Giving Thanks
For those of us south of the 49th parallel, tomorrow marks the one day every year that we set aside just for giving thanks. And we obviously have lots to be thankful for. I, for one, will be thankful not to have to do much writing over the long weekend.
More importantly, for most of us in Cascadia, extremes of hunger and famine are a largely a thing of the past. But where food is concerned, abundant doesn't necessarily mean sustainable -- the environmental impacts of our food system are still great, and the incentives food system is still geared more towards ensuring hyper-abundance than towards promoting healthy, balanced eating.
So in case you've looking for a little light reading after a heavy meal, we've compiled links to some of our favorite food-related posts over the last several years, after the jump.
Oh, and thank you to everyone who reads and contributes to Sightline -- we couldn't do it without you.
Sustainability and food:
- Look for the onion label: A food chain considers putting the environmental impact of foods right on the label.
- Cod caper: Fish farming can lead to "biological pollution."
- Flying fish: Some fish caught nearby gets shipped all the way to China for processing.
- In the bag: Paper vs. plastic doesn't matter much, compared to the impacts of the food we buy. (See also here and here.)
The benefits of local, organic food:
- Is local the new organic? In praise of food from our own back yards. (See this one, too.)
- Rhapsody in blueberry: Seasonal, local fruit = yum.
- Long distance runaround: Local food uses less energy. But how much less isn't always clear. (See also this, this, this, and this.)
- An organic, local Thanksgiving: It's good for the climate!
Is cheap food good for us?
- Of candy and corn: America's farmers produce farmore food calories than our bodies need. No wonder our waistlines are growing! (See also here for better numbers.)
- Playing with food: The data's clear: junk food is getting cheaper, but fruits and vegetables are getting more expensive.
- Geography of fast food: For the poor, it can be hard to find a healthy meal. (See also here.)
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
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