My Thoughts on "Food, Inc."

Last night, I watched the much-hyped movie "Food, Inc." It felt like a condensation of two best-selling books ("Fast Food Nation" and "The Omnivore’s Dilemma") put on film. It was an excellent reminder (and perhaps educational tool for the non-readers out there) concerning the industrial system that controls food production and the perils of eating in America. It also reminded me to consider where my food comes from, particularly when grocery shopping or choosing where to eat out.

I really liked the end of the movie, in which the film points out that each time we make a purchase at the grocery store, we are essentially voting: organic or non, free-range or CAFO-produced meat, natural or genetically modified.

Even in an economy in which a product’s price weighs heavily in consumer decisions, there is room for improvement. While not everyone’s budget can support a weekly trip to Whole Foods, we can all choose to eat less meat, and to choose "free-range" over the bad boys of the Industry, such as Tyson. We can buy organic produce such as apples, where it really makes a difference, even if we can’t afford to go organic all the time. We can patronize farmer's markets when possible. Overall, it was an inspiring movie.