the dilemma

Not sure if you've heard about or read The Omnivore's Dilemma; the ideas have been around for a long time, but this book has really brought it into the mainstream (and it'll probably be summed up to some degree by this film.)

The book is split into three parts, the first part speaks out against the practices of industrial agriculture, and the second preaches the benefits of smaller low impact local farming. One major difference between industrial and local agriculture is their source of energy: industrial farming relies heavily on fossil fuel based fertilizers, whereas low impact farming relies on the sun. (Sustainability and nutritional value are two key advantages of using the sun. Yield is the key advantage of using fossil fuels.) The third part of the book goes into how to hunt/gather your own food (I wouldn't blame you for skimming this section)

The author (Michael Pollen) was speaking at a local public library a couple of weeks ago on a Monday at 6pm. I was going to try to get there around 5:45 to make sure I got a seat, but then I saw that his presentation was going to be in the library's auditorium, so I took my time getting there. When I got to the library at 5:55, there was a line of at least 100 people waiting outside. I asked a library employee when they would start letting people in, and she responded by saying that the auditorium was already full, and the people in line were just hoping that someone would come out so they could take their spot.

(needless to say, I didn't get in line)

I recommend the book. It may not change your eating habits right away, but it'll change they way you look at food.

and for an example of the omnivore's dilemma...

On the left, natural maple syrup taken from a tree that got its energy from the sun. Versus a syrup made from corn extracts that got its energy from a fossil fuel based fertilizer.

Note the price difference... there's your dilemma.