October 31, 2007
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About a year ago, I made a very conscious choice to Eat Green. I have always felt strongly about preserving our planet. My father, a chemical engineer and avid nature lover, has spent most of his life actively trying to clean up the mess and waste we have created. He taught me from a young age that this planet is precious. Everyone must take responsibly for his or her actions, especially with regard to the impact we have on the world around us. But it was only recently that I decided to reexamine what I personally can do to tread more lightly on the Earth.
It happened very shortly after the 2006 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Food & Wine decided we needed to do something BIG for the event’s upcoming 25th anniversary, which we celebrated last June. We wanted to create a project that would cause a stir in the industry and, at the same time, make a difference. We realized that after so many years of eating and drinking so well, it was time to give back to those who nourish us. Our editor in chief, Dana Cowin, felt strongly about drawing more attention to the small and mid-size American farmer. After all, it is these hardworking and passionate people who are at risk of losing their livelihoods to industrialization, urban sprawl, and the global market. If we could figure out a way to save some of these farms, we could contribute to helping solve the larger problems that have befallen our planet, including the millions of people in this country who go hungry each day without access to fresh food. In the process we hoped to teach the food and wine community to do the same.
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Comments
Naruv wrote:
Nice blog Gail!
I would point out however that you failed to mention government subsidies. A farmer might only make a few pennies off the market yes, but they make far more than just that.
A farmer who chooses to grow Soy for example can make 50 times more per acre than growing another vegetable. So the government pays them the difference, and asks them to grow X or Y vegetable instead. It's a good system. Unless you want to pay 6 dollars for a head of lettuce. =p
posted on November 5, 2007 at 2:29 PM
Steve wrote:
Gail,
You lost me almost immediately with your claim that millions (millions????) go hungry every day in THIS country. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some almost certainly do go hungry occasionally, but few, if any, go hungry every day. These few also would be less likely to shop at farmer's markets. Remember, we have the fattest poor people in the world. True hunger is found elsewhere and certainly not in the United States.
posted on November 5, 2007 at 3:31 PM
Sharon wrote:
Wow, I learned a lot from this blog. I love produce and now I have better reason to visit my local farm stands. Thank you for your blog.
posted on November 6, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Bilybob wrote:
Buying at farmers' markets is fine and dandy, but those of us in the north central part of the country can only do it for a few short months. What are we supposed to do for the rest of the year?
Seafood where I live consists mainly of the few catfish and bass we can catch ourselves. There isn't a whole lot of commercial fishing done in this part of the country, let alone getting something like fresh crab or scallops.
We have a lot of corn around here, but most of it is now grown to produce bio-fuels. That isn't doing much to satisfy the hunger, is it?
posted on November 6, 2007 at 3:42 PM
FanFare wrote:
Geez, Gail,
It is nice that you promote healthier eating and support of one's local farmer & "farmer's markets". However, you have overlooked the obvious. In many areas of the US, the "green" markets are either unavailable for most or all of the year. In addition, the prices of such items are astronomically expensive.
Do you have any feasible ideas for the average to lower income families (or are they not taken into account)?
posted on November 7, 2007 at 9:19 AM
michael wrote:
Gail, awesome mission statement! :)
I love it and agree with you, your dad and am happy to see that Dana and the magazine is also taking up the cause for a healthier environment while supporting the local farmers.
I think it's a hard thing to think about one's impact on the environment every day of their life, but at least if we know the facts, our decisions can be swayed in the right direction. ;)
posted on November 8, 2007 at 5:28 PM
Michael wrote:
Gail- I love that you are bringing more attention to how we all can positively effect our earth. Yes, maybe you forgot to mention subsidies or what average to lower income families can do to access farmer's markets (aside from going to them,duh). But what some of these comments are missing is that average to lower income families probably aren't reading this blog or Food & Wine magazine. You are speaking to your audience, as you should. I find it a bit unnerving that some people choose to criticize what information you might have left out, other than focusing on the rest of the content. I understand your point, we all need to pitch in to help. It is not always easy, but we should all try our best.
posted on November 12, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Christy Bishop wrote:
I'm happy to see you addressing this here. I am lucky to live in the Pacific Northwest, where we have a temperate enough climate to buy local food a good part of the year, and ready access to vineyards and the ocean. Another issue that relates, but seems rarely talked about in food circles, is that of factory animal farms--wrong on SO MANY levels, from the filth they spew into the air and water, to the utter cruelty to the animals, to the quality of the product these farms produce. Stressed, miserable cows and pigs, treated with drugs and hormones, can hardly become wholesome food, can they? And do we really want this kind of cruelty done in the cause of eating, in any case? Certainly not in a country with the resources we have. Anyway, it's a concern to many of us, and it's an issue that I would love to see Food and Wine and Top Chef address in the future.
posted on November 14, 2007 at 5:14 PM
Laura wrote:
Gail, thank you for bringing attention to the fact that people do go hungry here. Try telling the children who get their two meals a day at the school they attend that no one goes hungry in this country.
