Ethical Essay 2

I have chosen to write an essay that encopasses the slow food concept. This movement is focused on moving away from the industrial and fast paced life that encompasses a destruction path to a cultures identity related to the choices offered by the industries of fast food. We are on a collision course of not having a "culture" derived meal. Instead, we can go to the major food chains that offer the same style and taste of prepared food as their competitors. We need to take a step back and re-discover our original food identity that has been lost to the major food industry.

The slow food movement provides us with the information needed to get back to our roots. This can be achieved by looking back at our ecoregion, so that we can learn how to celebrate culinary traditions and food.

Eating at a national chain may provide a variety of different styles of food and taste. However, these different varieties taste the same at the next national chain, so were is the true variety of taste? The national chains are deciding for us what to eat and how it shall taste! This is not a reflection of our ecoregion, but rather a reflection of what a big corporation decides what our ecoregion shall contain and taste like.

The same can be said about national chain supermarkets. You may find some items that are related to the local ecoregion, but you can purchase the same items at a store thousands of miles away. Were does the true variety actually exist?

So, where can we purchase foods that celebrate the local ecoregion? I have discovered that the local independent restaurants and farmers markets allow us to support and maintain the ecoregion. I know that these small owners are preserving the local heirloom varieties that include the local food system. I find it interesting that when i go to Mexico, there are many street vendors that sell local food and produce. I feel that the ecoregion there is very alive. The culture is preserved to this day because the pride of the culture is still very strong. Don't get me wrong in regards to my culture, i just feel that even though we have many choices to choose from in regards to menu items. However, do we truly have many choices? We need to rediscover our ecoregion, and quit allowing for the national chains to determine what our food should taste like. Picture of local market in Mexico>>>>>

Slow food usa website. www.slowfoodusa.org