Yesterday I spent time at the Farmer’s Market in Union Square. I am currently reading Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollen, and somehow appropriately the NY Times Magazine this weekend is focusing another issue to the food crisis, including testimonials from “locavores” and food activists . As a meat eater, I have not only noticed the taste difference between organic grass-fed meat (much better) but also how eating ethically raised meat makes me feel as a conscious consumer (very good). By purchasing local fare, I am contributing to the farm-forward economy, reducing my carbon footprint, and supporting local farms which use natural methods of raising produce and animals with sunlight energy and natural feed versus over processed and chemically fertilized feed. While I will probably never become a vegetarian, I am eating less and less meat, and the quality of meat I am eating contains more nutrition and less fatty and unhealthy bi-products. This justifies the price tag because I am choosing to eat meat as a special treat to myself, once or twice a week for white meat, and once or twice a month for red meats, versus the average 2 – 3 times a day of the average consumer. Does that make me a food activist or a food elitist? Probably a little bit of both – but that is not the point. The point is, as an educated consumer, it is my responsibility to eat ethically and consciously, because I have the means to purchase ethically grown and raised food. As each consumer learns more about the “Local” movement, carbon footprints, and organic raised foods, in relation to the economy and energy crisis, the more we are all going to become advocates of conscious consumerism.
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Katie McGowan 