Also don't forget that a lot of our food is picked by people who are here illegally. We have no choice, unless Americans are willing to pay $6/head for lettuce so farmers can afford to pay workers minimum wage to pick the lettuce it is a system that keeps reinforcing itself. Farmers have tons of expenses too, feed (depending on the product they are producing), fuel, workers salaries, food for their families, heat, electricity, water, mortgages on their farms and homes. This list is endless and something that most people don't stop and think about. I would not protest paying $5/gallon for milk if I knew that the money was going back to the farmer. However that money goes to profit for the store, profit for the shipper, profit for the bottler and maybe if there is anything left back to the farmer.
People really need to be aware of where their food comes from. Take Gail's suggestion next time you pick up a package turn it over and see where that food was grown or raised.
posted on November 15, 2007 at 4:34 PM
adina wrote:
gail,
can you tell me why hung isn't being featured on food and wine mag, considering that he's the current top chef? i've been excited for the past 8 weeks for your feature on hung but not a trace of him was mentioned. i've been your subscriber for years and has respect for dana, but how come not a line about top chef season 3 was mentioned? is it because the winner was not caucasian? please enlighten us on this.
posted on November 25, 2007 at 8:48 PM
jeremy wrote:
Nice sentiments, Gail, but why on earth don't you mention being vegetarian, or at least cutting down on consumption of meat, as being another huge thing that individuals can do in order to live more sustainably?
Even if they're raised in a humane fashion (most aren't), and if you ignore the impact on water quality and pollutants (you can't really), much of the grain that's grown is to feed livestock instead of people. Think of how much less intensively we'd have to farm, and how many more people could be fed, if most people stopped eating meat or ate it only rarely?
It saddens me to see the consistent attitude from the culinary elite that a fine meal cannot be made without having some type of animal protein as a centerpiece.
posted on November 30, 2007 at 7:40 PM
Sydelle wrote:
Nowhere do you mention the cost to the planet around the production and shipping of meat. It is our ultimate polluter
posted on December 6, 2007 at 2:28 PM
Kelly wrote:
I would like to those who think that lower income families and those living in the Midwest can't find or afford locally grown food. I live in Illinois and make well below $20,000 a year after taxes. About 80% of the food I eat is grown locally. I found a family-run company that buys fruit and vegetables from local farmers, packs an assortment into a box, and delivers it to my house every week. This costs me less than $20 and lasts me the whole week (sometimes with quite a bit left over). In my last delivery (with 5 inches of snow on the ground), I received white potatoes, sweet potatoes, radishes, beets, spinach, onions, and apples. I supplement this with rice, beans, and pasta from the supermarket. It's not difficult or complicated and is absolutely no strain on my wallet. Plus, because nothing has to travel very far to get to me, all of the fruits and vegetables stay fresh much longer than supermarket vegetables. I never have to throw out anything, which also saves money.
posted on December 8, 2007 at 6:24 PM
Gary Wells wrote:
Gail, impressive article.Although as I have not made that step,I fully understand your veiwpoint. I was disappointed in your Christmas program, I am sorry to say. I am not there to taste the food,but I think there were better chefs to invite back. Maybe they were busy or actually working. I do not want to really put anyone down, but CJ, Josie and Sandee suprised me.I think I would have preferred a major poork dish by Howie, Casey's fine cooking ,and Brian. Tre's Head got too big from E-mails and Stephanie still probobly would not be able to keep good staff. Once a bitch always a bitch.
posted on December 14, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Rob wrote:
Gail, I don't have much to add that hasn't been mentioned above but I wanted to post my appreciation for your blog. I agree with all that you said and look forward to future blogs and shows relating to this topic.
posted on December 19, 2007 at 5:39 PM
DKP wrote:
The Top Chef Christmas Special was a good one! The contestants were fun spirited this time around! What a blend of pesonalitys! The only thing I would have done differently was to eliminate before cooking the next round like it was usually done! Instead of standing with food in hand never to be sampled. And what if it wasn't chosen to be used for the finale? The Top Chef panel with 2 guest Chefs would have been just enough for judging. Besides, there were a few Chefs as versatile as they are hardly said but a few words to comment! Anyway, Gail have a safe but filling New Year!!!!
posted on December 26, 2007 at 6:06 PM
Rachel Kate wrote:
Lovely sentiments, Gail, but when will they show up on Top Chef? As an environmentalist foodie, I've been wondering a long time when we'll see vegetarian challenges, or at least more focus on local eating/slow food — not just the tastes, but the whys.
I believe sustainable gourmet is very possible, but I'm still waiting.
posted on January 10, 2008 at 3:56 AM
Nicole Andrews wrote:
Dear Gail,
You are such an awesome judge on Top Chef. I love that show so much and you say the funniest stuff. Well, I wish you well with your family and friends and can't wait to see you next season. It is going to be awesome.
From, Nicole
posted on June 20, 2008 at 12:46 AM