The Organic Movement defies Industrialization and Commercialized Agriculture
“We think more about food, know more about food, care more about food than we did 20 or 30 years ago. Food has become both an upscale fetish and a poor people's radical agenda, a transformation of the most intimate everyday practices that cuts across class” (Solnit 55). Over time, the societal obsession with food and the American agricultural system began to differ as a result of ongoing societal changes. My Organic Life by Nora Pouillon and Organic Struggle by Brian Obach adequately demonstrate the effects of economic and technological advancements on the American food system as food production becomes highly commercialized and corporate owned. Due to the rapid industrialization of farming and the food system, especially after World War II, society obtained certain views on the issue, while constantly reacting to the altering situation in various ways. Post-war Industrialization and agricultural changes impact the lives of Nora Pouillon and Brian Obach, ultimately proving the increasing diversity in American society during the late 1900's. In America, the presence and domination of large food corporations and grocery stores became common, as portrayed in My Organic Life by Nora Pouillon. When Pouillon encountered an American supermarket for the first time, she contemplated, “Who would need to buy so much food that they had to put in in trolley? In Europe, of course, you go from store to store every day with your basket or bag--to the butcher, the charcuterie, the dairy shop” (Pouillon 102). Post-war mechanization increased corporate control and power, ultimately society to defy rising authorities. In order to provide needed materials to support the war effort, society increased the use of chemicals and additives to food during wartime production. Consequently, “Here, everything was under one roof, and it all looked so sterile. All the food was packaged and had no smell,” (Pouillon 103). The use of chemical additives introduced processed foods, essentially influencing society to oppose the effects of wartime industrialization. As Pouillon purchased American products for the first time, she came to notice, “You could get out of there without ever speaking to anyone at all, which seemed very sad and lonely to me. At least Shelley had turned it into a game, guiding me through the maze of packaged, frozen, and artificial foods I had never seen before,” (Pouillon 104). Over time, the American food system expanded into a corporate business, essentially creating a reclusive atmosphere in society as reforms emanated. In conclusion, rapid industrialization during World War II invoked the rise of chemical additives and processed foods, ultimately challenging society to reform their current food system and initiate the organic movement. As large businesses assimilated themselves into the American food system, farmers and founders of the organic movement struggled to obtain profit and faced isolation as demonstrated in Organic Struggle by Brian Obach. As relations between farmers and society gradually disappeared, Obach protested restoration of these relationships: "The distribution of organic food does not reflect the close-knit networks between farmers and consumers that early advocates took for granted. . .In the meantime, small farmers and independent organic businesses, those who once formed the base of the organic movement, are forced to develop new ways to market themselves in order to survive" (Obach 11). The rise of industry into the …show more content…
Consequently, unemployment ensued with the imbalance of sustainable food items and rising prices. According to Katherine Turner and Tina Peterson at St. Thomas University, "The turbulent industrial economy meant inconsistent paychecks and long periods of joblessness, along with high rent and sometimes skyrocketing food prices. Workers met these challenges with a wide array of resources and strategies” (Turner 60). As food sources became limited, communities reacted in different ways, consequently inspiring neighboring areas to take action. The transition away from traditional farming practices greatly influenced the production of individual food products throughout the 1900’s. According to John Hoenig at Pennsylvania State University, "Up until the end of World War II, the traditional practices of nineteenth century farmers and cooks greatly influenced the industrialized tomato. Indeed, the early efforts by farmers and cooks to expand the tomato-harvest season created
“We think more about food, know more about food, care more about food than we did 20 or 30 years ago. Food has become both an upscale fetish and a poor people's radical agenda, a transformation of the most intimate everyday practices that cuts across class” (Solnit 55). Over time, the societal obsession with food and the American agricultural system began to differ as a result of ongoing societal changes. My Organic Life by Nora Pouillon and Organic Struggle by Brian Obach adequately demonstrate the effects of economic and technological advancements on the American food system as food production becomes highly commercialized and corporate owned. Due to the rapid industrialization of farming and the food system, especially after World War II, society obtained certain views on the issue, while constantly reacting to the altering situation in various ways. Post-war Industrialization and agricultural changes impact the lives of Nora Pouillon and Brian Obach, ultimately proving the increasing diversity in American society during the late 1900's. In America, the presence and domination of large food corporations and grocery stores became common, as portrayed in My Organic Life by Nora Pouillon. When Pouillon encountered an American supermarket for the first time, she contemplated, “Who would need to buy so much food that they had to put in in trolley? In Europe, of course, you go from store to store every day with your basket or bag--to the butcher, the charcuterie, the dairy shop” (Pouillon 102). Post-war mechanization increased corporate control and power, ultimately society to defy rising authorities. In order to provide needed materials to support the war effort, society increased the use of chemicals and additives to food during wartime production. Consequently, “Here, everything was under one roof, and it all looked so sterile. All the food was packaged and had no smell,” (Pouillon 103). The use of chemical additives introduced processed foods, essentially influencing society to oppose the effects of wartime industrialization. As Pouillon purchased American products for the first time, she came to notice, “You could get out of there without ever speaking to anyone at all, which seemed very sad and lonely to me. At least Shelley had turned it into a game, guiding me through the maze of packaged, frozen, and artificial foods I had never seen before,” (Pouillon 104). Over time, the American food system expanded into a corporate business, essentially creating a reclusive atmosphere in society as reforms emanated. In conclusion, rapid industrialization during World War II invoked the rise of chemical additives and processed foods, ultimately challenging society to reform their current food system and initiate the organic movement. As large businesses assimilated themselves into the American food system, farmers and founders of the organic movement struggled to obtain profit and faced isolation as demonstrated in Organic Struggle by Brian Obach. As relations between farmers and society gradually disappeared, Obach protested restoration of these relationships: "The distribution of organic food does not reflect the close-knit networks between farmers and consumers that early advocates took for granted. . .In the meantime, small farmers and independent organic businesses, those who once formed the base of the organic movement, are forced to develop new ways to market themselves in order to survive" (Obach 11). The rise of industry into the …show more content…
Consequently, unemployment ensued with the imbalance of sustainable food items and rising prices. According to Katherine Turner and Tina Peterson at St. Thomas University, "The turbulent industrial economy meant inconsistent paychecks and long periods of joblessness, along with high rent and sometimes skyrocketing food prices. Workers met these challenges with a wide array of resources and strategies” (Turner 60). As food sources became limited, communities reacted in different ways, consequently inspiring neighboring areas to take action. The transition away from traditional farming practices greatly influenced the production of individual food products throughout the 1900’s. According to John Hoenig at Pennsylvania State University, "Up until the end of World War II, the traditional practices of nineteenth century farmers and cooks greatly influenced the industrialized tomato. Indeed, the early efforts by farmers and cooks to expand the tomato-harvest season created