The New Movement

A recent article in the New York Times reported that slaughterhouses that currently specialize in small, local farms, especially in the Northeast of the U.S., have a backlog and farmers are having trouble having their livestock slaughtered in order to meet their customers’ demand. The articles focuses on the problem that this situation is causing the naturally grown food movement and that it could be a hurdle in its development. As documentaries like “The Future of Food” and more recently “Food Inc.” point out that our current food supply is mostly a result of the high demand of the fast food industry for product. Large corporations are meeting that demand by using technology that will produce the highest yielding product at the lowest cost. This obviously comes at a cost for a consumer which is mostly reflected in negative health repercussions. The increase in demand for product grown naturally in small farms is a great sign that us as consumers are having an effect on the food market and as a result in food production. It is true that right now there is a problem in which there are too few producers and even fewer, processors, i.e. slaughter houses, to meet demand. But as this demand starts to be met, there will be alternative choices in the market. As our choice for better food, for more humane treatment of livestock keeps having an effect on the market, there will not be any other result than the market meeting this demand. More slaughterhouses will have to open, more producers will have to enter the market to meet increased demand for this type of food, and ultimately as a result of increased competition, these products will become more accessible. The lack of buying power and the lack of healthier, affordable options is probably the main reason that there is such poor nutrition in our society, hence so many health problems. The repercussions of these new products in the market will only be positive. Although there are problems at the moment we as consumers have to feel hopeful that our choices are having an impact and that ultimately are having an effect in changing our food supply.