#7 Fresh, A Look Inside America's Food Nightmare

 

    The film Fresh is a 2009 documentary about America’s food system. It focuses on agriculture and the sustainability of our current production structure. 

    Watching the film, I witnessed horrendous living conditions for chickens, cows, and pigs. In the movie, a couple running a manufacturing farm for chickens is partnered with “The Company.” The actual name of this company is never released. During the interview, the couple states they have no idea what is in the grain the chickens are being fed. They also state how the chickens have their beaks and claws removed to prevent injuries. 

    

    While watching in horror, I see this couple refer to their partner, “The Company,” often stating that if the business is not run to “The Companies” liking, they will be cut off even though they had recently renewed a seven-year contract. The businesswoman is very matter-of-fact when describing how the goal is to fatten up the chickens as quickly as possible and does not seem fazed by the toxic environment surrounding their product. The businessman does not speak a lot in the interview, but his facial expressions appear sad. He seems to be guilt-stricken about the way they are running their farm. 

    

    At one point, stacks of pallets filled with chicks are unloaded off a truck. With a loud thump, the chicks get slammed to the ground without any care for an injury. In another instance, we see full-grown hens fleeing across the warehouse floor, and in the wake, a decomposing carcass lays flattened, sinking into the ground. Viewing the devastation was truly gut-wrenching. 

    Thankfully, Fresh also brought to light the importance of raising our animals ethically, free to roam pastures and eat their natural food such as grass, bugs, and not grain. I learned the importance of getting away from monoculture farming (growing large amounts of the same species, animal and plants, without variation). When a farmer creates a monoculture environment, the product requires large amounts of antibiotics or pesticides to keep away disease and pests. This is dangerous because, over time, pests and organisms become resistant to the chemicals, requiring more potent doses in the future. Chemicals are not the only problem in this fast, large production scheme. Sanitation, disease, bacteria, and toxic waste from manure lagoons wreak havoc on the environment. 

    Fresh was hard to stomach, but I feel all college and high school students should watch it. Americans live in a fast-paced culture and are quick to turn a blind eye to unpleasantness. If the truth of what is happening inside these large manufacturing farms were a requirement for our future scholars, the nation would then see change happening drastically. The youth of today are known for being highly vocal both physically and technologically. The energy of the youth, partnered with the existing community for ethical farming, has the ability to see significant improvement should the two ever join forces.