^ Michael Pollan speaking on North America’s dysfunctional relationship with food (Jackie Connelly photo).
Berkeley author, Michael Pollan, was in Vancouver recently to promote the paperback release of his critically-acclaimed book, In Defense of Food. Barbara-Jo McIntosh invited him to speak at UBC Farm as part of a fundraiser to protect the 24 hectare farm from development, the last working farm within Vancouver’s city limits. Over 700 people were on hand to hear Pollan speak, sample vegetarian appetizers prepared by members of The Chef’s Table Society of BC, and get signed copies of the book. While the organizers were prepared for rain, it evolved into a glorious day.While Pollan admitted he was not very familiar with the Canadian food context, much of what he said was still relevant north of the 49th parallel. Naturally, with such a dominant neighbour, we’re influenced by the American outlook on food, an outlook Pollan believes is fatally unhealthy. The dietary paradox, he related, is not with the French, it is in America — a society obsessed with health and fitness but suffering from high levels of food-related chronic disease. We know this, says Pollan, because wherever in the world this Western diet has been introduced, an increase in chronic disease has quickly followed. Traditional diets, on the other hand, pose no such problems, even those that are deemed highly unhealthy from a nutritional point of view, such as the blubber-rich Inuit diet.
Pollan’s prescription? In a nutshell: “Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” While that sounds simple, it takes Pollan 244 pages to explain it in his book. His conclusion? Food is
no mere thing but a web of relationships among a great many living beings, some of them human, some not, but each of them dependent on the other, and all of them ultimately rooted in soil and nourished by sunlight. I’m thinking of the relationship between the plants and the soil, between the grower and the plants and animals he or she tends, between the cook and the growers who supply the ingredients, and between the cook and the people who will soon come to the table to enjoy the meal. It is a large community to nourish and be nourished by. The cook in the kitchen preparing a meal from plants and animals at the end of this shortest of food chains has a great many things to worry about, but “health” is simply not one of them, because it is given.
^ Mark Bomford, UBC Farm’s Program Coordinator for the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, welcomed everyone to UBC Farm and gave an eloquent introduction to Michael Pollan.
^ Barbara-jo McIntosh & Michael Pollan listen to Mark Bomford’s introduction.
^ 700 people gathered to hear Michael Pollan speak in defense of food. What was expected to be no more than a 20-minute speech, turned into a 45-minute address that roused the crowd to a standing ovation in the end.
Afterwards, people were able to sample vegetarian hors d’oeuvres prepared by some of the city’s leading chefs and student chefs…
^ Chef Gord Martin loves Mother Nature.
^Bin 941 stuffed tomatoes.
^ Chef Julian Bond and PICA students preparing their offering.
^ Edible British Columbia Hazelnut Rhubarb Cobbler by Chef Cari Lynn Reid.
^Angelina of the Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver prepares vegetable cups.
^ Brunoise Apple, Carrot, and Beet with Mango Cilantro Vinaigrette on an Asian-Marinated Cucumber by Chef Robert Erickson of Wild Rice Restaurant.
^ Some aural ambiance added to the festive atmosphere.
^ Eating can be a political statement. The Green Party’s Adriane Carr appreciating the offering from La Terrazza chefs Gennaro Iorio and Tim O’Brien.
Thanks to all of those who made this event possible, Barbara-Jo McIntosh was able to give UBC Farm a cheque for $12,000.00. If you care about where your food comes from and want to protect our food self-reliance, please sign the petition to save UBC Farm. Don’t forget, the 15th annual Lower Mainland Feast of Fields at UBC Farm is on Sunday, September 13, 2009.
~ RG
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