

Corn Prices

22, 464, 479, 000 lbs in 1988

Market Interferences § § Crop Subsidies Oil subsidies Nonmarket water allocations No internalizations of externalities § Water runoff § Air quality § Carbon emissions § What is the true price

Industrialized Fishing § Pimentel § Industrial deep sea fishing is more energy intensive than in-shore fishing. § § Bigger, cheaper, faster and more Led to fishery management Agriculture involves “private lands” ECO 325

Industrialization of Food § § Obesity is a cause celeb Diabetes is epidemic Nutritional values are questionable Westernized diet= western diseases

Cows, Pigs and Chickens § It sure is cheap § http: //www. ers. usda. gov/publications/ldp/ APR 04/ldpm 11801 r. pdf § Figures 3 -8 § An interesting article http: //www. globalissues. org/Trade. Relate d/Consumption/Beef. asp

Further Market Imperfections § Manure lagoons § Runoff § Odor § What to do with it? § Moral and medical issues § The animals ARE sick § Resistant bugs

The Great Empty Middle

Out of Site Out of Mind § § § Food is cheap Food is fast Food is easy Food is tasty Who cares where it comes from Who cares how it is produced, it has USDA approval

Food Waste § Restaurants § Must hit target table bill § $40 and $25 § Cheap food means large portions § It used to be a doggy bag, not tomorrow’s lunch § Pinky § Garnishes § Leaf lettuce 7, 000 kcal/head § Pickles – recall from chapter 1

Food Waste § Recipe calls for 1 lb, ground beef is in 1. 4 lb packages? ? § Package labeling says 2. 5 servings per package? ? § Next question: what has happened to serving sizes over time?

A Grotesque Example § Walmart Easter Advertising § Our prices are so cheap § You can put MORE candy in your already fat kid’s Easter basket § Your kid will be happier, fatter and better able to play video games - which to can buy at Walmart § M&M’s 2/3 sugar by weight: yummy