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Why is our food system so broken? In this episode, Pamela Hess lays it all out on the table for us. Pam is the Executive Director of Arcadia, a DC-area organization that helps connect consumers with local farms.
Pam explain how the invention of cars, big box grocery stores, the mechanization of farms, and subsidies to corn farmers all set the stage for our current health crisis. Soaring rates of chronic disease are not incidental; they are a direct result of cultural changes and national policies that have prioritized cheap processed goods over real food.
This fascinating unfolding of history and geopolitics will have you at the edge of your seat. Although it may sound bleak, solutions to our broken food system are within sight. Stay tuned for Part II, when Pam explains how Arcadia is working to make healthy food more accessible to all people (and what you can do, too!)
This episode highlights:
- How cars and suburban development changed our eating habits
- What WWII and the Cold War have to do with the U.S. food system
- The 20th century trade off of nutrition for efficiency
- The proliferation of commodity crops (corn, wheat, and soy)
- Why the free market fails at meeting our needs for healthy food
- The true costs of low-quality food to society
Resources:
Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture – arcadiafood.org
The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
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