Comments on: Alice Waters' Crusade For Better Food
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- "good food should be a right , not a privilege", said Alice Waters. Well, I grew up with good, unmolested food that had no pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and that was picked that same morning and delivered by the peasant ladies to the market, a stone's throw away from our house, and in most cases right to our doorstep.
When I say to people that I do not eat too many fruits and vegetables and try to explain why, they can not understand, because they have never really tasted the real thing.
Besides that fact that the so called "organic food" is very expensive, and way beyond the reach of the common American household, not everyone has Alice's or Martha Stewart's garden over flowing with herbal goodness, and a kitchen, fully equipped with a roaring fire place where they can fry an egg in a ladle.
I too do not believe in microwave ovens and have never used one, and have written 2 original good food cook books (but who am I?) I believe in slow cooking too, but really, fast cooking can be as good if not better for its preserving of nutrients.
Now that would be a real feat if we all can be privileged to the real unmolested foods that really does not exist in our supermarkets anymore.
Ms. Stahl, you are one of my favourite reporters, but , really now...
Usama - Reply to this comment
- I really enjoyed this segment, but made me remember an email a friend sent me last week about Codex Alimentarius and the safety and freedom of choice in natural health. vitamins and herbs. I've included this website . This stopped me in my tracks... literally. I would like for you in investigate the validity of this legislationthat is to transpire in the near future Dec 2009. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5266884912495233634&ei=cHf7SI34CI6qrgLk7dHsDg&q=codex+alimentarius
I thank you for any information on this,
Angela - Reply to this comment
- I would like to know what kind or type of olive oil that Alice uses.
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- I would like the breakfast recipe that Alice fix.
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- This piece and some of the comments completely highlight the totaldisconnect we as americans have with our food and our food systems. While it completely highlighted the misperception that 'organic' food is more expensive than non-organic what it completely failed to demonstrate are the hidden costs involved in 'conventional' agriculture. Sure you can buy grapes for 99 cents a pound, but what you do not see are the costs to the soil, the environment, the workers who are picking those grapes who are absolutely below minimum wage migrant, most likely immigrant workers. The real question is not why do organics cost MORE but why do conventionals cost LESS - and what are those hidden costs. Most of us don't want to know, and don't care, which is shameful. But the costs of our conventional agriculture system are becoming less hidden.
Alice Water's brilliance is that she has given a voice to farmers, chefs and consumers who are not willing to spend less money to get a product that is of inferior quality, in terms of health - and taste. She has shown that there are other factors to consider when choosing our food and that CHEAP food does not necessarily mean GOOD food. - Reply to this comment
- As a member of a local non-profit group that last summer purchased two historic properties in Tipton, IA we are partnering with the Cedar County Extension Service in providing land for a community garden. We have named the site, 'Hardacre Community Gardens' after one of the original owners, Jacob Hardacre.
Our plans are to involve the Tipton Alternative School, Tipton Elementary School, Tipton Garden Club, Master Gardners and local civic organizations in carrying out our objective as partners in our local Hardacre Community Gardens. These plans have been met with broad support.
This garden will provide free fresh organic fruits and vegetables to the local food pantry and senior center. We have wide community support for this project and have received funding thru local civic groups and grants. We are entirely free of state & federal monies.
There is no charge for the use of the land for the Hardacre Community Gardens and we've decided not to parcel our individual garden plots, but to incorporate one "community" plot for everyone to be involved in. It is our desire to maintain a "community" rather than an "individual" identity. We also feel that in working together for the common good of our community we can instill a sense of pride with this project.
Can it be done? Yes, and it will accomplish what it intends to do---provide fresh organic fruits and vegetables to our local food pantry and senior center at no cost. This is nothing new to our group as we have had gardens in the past and most of learned gardening early on from our parents and grandparents. Our approach is different with this community garden and we look forward to the growing season ahead.
Alice Waters is on track with her views. You are what you eat. Eat fresh organic foods and leave the chemical laden foods to those that don't want to live long healthy lives. - Reply to this comment
- I watched you segment on Alice Waters and I almost threw up! Lesley asked her " what world are you in?" Look, nothing is wrong with organic and seasonable food. But no mention was made of fresh FROZEN food (what farmer doesn't have a freezer??). Fresh FROZEN food is nearly always FRESHER THAN FRESH! You can't freeze food until it is at it's PEAK of ripeness and that is then frozen in.
I live in Buffalo NY and there is not a lot that is seasonable in January here! Yes; White House- get a food garden....yes-teach it in the schools. But remember Frozen Food is FRESHER THAN FRESH! John Emerling - Reply to this comment
- Alice Waters, Gavin Newsome and their ilk need to leave the rest of us alone! On top of the "everything you can think of police" (you name the subject) the last thing we need is the food police!
Choice is good but i'm sick to death of the PC Ploice like them trying to manage everbody elses lives. To them I say "it's America do whatever you choose and leave the rest of us alone........please! - Reply to this comment
- I was disappointed to see that you continue to suggest that Alice is still trying to convince the president to put in an organic garden at the white house. Laura Bush saw to it that the chef served organic and local whenever possible and put in a vegetable garden on the roof. See Mother Jones: http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2009/01/obama-keeps-bushs-white-house-chef. Laura just kept a low profile about it.
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- I agree that organic is better for us and the environment but often hard to find and I have to choose what is most important to buy organic. Dairy worth the price diffence, lettuce not so much. Alice Waters must not have done much to keep in touch with her movement. A local farmer in Hanover VA was in the running to put in and tend an organic garden on the White House grounds. Im not sure if the final decision has been made.
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