When someone tells us that they grew up working on a farm, what image first come to mind? Little children feeding chickens in the yard? Helping mom pick peas and tomatoes?
Or young teenagers spraying pesticides on soybeans?
Our society today likes to get its food fresh, of outstanding quality, whenever and wherever it wants. We like to buy organic when possible, exotic when available. Starfruit in December? No problem. Apples in July? Of course. We have grown accustomed to our country’s food system getting us our food at the blink of an eye. But what happens when we take a closer look into the system that gets the food to our table?
Does it matter to us who may be toiling in the fields to harvest the fruits and vegetables we count on to feed our families? Maybe we feel that it’s beyond our control, or that if it were a serious concern, regulations would be in place to protect those people working out in the fields in the hot sun for 10, 12, or 14 hours a day.
There are numerous organizations, non-profits, and vocal individuals calling for animal rights, vegetarianism, and slaughterhouses with glass walls. They proclaim we must follow a compassionate, non-violent diet.
But, if we are to truly embrace a compassionate diet, don’t we need to include our fellow human beings in the equation?
Learn more about where your food comes from:
Ashlee,
You pose the question "if we are to truly embrace a compassionate diet, don’t we need to include our fellow human beings in the equation?". However, this reader is unclear as to what you are alluding to that "numerous organizations, non-profits, and vocal individuals calling for animal rights, vegetarianism, and slaughterhouses with glass walls" are missing. Please elaborate.
Sounds like human rights, worker protection and such issues. Everyone was made aware of child labor in foreign countries and even slavery when it came to making our clothes and other material things. But few question the conditions in which farm laborers work and who they are. So far no organization is looking out for the people in other countries who provide us with our food. Which makes me think of how there are way fewer restrictions on chemical use. I am sure many readers also lean towards organic eating when possible, for their own health, but there are still concerns for the workers protection on farms using conventional methods. Just looks at those kids, have they any protection from the chemicals they are spreading. Many can be absorbed right through the skin, and though considered 'harmless' in the low dose that you can eat on the food, with the exposure they get, I can't imagine the health risks!