Wal-Mart, a blessing and a curse for local food

News came out today that Wal-Mart, the uber-megastore-to-end-all-megastores, has released a plan to address its global sustainability goals. Everyone knows that Wal-Mart makes or breaks the market of consumed goods. As the world’s largest public corporation it owns 8500 stores in 15 countries with 55 different names. Wal-Mart employs more than 2.1 million people worldwide and 1.4 million here in the Unites States. Last year alone, Wal-Mart brought in over $400 billon. No matter your stance on this ever-present retailer, there is no doubt that they control the ebb and flow of many consumer goods.

As of today, they intend to spearhead the local food movement and sustainability on a global scale.
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Killing Chickens vs. Processing Chickens (part I)

Mobile poultry processing on Martha's Vineyard

Two weeks ago I was visiting one of my closest friends who lives on Martha’s Vineyard. Unlike the Kennedy’s, Wall Street Executives and Barack Obama, my friend and his lovely family are not millionaires living it up on the island. It turns out that most of the people that live there year-round are middle class families trying to survive in a community that inflates its cost for the summer crowds. The cost of living there is so high that local folks get an “Island Discount Card” that provides a 10% discount at the grocery stores and other daily amenities.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that I did not visit Martha’s Vineyard to wine and dine with hollywood celebrities. In fact, beside spending time with my friend, his wife and their one-year old son, I traveled east to see his farm and kill his chickens.
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The Oregon Sustainability Experience

Sustainability is all the rage.

Last week I boarded a bus with 30 professionals, grad students and other food politic wonks to explore the pieceses of an ever-increasing sustainable food system here in Oregon. Coined “The Oregon Sustainability Experience,” the week-long adventure drove us all over, visiting multiple participants and benefactors to the evolving sustainable food systems across Oregon. From Portland to Hillsboro to Monmouth to Corvallis to Philomath to Tangent to Junction City to Salem to Brooks to Woodburn and then back to Portland, we invested 40+ hours to investigation, analysis, reflection and immense discussion on the various topics that be.
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Blogger’s Block (or) Why I Have Not Posted Lately

As each day piles upon the next, it gets more and more difficult to write the next entry. Over the last month I have hit many obstacles in my idealized career in food – a romantic vision turned overly dramatic. A constant trouble for me is the blog. Every day that I do not write wears on me. As much as I hoped to find a balanced relationship with blogging, once I ceased to write daily, I seemed to have jumped ship. Maybe I am a man of little middle ground. I don’t know why I could not or cannot write more frequently during the week. Ironically, the longer I wait to write the more I have to say. And in short time I have no idea where to begin. Do I explore my own kitchen projects? Divulge the politics of food movements? Critique the Portland food scene? (Which of course plays into my weekly distresses.) In the worst case, I do what I’m doing now – I blog about blogging.

From the very beginning I wanted this public space as separate from my life. Yet the problems I face during the day will inevitably trickle down to this site. The most direct influence is the absence of writing. If I am distracted I am less likely to write. Over time this tendency inflates and the next thing I know I have not written in days, weeks, a month?!

In this short post of reflection, let me say this:

I am rebuilding myself and redefining my relationship with the food movement and my career. I am in the process of rediscovering my passion and potential. I am finding my voice (again.) I appreciate your patience during this process. If you like what I have to say you will come back. If you are tired of waiting, maybe it will be awhile. But I promise that this lapse is almost over.

Good Man Eats is making a comeback.

An Intentional Local Food System

The overlapping interests of a just food system.

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