So I was part of a pretty spirited conversation at the Co-op the other day about Growing Power's acceptance of a $1 million grant from Wal-Mart. On one side, the sustainable businessman who referred to Wal-Mart either as the Devil or Satan, I forget, but who absolutely supported Will Allen's decision. I'm blanking on the other guy, who just stopped at Wal-Mart is the Devil, no compromises.
In the middle (literally and figuratively), was me. As in, "Thank God I wasn't asked to make that decision." My first thought on seeing that headline was, "Ooo, boy, that's gonna be controversial." Does anyone really think there wasn't some serious soul searching going on over there before they said yes? Which brings me to this post on Civil Eats this morning. For Andy Fisher of the Community Food Security Coalition, it comes down to this:
I had brought up many of the same points in our conversation, mainly that Wal-Mart has stated it is aiming to offer more local produce; which, as Fisher also points out, happens to fit quite closely with its PR efforts to get in to urban markets. I'm not arguing a chicken and egg situation here. I'm sure Wal-Mart's question was "How do we break into urban markets?" and local foods was one of the answers. Does that negate the benefits? Obviously, as Fisher shows, there's a strong argument to make there. Is Will Allen an idealist? Hells yes. The first tour I took of Growing Power lasted four hours, and we never even made it out of the main greenhouse, Will was so excited to show us everything. Surrounded as I am with farmer's markets and urban gardens and organic veggies for my Bi Bim Bop, it's easy to lose perspective. But I try hard to remember that a few miles away over on Silver Spring Road, most of Growing Power's target audience shops at Wal-Mart every day. Monsanto money? Easy. Refuse it. Wal-Mart money? I'd say the same...but what does that say to their audience? "Wal-Mart is bad, and I shop at Wal-Mart, so does that mean I'm bad?"
As usual, I have argued myself from one side of an argument to another and back again.
In the middle (literally and figuratively), was me. As in, "Thank God I wasn't asked to make that decision." My first thought on seeing that headline was, "Ooo, boy, that's gonna be controversial." Does anyone really think there wasn't some serious soul searching going on over there before they said yes? Which brings me to this post on Civil Eats this morning. For Andy Fisher of the Community Food Security Coalition, it comes down to this:
Wal-Mart’s and the “Good Food Revolution’s” interests may dovetail in bringing groceries into food deserts. However, the broader interests of these two parties are in direct opposition to each other. Wal-Mart’s operations cause larger problems to the food security of the communities in which they locate.
I had brought up many of the same points in our conversation, mainly that Wal-Mart has stated it is aiming to offer more local produce; which, as Fisher also points out, happens to fit quite closely with its PR efforts to get in to urban markets. I'm not arguing a chicken and egg situation here. I'm sure Wal-Mart's question was "How do we break into urban markets?" and local foods was one of the answers. Does that negate the benefits? Obviously, as Fisher shows, there's a strong argument to make there. Is Will Allen an idealist? Hells yes. The first tour I took of Growing Power lasted four hours, and we never even made it out of the main greenhouse, Will was so excited to show us everything. Surrounded as I am with farmer's markets and urban gardens and organic veggies for my Bi Bim Bop, it's easy to lose perspective. But I try hard to remember that a few miles away over on Silver Spring Road, most of Growing Power's target audience shops at Wal-Mart every day. Monsanto money? Easy. Refuse it. Wal-Mart money? I'd say the same...but what does that say to their audience? "Wal-Mart is bad, and I shop at Wal-Mart, so does that mean I'm bad?"
As usual, I have argued myself from one side of an argument to another and back again.
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