Edible Explorations Book Club: Harvest For Hope by Jane Goodall

Much like other books of this sort, Harvest For Hope, by Jane Goodall, is a good overview. It is mainly written from an anthropological perspective, which is unique, but I did feel that she included much of the same information as other authors do. For example, Goodall uses Joel Salatan's farm in Virginia as an example of a deep organic farm; this is the same farm and farmer Michael Pollan devotes much time to in The Omnivore's Dilemma.

However, Goodall's discussion of GMO (Genetically Modified) products was very interesting and covered information I did not previously know. It also led me to a website listing common brands that use and do not use GM seeds (The Center For Food Safety Shoppers' Guide). I had not thought about how pervasive GM products are in the food industries, including the meat industry. If an animal is given feed grown from GM seeds, the meat you buy could have traces of GM products. Goodall also included an interesting discussion of how animals will instinctively stay away from feed that comes from GM seeds, if given the option between that and organically-based feed. Products certified as organic cannot contain any GM ingredients.

Given her background in anthropology and primatology, it is not surprising that Goodall's discussion of animals and their treatment was so comprehensive and moving. She writes with such passion for the animals and describes vividly and eloquently the horrors of the conditions many animals are forced to live in. It definitely convinced me to be careful of where my meat comes from.