Congratulations and Thank You to chef Jamie Oliver for using his famous identity and popular media personality to spread some informative and quality advice to his countrymen and consumers. In efforts to revive/save the British Pork industry, he created a documentary program on why and how it is completely feasible to support struggling British farmers. He battled familiar excuses, such as "its too expensive" to buy local, by showing how the less well-known (and therefore cheaper) cuts of meat (shoulder, belly) are simply not as popular but provide consumers with a delicious part of the animal that if consumed by Brits can help reduce the amount of waist and cheap export of their meat. He also provided the audience with really tasty looking recipes on how to cook this cuts. He made watchers aware that if they couldn't afford to buy the top quality organic/free-range products, then the least they could do was insure they were buying local meat, even if it wasn't labeled "organic".
The last hour of my life was spent in an education way; I can't remember the last time I've thought that about a television program. Still there is much I would have liked Jamie to add. For one, he was entirely directing the audience towards buying British pork. This is great for the british market, but does no good for the world's farmers. And all farmers need a voice to stand up for them right now.
One thing i have really come to realize since living in New Zealand, is that so much of the world's soil is productive. Even if something doesn't grow particularly well, something else just as healthy and valuable can grow in that same plot of land.
A really fascinating part of agriculture is the beauty and mysticism of growing grapes. Apart from the arctic continent, wine is produced on every single major body of land. Even if it seems impossible, too cold, or too hot. People still manage to nourish the soil with enough health to be able to produce grapes. Unfortunately humanity cannot live alone on grapes, but if we put so much effort into growing them in every feasible location, that the wine-industry is still growing healthy, can we not say the same on behalf of argiculature industries in the US and the UK? Which are so much more important for our health and livelihood. Why is growing wine so glamorous and raising corn so under appreciated? This has shocked me since the day I arrived... in grocery stores here 70% of the apples come from the USA, in grocery stores in the USA I'd say 60% of our apples and bartlett pears come from New Zealand... WTF???!!! Our economic system of effeciency and free-markets has to be failing us all to some degree, if its BETTER for farmers in the US to ship there fruit all the way to New Zealand and for consumers in the US to buy New Zealand fruit!!!??? Anyways this is a rant, and I don't want to spend this time complaining.
I really just wanted to acknowledge Jamie Oliver for having the audacity to create the television show, "Save Our Bacon". He went all out and showed viewers the entire lifetime of a farm pig, from artificial insemination to the different cage styles (humane and inhumane) to slaughter. This show only provides support for my personal belief that free-range is better for you and the ones you are eating. Pigs are incredible animals- smart, sweet and sensitive.
More importantly than my personal beliefs is that he used his identity for something good, to challenge and educate consumers. So we can go out and make informed purchasing decisions and to be made more aware of the power the consumer wields over the market. I learned so much and was shocked, educated and pleased with the delivery of the entire program.
Highly recommended and Kudos to Mr. Oliver
Peace, Love and Information...
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