Comments on: Wal-Mart Goes Local? http://jcarrot.org/wal-mart-goes-local Jews, Food, and Contemporary Issues Mon, 21 May 2012 04:07:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Leah Koenig http://jcarrot.org/wal-mart-goes-local/comment-page-1#comment-6895 Leah Koenig Thu, 22 May 2008 18:22:25 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/wal-mart-goes-local/#comment-6895 Hey Chiff0nade, Miss Mosquito, and Maxine - I would also have trouble buying things from Wal-Mart even despite the "tshuvah" (repentance) work they're doing. Luckily, there aren't any (yet) where I live in Brooklyn. It's a good point Food Rockz Man - farmers markets are the way to go if you want to get beyond labels and really get to know who grows your food. Hey Chiff0nade, Miss Mosquito, and Maxine – I would also have trouble buying things from Wal-Mart even despite the “tshuvah” (repentance) work they’re doing. Luckily, there aren’t any (yet) where I live in Brooklyn.

It’s a good point Food Rockz Man – farmers markets are the way to go if you want to get beyond labels and really get to know who grows your food.

]]> By: Maxine http://jcarrot.org/wal-mart-goes-local/comment-page-1#comment-6893 Maxine Thu, 22 May 2008 16:01:36 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/wal-mart-goes-local/#comment-6893 This is a really interesting topic. I just can't get behind anything to do with Walmart, even if they do claim to be supporting local agriculture. I don't trust them and will not shop there. I like the idea of making sustainable eating more widespread, but I don't think Walmart is the vehicle to do so. I agree with your "Lennie" analogy... there could be major repercussions. This is a really interesting topic. I just can’t get behind anything to do with Walmart, even if they do claim to be supporting local agriculture. I don’t trust them and will not shop there. I like the idea of making sustainable eating more widespread, but I don’t think Walmart is the vehicle to do so. I agree with your “Lennie” analogy… there could be major repercussions.

]]> By: Food Rockz Man http://jcarrot.org/wal-mart-goes-local/comment-page-1#comment-6892 Food Rockz Man Thu, 22 May 2008 15:13:32 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/wal-mart-goes-local/#comment-6892 This is a tough one . . . but I suspect that, as you suggested, the tendency of Wal-Mart will be to capitalize on the marketing aspect of "eat/buy local" without exhibiting a very deep commitment to supporting the movement. The important thing, in my view, is to push beyond the labels . . . any labels, whether it be in Wal-Mart or Whole Foods . . . to find out what you're really buying. Pollan has really opened my eyes to the reality of what Whole Foods is selling: lots of factory farmed products that have been shipped across the country, if not half-way around the world, that happen to carry an "organic" label earned under a certification process that's seemingly watered down with every passing year. Factory farmed organic is better for the environment and the workers in the fields than conventionally-farmed goods, but it's not very sustainable. For these reasons, I do a lot of my shopping at local farmers markets, regardless of whether their food is certified organic, so I can talk to the farmers themselves . . . so I know exactly where their farms are and how they've grown the food . . . so I don't have to rely on labels. Wal-Mart local and/or organic products may be a good gateway food source for folks who wouldn't otherwise be exposed to these concepts--and this is a good thing--but I hope for most people it's not the end of the line for their evolution in eating. This is a tough one . . . but I suspect that, as you suggested, the tendency of Wal-Mart will be to capitalize on the marketing aspect of “eat/buy local” without exhibiting a very deep commitment to supporting the movement. The important thing, in my view, is to push beyond the labels . . . any labels, whether it be in Wal-Mart or Whole Foods . . . to find out what you’re really buying. Pollan has really opened my eyes to the reality of what Whole Foods is selling: lots of factory farmed products that have been shipped across the country, if not half-way around the world, that happen to carry an “organic” label earned under a certification process that’s seemingly watered down with every passing year. Factory farmed organic is better for the environment and the workers in the fields than conventionally-farmed goods, but it’s not very sustainable. For these reasons, I do a lot of my shopping at local farmers markets, regardless of whether their food is certified organic, so I can talk to the farmers themselves . . . so I know exactly where their farms are and how they’ve grown the food . . . so I don’t have to rely on labels. Wal-Mart local and/or organic products may be a good gateway food source for folks who wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to these concepts–and this is a good thing–but I hope for most people it’s not the end of the line for their evolution in eating.

]]> By: Miss Mosquito http://jcarrot.org/wal-mart-goes-local/comment-page-1#comment-6890 Miss Mosquito Thu, 22 May 2008 14:37:26 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/wal-mart-goes-local/#comment-6890 Wal-Mart puts local businesses out of work, it's depressing and low quality. I would never buy anything there, let alone food. Wal-Mart puts local businesses out of work, it’s depressing and low quality. I would never buy anything there, let alone food.

]]> By: chiff0nade http://jcarrot.org/wal-mart-goes-local/comment-page-1#comment-6889 chiff0nade Thu, 22 May 2008 13:53:46 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/wal-mart-goes-local/#comment-6889 Well I liked your post. But personally I would NEVER buy any food at Wal-Mart. They sell stuff from china which my boyfriend "Big Bear" will NOT allow into the trailer house. So I buy all of my food at Whole Foods. AND, they take food stamps without giving me a hassle about it. Big Bear and I eat really healthy because the government pays for it. Well I liked your post. But personally I would NEVER buy any food at Wal-Mart. They sell stuff from china which my boyfriend “Big Bear” will NOT allow into the trailer house.

So I buy all of my food at Whole Foods. AND, they take food stamps without giving me a hassle about it.

Big Bear and I eat really healthy because the government pays for it.

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