Eat Here [Paperback]

This book is very well done. He not only describes the problems in the American food system, but does a fantastic job of describing international problems, something that is lacking in many books published in the US. The writing is easy to understand even though it broaches some complicated issues. If there were any weaknesses, I think it's that he doesn't cover the nutritional losses of old food enough.

This is required reading for everyone, not just farmers. It's packed with informative fact and real-life stories. A resource to aid those interested in knowing where their food originates (local is best) as well as how their food is cultivated. This book offers many suggestions to help readers find creative ways to support regional agriculture and a healthier lifestyle.

Many Americans do not understand that their food purchases have an impact beyond their waistlines. "Eat Here" is both a wake up call for such people and a guide for all concerned citizens on how to improve the world's broken food system. It argues that changing the food system is anything but a pipedream and then sets out a clear path to that end.

In the first part of the book, author Brian Halweil clearly identifies the many failures of our current way of eating. The long distance transport of food is a major contributor to climate change. Instead of the tastiest fruits and vegetables, supermarkets stock those most amenable to shipping. Family farms are disappearing at an alarming rate, killing rural communities in the process. Water supplies and fisheries are contaminated by agribusinesses whose poor crop rotation practices ensure that much of the fertilizer they apply cannot be absorbed into the soil. The list goes on.

Halweil then lays out a cogent plan for remaking the system. The key for him is rebuilding markets for local food, and he suggests a partnership between consumers and local farmers to achieve this. The first step is for consumers to start demanding local food with their voices and their dollars. This argument, in my view, is "Eat Here's" biggest strength, for it emphasizes that consumers, who often see themselves as anonymous actors in a macroeconomic world, can be powerful agents of change. For those concerned about the money cost of food (that is, nearly everyone in these tough economic times), Halweil makes two important points. First, many local products are cheaper than their national counterpart is because local farming usually cuts out the middleman and fuel costs. Second, if consumers start demanding local products, even goods that are more expensive than their national counterpart will become cheaper as more suppliers enter the market.

Halweil then turns his attention to farmers. He argues that to ensure their viability, small farmers must start seeing themselves as entrepreneurs and seize the sizable post-harvest profits available in their food. (The most astonishing fact in the book is that for every dollar spent on bread in the U.S., farmers get 6 cents, the same amount as the company that makes the wrapper. The rest is going to firms up the distribution chain.) The money in agriculture is in what happens after a product leaves the farm, and Halweil offers suggestions to farmers on how to capture this money. In short, the answer lies beyond the farmer's market in farmer-owned facilities to process, distribute, and sell agricultural products.

"Eat Here" is a thoughtful take on a very important problem. Even those who already take their food seriously would benefit from reading it.

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