Corporate Genealogy & The Illusion of Choice

Do you know where the food is coming from that is {supposed to be} nourishing your body? When I first start working with clients, I always have a conversation with them around this topic. 

Over the holidays I was talking with my grandmother about her experience owning and managing a butcher store in the late 1930's. This was a very small, counter service store that was staffed by just two or three employees (including my grandma). Customers would call in and place their order and then a delivery guy would take them their canned goods and butchered meats. The food that was provided to folks was fresh and they knew where their food was coming from. Grandma even shared with me the first time she had to butcher one of their chickens, but don't worry...I'll spare you the details.    

Unfortunately, their small store was quickly taken over and closed after only eight months of being in business. 

Why? 

Chain stores started to become a dominant force which overtook these small butcher and canned good grocers. In 1926, Charles Merrill, of Merrill Lynch merged and bought out several chain operations which then started the boom of the larger supermarkets in the 1930's and 1940's.  Growth by merger became common and led to numerous antitrust actions and attempts to tax these smaller grocers out of existence. 

Although these large supermarkets were (and still are in some cases) a benefit to Americans, this is also what has led us down the path to living such an unhealthy lifestyle. 

When I came across the diagram to the right, I began doing my own research and reading more about the importance of what I now call corporate genealogy: the tracing and lineage of American {food} corporations and businesses. 

     The illusion of choice: Ten mega corporations control the output
of almost everything that you buy. 

To live a more well-nourished lifestyle, we must start by caring more about where our food and the products we use come from. 

How do we do this?

There are a lot of things that you can do but here is a list that you can use to get yourself started: 

• Begin gardening: big or small, it doesn't matter, just start doing it. If you've never gardened before, you might start with a small herb garden. 
• Shop at Farmer's Markets: go to your local farmer's market to purchase locally grown produce from farmers in your community. 
•  Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture): learn more about CSA's in your community at Local Harvest: real food, real farmers, real community.
• Purchase a share of a cow, pig or chicken: do some research on local farmers in your area and learn about the option to buy grass-fed, free-range and pasture-raised meat and dairy products in bulk. 
• Tyner Pond Farm in Indianapolis is one of my favorite farms in our community! 
• Start using coconut oil: check out these great tips and learn how you can weed out some of your other health and beauty products and start using coconut oil as a safer alternative. 

Remember that this is a lifestyle change. Take one step at a time and embrace the journey to finding your best you! 

Until next time....stay rooted!

Joelle

Sources:
http://www.groceteria.com/about/a-quick-history-of-the-supermarket/