Guyanese Online

The Ethics of the Tomato: Food Justice in America – By Dr. Dhanpaul Narine

The Garden of Eden would envy the American supermarket. Apples tempt the palate in endless varieties, asparagus sits on toast and broccoli is more than the director of an action movie. Bountiful reigns in America and the supermarket has come to signify the crest of conspicuous consumption. Supermarkets make a total of $5billion a year.

There is food from all corners of the planet. If they don’t have a particular item it can be imported for the right price. Stocked on the shelves are this morning’s entrée that include the beautiful red tomatoes, glossier than the plastic variety. But if those tomatoes could speak one would hear a tale of ethics, farmworker justice and manipulation of the system by big business. There is also genetic engineering to produce the ‘tasty tomatoes’ that can be detrimental to one’s health.    Continue reading →