Aim Quote by Raj Patel
“We need to realize that these industrial methods of farming have gotten us used to cheap food. The corollary of cheap food is low wages. What we need to do in an era when the price of food is going up is pay better wages. A living wage is an absolutely integral part of a modern food system, because you can't expect people to eat properly and eat in a sustainable way if you pay them nothing. In fact, it's cheap food that subsidized the exploitation of American workers for a very long time, and that's always been an aim of cheap food.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Food Politics: How the Food System Affects Health, Environment, and Community, Michael Pollan, 2008
Industrial farming's cheap food hides the true cost of low wages; fair pay is essential for a sustainable food system.
In simple terms: Cheap food masks labor exploitation; fair wages needed.
Key Takeaway
Pay workers a living wage.
Themes
economics
food justice
labor rights
sustainability
Mood
concerned
determined
Type
policy
advocacy
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- consumer advocacy
- corporate responsibility
- community-supported agriculture
Key Concepts
social equity
systemic exploitation
public health
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance affordable food with fair labor compensation?
- What policies can ensure both food security and living wages?
A Different Perspective
Higher food prices may strain consumers, making wage increases politically contentious.
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