It’s enough to turn one’s stomach.
The knowledge that today’s agricultural market compromises the idea of food integrity by taking one of the country’s five commodity crops and turning it from a timeless vegetable to a processed food snack cake is indeed eye-catching, yet in a less-than-flattering manner. It would almost seem to have the opposite effect of the intended original motive, which hopes to deliver an image of the classic tale of turning whatever you touch into gold; i.e. whatever corn touches becomes delectable goodness. However, the more institutions delve into the effects of corn on entities such as human health, the economy, and perhaps even general moral principles, the more they see in reality that their “gold” is in turn possibly a dud.
After we began our own research in class into the detrimental effects of corn to our overall well being, and the daunting task of possibly distancing ourselves from such “tainted” products to serve whatever cause we deem worthwhile began to formulate, I began to question how probable it would be to actually initiate such a revolt: the revolt against corn. Reading the works of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, watching King Corn, and analyzing the works of Michael Pollan have aided the development of such ideals; ideals that push for reform on the personal front, in order to gradually push for change on the national front as well.
But where to start? Michael Pollan made an observant and excellent point when he noted that the reason many lower class people eat so poorly is due to the fact that that is simply all the can afford-cheap, processed calories that are laden with high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, etc-all derivitives of what else? Corn, corn, corn, and more corn. And let’s face it, coming from a college student’s perspective, shopping weekly at the Whole Foods Market is simply incomprehensible finanically-wise, and buying produce at local farmer’s markets is often time-draining as well. Sure, I could always “do my best” and shop the five-foot section of “organic produce” at my local HEB, but let’s face it-even that pitiful selection still has to be coupled with an array of processed food items throughout the store to complete the meal anyways. Why don’t instead I construct a small garden and grow some of my own vegetables via the likes of Kingsolver? Ah yes, nothing appeals to growing tomatoes and herbs such as parched, desolate ground located on a college-affiliated apartment complex. My options are slimming down at an alarming rate, yet my growing distaste for corn-based products is developing at about an equal pace as well.
To risk sounding cliche, it really does start with one person to initiate change. Each unit adds up to create a whole new empire, one that will care enough about the environment and personal health to regulate the intake of unnatural food products. I only hope I, among others, can overcome petty obstacles in order to fulfill a duty we owe to Mother Nature-the duty to preserve the system that has sustained the world for centuries past, yet one that could potentially collapse under the strain of illogical consumption unless we make these small changes. Besides, it tastes better anyways. =)
