Berry, W. (1990). The Pleasures of Eating. In What are People for? North Point Press
In The Pleasures of Eating, Wendell Berry describes eating as an agricultural act. He talks about how eating is the end product of the food chain so to speak. If eating is the end, the beginning must start with planting seeds and the birth of animals. But most people don't regard eating in this manner and as such, have become passive consumers, victims per se. The food industry also has a way of wiring our minds to buy what we're told to buy through glorious marketing campaigns. We never seem to ask the questions how fresh is the food?, how sanitary is it?, is it chemical free?, and also, is the product really cost effective? Berry asks these questions to not only open our eyes, but to inform us and help us see how food industrialists have "persuaded millions of consumers to prefer food that is already prepared."
Berry goes on to say that there's a disconnection between consumers and their food, and the food industry likes it that way. They don't want us knowledgeable or asking pertinent questions regarding food safety. It's because knowledge is power, and if everyone was more knowledgeable, then they would have the power to make changes regarding how food is produced and consumed. The food industry likes to keep us in the dark about their real fears. Oh not fears about the "quality and health, but volume and price." You know what they say, bigger is better, and what could be better than a bigger profit. The food industry feels the same way. Berry says we can change things by "restoring one's consciousness of what is involved in eating by reclaiming responsibility for one's own part in the food economy." We should start growing our own food again as in days gone by, when we knew the soil was rich and healthy, and the food was not penetrated with toxins and pesticides. He ends with how the eating experience should be a pleasurable one. Just knowing your garden is safe and healthy will give freedom of worry to the eater
In The Pleasures of Eating, Wendell Berry describes eating as an agricultural act. He talks about how eating is the end product of the food chain so to speak. If eating is the end, the beginning must start with planting seeds and the birth of animals. But most people don't regard eating in this manner and as such, have become passive consumers, victims per se. The food industry also has a way of wiring our minds to buy what we're told to buy through glorious marketing campaigns. We never seem to ask the questions how fresh is the food?, how sanitary is it?, is it chemical free?, and also, is the product really cost effective? Berry asks these questions to not only open our eyes, but to inform us and help us see how food industrialists have "persuaded millions of consumers to prefer food that is already prepared."
Berry goes on to say that there's a disconnection between consumers and their food, and the food industry likes it that way. They don't want us knowledgeable or asking pertinent questions regarding food safety. It's because knowledge is power, and if everyone was more knowledgeable, then they would have the power to make changes regarding how food is produced and consumed. The food industry likes to keep us in the dark about their real fears. Oh not fears about the "quality and health, but volume and price." You know what they say, bigger is better, and what could be better than a bigger profit. The food industry feels the same way. Berry says we can change things by "restoring one's consciousness of what is involved in eating by reclaiming responsibility for one's own part in the food economy." We should start growing our own food again as in days gone by, when we knew the soil was rich and healthy, and the food was not penetrated with toxins and pesticides. He ends with how the eating experience should be a pleasurable one. Just knowing your garden is safe and healthy will give freedom of worry to the eater
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