Books

Here’s our growing list of food system writing from both sides of the “agricultural divide”, complete with our mini-book reports:

“The Raw Milk Revolution“  David Gumpert — A balanced, journalistic look at raw milk,  Gumpert throws into question whether raw milk is “inherently dangerous” and shows that something besides safety is driving regulatory agencies like the FDA to demonize raw milk and terrorize dairy farmers.  Millions of consumers drink raw milk every day.  Millions more want it.  Why can’t they get it?  Even if you have no particular interest in drinking raw milk yourself, this is a book that will show you how misguided our food regulatory agencies are.  Apply the same thinking to genetically modified foods.  To allowing pesticides into our foods.  To allowing bleaching and irradiating of our foods.  Same agencies. (Grant)

“The Town That Food Saved”  Ben Hewitt — The small town of Hardwick, VT is cast as a town being reborn through its commitment to a local food economy.  But is it that simple?  Hewitt digs below the surface in this book, asking tough questions about “community” and “local”.  This is truly eye-opening for anyone interested in the shape our new food economy – there is much to be learned in Hardwick!  (more of my reaction to the book here:  How Big Is Small?) (Grant)

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What we’re reading now:

Just Food: Where Locavores Get It Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly by James McWilliams (Grant)

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And here are books on our to-read list:

“Safe Food“ by Marion Nestle

Please use the comments section to suggest further books we should read!