There’s a run on bacon. Seriously. While I am a vegetarian, the idea of a bacon shortage filled me with questions about the food production industry. Are the workers in the plants low paid? Are they working in terrible environments? What’s going on?
I also had questions about how meat is made. What’s the myth? What’s the reality?
Luckily, my friend Jesse McCoy helped answer those questions like:
- How do cheap labor and the corporatization of farming affect some of what’s happening in the world?
- What is going on with animal depopulation?
- And, the biggest question of all: how can we better consumers and citizens of the world?
I’ve been thinking about how disconnected Americans are from their food, and how consumers are busy at their corporate job working a million hours a day—doing the best they can to feed their families at home or in the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant.
We’re in the cycle of consumption. We don’t dig deeper.
My challenge to you this week is to start asking questions about where your food comes from, who are the people working in the production plants, and what you can do to break the cycle of consumption. Seek out conversations to learn from industry experts, like Jesse.
Sparking an interest in food is the first step to change. Let’s break the cycle, become good citizens, ethical consumers, and good advocates for farmers and animals.
I’m talking about these topics—and the conditions in today’s working environments—in my weekly newsletter. I’m also sharing a video to help you think about your week ahead. You can sign up here.