Food prices again: risks vs. benefits

May 12, 2008

Alexandra Lewin, a doctoral student at Cornell, is working with Corporations and Health Watch in Washington, DC, which “tracks the effects of corporate practices on public health.” Her latest contribution is an analysis of the effects of higher food prices on school lunch programs. Given the impossibly small amount of money schools have to work with, they will surely, she says, “find it ever more difficult to say no to an easy source of revenue: soda, cookies, and other junk food. Here we go again.”

On the other hand, Dan Barber, the fabulous chef of Blue Hill in Manhattan and Stone Barns, writes in the New York Times that higher food prices now “could lead to better food for the entire world.” Market forces, he says may well force more attention to the benefits of small farms “bringing harvests that are more healthful, sustainable and, yes, even more flavorful.” This, of course, is what Michael Pollan and Alice Waters were quoted as saying a month or so ago. I hope they are right.


4 Comments

  1. […] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptHer latest contribution is an analysis of the effects of higher food prices on school lunch programs. Given the impossibly small amount of money schools have to work with, they will surely, she says, “find it ever more difficult to say … […]

    Pingback by Food prices again: risks vs. benefits | 30 Minute Meal Ideas — May 12, 2008 @ 9:34 am

  2. I keep waiting for the idea of community gardens to experience a resurgence in just this circumstance. The chance to have some fellowship while growing some delicious food for very cheap sounds appealing to me.

    Comment by Sheila — May 12, 2008 @ 8:00 pm

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    Pingback by michael pollan — May 31, 2008 @ 7:23 pm

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    Pingback by lunch food — May 31, 2008 @ 9:18 pm

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