Agriculture Quote by Michael Pollan
“Those externalized costs have always included labor. It is only the decline over time of the minimum wage in real dollars that's made the fast food industry possible, along with feedlot agriculture, pharmaceuticals on the farm, pesticides and regulatory forbearance. All these things are part of the answer to the question: Why is that crap so cheap? Our food is dishonestly priced. One of the ways in which it's dishonestly priced is the fact that people are not paid a living wage to process it, to serve it, to grow it, to slaughter it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan, 2006
Cheap food results from underpaying labor and externalizing costs onto society and environment.
In simple terms: Low prices hide the true cost of production.
Key Takeaway
Support fair wages and sustainable practices.
Themes
food industry
economics
ethics
Mood
concerned
inquisitive
Type
analytical
activist
When to use this quote
- grocery shopping
- restaurant choices
- political advocacy
Key Concepts
externalized costs
living wage
agricultural policy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can consumers influence fair labor?
- What policies could internalize hidden costs?
A Different Perspective
It oversimplifies complex market dynamics.
