Where was your shirt made?

Before this class the relevancy of food production, nutrition and the global scare everyone seems to be afraid of meant nothing to me. I enjoy spending little to no money on food and snacks figuring I am a college student and all. I wouldn’t put a second thought into where my clothing was made or by who. Why? I’m here, I have the things that I have and need, so why think about those downer type issues?
That was my mentality before, that is. I was lucky enough to work on a farm this summer, a struggling one at that, which showed the perspective of how hard it truly is to grow anything in a sustainable way. The farmer, because it was still small scale, was able to do it his way. He didn’t have to sell his land or go into GM crops. “Farmers in Makhathini aren’t being given the choices they really want. Just the ones that are most profitable to those who control the food system.” (p. 158) The reason this book is applicable is because of its reality. Forcing farmers into a dead end happens everyday and unfortunately it is only the consumer who can make this stop. Consumers can buy the same product from a company, which is sustainable.
“The net effect of this, of course, is to offer farmers the following choice: choose GM seed, or don’t grow cotton at all. “ (p.158) Genetically Modified produce is becoming way too common. It is the only thing farmers are able to do to continue to make money. How would we feel if we were told we could only do an unhealthy, unproductive thing or just quit? Especially when we wouldn’t know any other way of life. We need to learn different ways of production or Raj Patel will be right and we will not be able to live.
This also touches on the lifestyle choice poor lower class people have no other options to do. “Again, the reason they are hungry is that many in Lesotho simply cannot afford to buy the food that is available.” (p. 150) The food is expensive because of all of the things the food has to go through, starting with the production. Good food is expensive. People who make no money are unable to accommodate the expense. Local food is better, cheaper, and sustainable for everyone involved.
It is sad that we are to the point of needing a radical change or failing completely. This book is greatly important because it makes the information we desperately need to hear, be raw and in our face.