Robert Paarlberg's 'Attention Whole Food Shoppers'

Rhetorical Analysis of “Attention Whole Foods Shoppers” In “Attention Whole Foods Shoppers” by Robert Paarlberg, the main emphasis in the article is that there is a struggle to feed people, particularly in South Africa and Asia due to economic and population issues. His focus is on the lack of involvement of countries around the world that do have food. Throughout the article, Paarlberg talks about how organic agriculture is not going to feed the world and exposes myths about organic food and industrial scale food.

In the infamous prose “Attention Whole Foods Shoppers” Robert Paarlberg, a Harvard international affairs expert divulges on the ongoing warfare with the issue of sustainability. Paarlberg focuses on how the rise in global starvation increases in less developed nations, but it is often ignored by those in developed countries because of their fixation with the green revolution. He asserts many claims as to why Africa and Asia still have high food deprivation rates, which quite contrary to popular belief has nothing to do with overpopulation. This stems from lack of investment into agricultural infrastructure and investments. His criticism of whole foods shoppers seeks to bring awareness to the issue of world hunger and how the quest to eat organically

“Industrial agriculture characteristically proceeds by single solutions to single problems: If you want the most money from your land this year, grow the crops for which the market price is highest.” - Wendell Berry Many people question whether or not the morality of treating animals in a humane way outweighs the morality of cheaper food for a nation where 1 in 6 people are facing hunger, and/or starving in any way. Back in the day, a while after World War II, industrial agriculture was applauded as a technological success that permitted an ever growing population to practically feed themselves. Now, many farmers and scientists see it as a blind alley, rather made for factory work.

all these actions failed because farmers were too poor or in debt due to prior sales. the system was poorly capitalized, prices were too high for farmers, they ended up being victims to business causing the uprising of boycotts. the subtreasary plan succeed this plan helped farmers by giving them loans in order to grow and sell crops. The back and forth communication and strategies not only lead the famers to a political path but it also began the start of the populist party. the populist goals were to make a healthy economy.

Local markets typically bring in less money than the average store or supermarket. The larger industries are able to keep up with the ever changing regulations, and local farm owners fall so far into debt they are forced to sell their property. Pollan’s essay on the contamination of our nations’ food is very insightful. He has excellent examples, but far too much detail. As any writer knows a proposal writing must contain a solution.

Throughout Eric Schlosser’s nonfiction book Fast Food Nation, Schlosser criticizes and reveals to the world how the fast food industry has made drastic alterations to America. In addition, he managed to motivate society to start having a healthy life. Before Schlosser draws to a close on his book, he gives his readers hope towards other “fast” food business who succeeded by serving the quality of their food and caring enough about the health of their customers. In Schlosser’s epilogue, he opens up by considering that not all food industries are the same as the previous companies mentioned throughout the book. He explains that Dale Lasater, owner of the ranch Lasater, in Matheson, Colorado, is indeed different from other food productions because he does not use chemicals to enhance the growth of his cattle, instead he lets nature be in charge.

Then there is no watermelon for this poor person who simply wanted a slice. There are a few cons when it comes to genetically modifying the genes of any organism. Genetically modifying organisms can contaminate food crops, and it is potentially dangerous to the animals, plus the pharmaceuticals can harm human health. The first reason that pharming is bad for the society today is because genetically modifying organisms, such as plants in neighboring farms, can contaminate food crops. Food is very important to life.

A local Historian, and member of The Skibbereen and District Historical Society, Gerald O Brien speaks about why Ireland suffered so badly because of political conflict and how the English Rule and the “Poor Law” dramatically effected the statistics of unnecessary mortality in the country at the time. He speaks about how rural Ireland relied solely on farming produce and although the potatoes crop had failed, there was food available in the area, the only problem was that it wasn’t for the

Furthermore, 19 countries within Europe including Germany and France have voted to prohibit the cultivation of such crops (Bonny) further hindering the development of our knowledge of GMOs, reducing its practicality and robustness. The disagreement throughout Europe discourages the production and development of such crops, which can increase yields and improve nutritional

Though there were some success regarding social equality, there was little to no economic growth and the lack of direction of the nation caused widespread starvation, which took the lives of millions. The Great Leap Forward was severely mismanaged and was the leading cause of The Great Chinese Famine. Mao created new standards for farming methods in an attempt to make it a more efficient process and bountiful. He called for the implementation of new and “improved” techniques such as crowding seeds in plots to grow more and planting seeds very deep under the ground to reach the more nutrient dense soil. These methods caused many failed harvests and a dire lack of food for the people living in the communes.

However, many people do not know the true meaning of the word “organic”. As decided by the Federal Government, organic foods can use certain synthetic ingredients in foods, but cannot use antibiotics, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. These rules were then bent and blurred, making it so that the common “organic” farm was not truly organic. For instance, when Pollan visited one of these organic farms, he was dismayed when he realized that despite the chickens having an outdoor area, it was so small that none of the chickens even bothered to venture outside their confines.

The farmers are treated poorly by the big name companies.  The health in the United States is declining severely, 16% of children are obese,have diabetes, and other major health problems. In David Barboza’s article, “If You Pitch It, They Will Eat It,” Barboza argues that big name food companies are targeting the youth of society, because they will watch a show on television and see the food products at the store with their favorite character on the packaging. But the food that is being marketed to the youth is unhealthy for the human body.

Farmers were enticed by high prices persuaded farmers to grow a single “cash” crop. Profits were then used to buy food and manufactured goods. In the 1880s, bankruptcy fell into the nation and caused low prices and a deflated currency. As a result, there was not enough dollars to go around and caused debt. Farmers were forced to by expensive machinery to increased crop production, which were sold at low prices and caused even more debt..

The multifaceted issue of racism has been intensely explored by many, but it is Will Allen’s The Good Food Revolution that draws a staggering connection between discrimination and the United States’ obesity epidemic, offering solutions that tackle both monstrosities at once. Allen’s belief that access to locally grown produce should be a basic right stems from years of witnessing that right being strategically denied to the urban poor. The spread of chain business and the reduction of farms has created a crisis that Allen’s company Growing Power seeks to rectify. These claims are not only supported by the evidence presented by Allen in his experience, but also by circumstances in the reader’s life that mirrors what is described. It is unnerving to realize the after how far the United States has come, inequality is still being served at the dinner table.

The Worst Mistake In History As far back as archaeologists can recall, hunting and gathering has been the main source of food for humankind. As populations started to grow many families found it hard to get their hands on food, which led to the rise of agriculture. In the article,“The Worst Mistake in the History of Humankind,” by Jared Diamond, he explains how agriculture, although viewed as progress for modern civilizations, was indeed the worst decision humankind has ever made. In the article, Diamond argues that although agriculture was an effective way to increase people 's food supply, it came with many downfalls as well.