Comments on: The $500/person dollar question http://jcarrot.org/the-500person-dollar-question/ Jews, Food, and Contemporary Issues Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:00:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Anna Stevenson http://jcarrot.org/the-500person-dollar-question/#comment-86 Anna Stevenson Tue, 16 Jan 2007 22:31:22 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/the-500person-dollar-question/#comment-86 Here's another way to think about the money: In not having each of the 800 participants at Limmud pay an extra $500 to eat organic food, we basically just gave agribusiness and processed food a $40,000 bonus. That is, it's worth more to us to save the consumer money than it is to support quality and responsible stewardship. Ok maybe that's not fair. It is true that the money stuff is a stretch, but approaching the question of 'what should i eat' or 'what should i serve' from simply the bottom line is such a narrow perspective! I totally agree, Leah - the part where the conversation suggested, "well, if we could get the food donated" was really missing the point. Nigel pointed out (citing Joel Salatin of Polyface farm) there are very few things that we pay the absolute cheapest price for. If we can afford it, we generally don't buy the cheapest shirt, the cheapest backpack, the cheapest car. Yet we assume that we need to buy the cheapest food. It's not all the caterer's fault; absolutely check out what's going on with the Farm Bill because federal subsidies on large crops like corn and soybeans completely skew the cost of our food. But until THAT changes, feel free to spend a little more for food you believe in. Here’s another way to think about the money:

In not having each of the 800 participants at Limmud pay an extra $500 to eat organic food, we basically just gave agribusiness and processed food a $40,000 bonus. That is, it’s worth more to us to save the consumer money than it is to support quality and responsible stewardship.

Ok maybe that’s not fair. It is true that the money stuff is a stretch, but approaching the question of ‘what should i eat’ or ‘what should i serve’ from simply the bottom line is such a narrow perspective! I totally agree, Leah - the part where the conversation suggested, “well, if we could get the food donated” was really missing the point. Nigel pointed out (citing Joel Salatin of Polyface farm) there are very few things that we pay the absolute cheapest price for. If we can afford it, we generally don’t buy the cheapest shirt, the cheapest backpack, the cheapest car. Yet we assume that we need to buy the cheapest food.

It’s not all the caterer’s fault; absolutely check out what’s going on with the Farm Bill because federal subsidies on large crops like corn and soybeans completely skew the cost of our food. But until THAT changes, feel free to spend a little more for food you believe in.

]]> By: Phyllis Bieri http://jcarrot.org/the-500person-dollar-question/#comment-85 Phyllis Bieri Tue, 16 Jan 2007 21:11:14 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/the-500person-dollar-question/#comment-85 The culinary contrast between Hazon's Latkes to Latte's conference and LimmudNY was astounding. I was frankly embarrassed by LimmudNY's lack of enlightenment towards food issues. And what was with all that plastic? There is MUCH work to be done. LimmudNY should be an innovator and educator when it comes to this arena. Thank you, Leah, for highlighting this problem and continuing the discussion. The culinary contrast between Hazon’s Latkes to Latte’s conference and LimmudNY was astounding. I was frankly embarrassed by LimmudNY’s lack of enlightenment towards food issues. And what was with all that plastic? There is MUCH work to be done. LimmudNY should be an innovator and educator when it comes to this arena. Thank you, Leah, for highlighting this problem and continuing the discussion.

]]> By: feygele http://jcarrot.org/the-500person-dollar-question/#comment-84 feygele Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:53:23 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/the-500person-dollar-question/#comment-84 This is a really interesting point to raise: I missed the Food Fight session, so I'm wondering if you (or anyone else) challenged the $500/$1000 quotes during the session, so that those who were in attendance could hear another opinion? This is a really interesting point to raise: I missed the Food Fight session, so I’m wondering if you (or anyone else) challenged the $500/$1000 quotes during the session, so that those who were in attendance could hear another opinion?

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