Managing needs versus demand

I found this article in which Mike Coupe director of Sainsbury's, one of the UK's leading grocery stores, in response to a statement about reducing consumption as the only viable way to cut carbon emissions said "Managing needs versus demand seems like a form of communism," he said. "It's something the world we are living in isn't ready for." This statement is not surprising coming from someone who makes his money off of people buying surpluses of food that they never use. How true is this? Are people not ready to reduce their consumption?

Just from the recent price jumps in gas, people are in mass finally shying away from excessively large cars and getting on waiting lists for hybrids. So, how far do you have to push people before they reduce their consumption? The world didn't have the problem of extreme excess production 200 years ago. When food was industrialized in the early 20th century produced in extreme excess, we provided too much food for the consumer. This made obesity eventually a national epidemic. I can't see why it should be a problem to reduce food consumption. People lived perfectly happily for thousands of years before they had the choice of Cheetos or Fritos or Doritos or Tostitos. At what point will we realize that maybe the health of the nation and the environment is more important that making this crap food that helps line the corporations pockets. It's a natural response to eat what is in front of you, and with this lining our shelves, how are we supposed to resist?

Ok, so it's viable to say maybe people are not ready to reduce consumption. But I firmly believe that mass production, leads to mass consumption.

Veg out

Some new of my favorite vegetarian eateries for when I get sick of eating the same sandwich everyday.

Kaldi's - I'm sure most of you have heard this name, and with good reason. Kaldis is a small coffee coffee chain in St. Louis with completely vegetarian menu. They serve quiche, smoothies, salads, etc. People usually look at me like I'm crazy when I mention that my favorite breakfast is a bacon (sans bacon now) and egg taco with a healthy dose of salsa. Try Kaldi's breakfast burrito and you might understand, but you will have to eat one from Las Palapas in San Antonio, Texas to really get it. Kaldi's has several locations including the DeMun neighborhood, Chesterfield, Kirkwood, Columbia, Springfeld, and downtown Clayton. 7am-11pm daily (Sunday open till 9)

OR Juice & Smoothie - This place has awesome smoothies and healthy non-fried spring rolls and tofu wraps. They cater to vegans too. They seem to be pretty serious about the organic pledge, you aren't even supposed to use your cell phone next to the food. (right...) It's nice to have a place that substitutes some protein full tofu for meat instead of just veggies all the time. If you mention an ailment to them, such as "I'm feeling tired and restless at work" they will suggest something for you to eat. I don't know how much I buy into it, but their food is delicious. They are located in the Schnucks shopping center on Clayton and Big Bend.

Mark Bittman on "What's wrong with what we eat"

In this video Mark Bittman, a famous cookbook author and journalist for the NY Times, recommends reducing our meat consumption by at least 50%, and raising our consumption of plants. Basically he recommends increasing our investment in food, by increasing home cooking and reducing junk food. He briefly summarizes the extreme makeover of food from 100 years ago to today. This video is a great introductory into understanding the food that we eat.

World food crisis

There have been several articles in the past few months about drastic food price climbs putting more people in a hunger crisis situation all over the world. Riots resulting in casualties have broken out in Haiti and Africa due to the food prices. Price increases are related to the increased cost of petroleum, Here are two articles about the situation.
CNN video
CNN article
TIME article

"In a single day in February, global wheat prices jumped 25% after Kazakhstan's government announced plans to restrict exports of its giant wheat crop for fear that its own citizens might go hungry." - TIME

Interestingly as prices continue to increase, this process of withholding crops will become more beneficial than selling them for countries concerned with starvation. This is a perfect example of the necessity for communities to be sustainable, in other words able to provide basic necessities such as food for themselves.

Eckert's Pick-Your-Own

I'm reluctant to post this, because I don't want people stealing my berries. But Eckert's family farm in Belville, IL is open for strawberry picking season this week, so get there if you want some fresh strawberries straight from the bush. Be sure to check before driving out to make sure they have strawberries still available. If you miss the strawberries, peaches are coming at the end of the month.