to FriedmanIsDead:
your premise has a couple of major assumptions that you don't point out and may not even have considered:
1) it assumes that if everyone made had more income that no other prices but "designer" beef/pork would rise, basically zero inflation.
2) that even if people had more income, they'd only want to spend it on "designer" beef / pork and not "designer" jeans, drugs or something else.
Do I need guilt free meat? Are most of the cows Catholic? I'm confused.
why don't you just admit you're gay and come out of the closet....you'll get a whole group of guys behind you then!
Yes, locally raised meats are generally more expensive than their artificially low-priced Tyson or Farmland equivalents found at our grocery stores, but I don’t recall ever having to pay $8/lb for cheap/roaster cuts of beef or $15 for a whole chicken…neither of which I’d be able to afford with regularity. A few years ago we made the conscious decision to source as much of our meat from local producers/butchers as possible, and while we don’t adhere to it perfectly enough to get all Jesus-y about it, we’ve learned a lot about sustainability and cooking, and continue to make new friends in our local food community.
Unless you are burdened with far too much expendable income and can shift seamlessly into all of your meat purchases being local and sustainable in the same quantities and cuts as before, it does take a conscious effort and a nominal amount of work to make it happen. We eat less meat to make up for the difference in cost (usually the equivalent of megamart prices when there isn’t a sale…a far cry from the class warfare-mongering sums thrown about), we utilize cheaper cuts that require more creativity, planning and longer cooking times, and we have built a relationship with a local butcher instead of relying on the closest grocery store OR assuming the only place to get good meat is Whole Paycheck. More beans, more vegetables, staying out of the grocery store aisles where the expensive and zero-nutrition crack cocaine foods are found…..
I don’t think less of anyone who doesn’t have the same priorities when it comes to making those kinds of changes...I'm sure there are some Dorito eating marathon runners who are way healthier than my sedentary ass, but it’s not close to as daunting or expensive as people try to make it sound, and it’s a fun learning curve that helps you appreciate what goes on your plate a lot more. If you want to give it a try, Kansas City has some farmers and merchants that make it one hell of a great town for it.
Do I really care about what the steer that I am eating now ate for breakfast a week ago? No. About as much as I care about the potato, carrots, peas, beans and tomatoes that were tragically abused and mis-handled when they were ripped from the ground. If it tastes good and is not objectionable on nutritional content, I don't give a crap. It could be produced on Mars by aliens, and if it isn't good (taste or nutritionally), just don't eat it. End of story. FREE MARKET CAPITALISM does not require an in depth knowledge of such a ubiquitous commodity that is necessary for human life. If it's good, it will be apparent in sales quite rapidly. All else is designer food for the ultra rich.
If you want more folks to eat locally produced boutique food that has inherently higher costs associated with by virtue of scale, people need more income. Until average incomes come up enough that people have more disposable cash to invest in these type of businesses, then it's going to be limited in scale and variety.
I love going to eating locally grown stuff, but I can't pay $12-15 for a whole chicken or $8/lb for a roast. That's just not an expense we can afford regularly. It's a luxury.
This movement needs to also address the economic realities of the market they are trying to appeal to. Unless of course everyone wants to keep fighting over the same group of yuppies for their extra scratch.
The comments that people don't care about consumers because they are part of big companies is offbase. There is room for large and small producers of food products. Not all consumers can afford 'designer' beef or pork from small producers. If your intention is to get your small producers producing and selling as cheap as large operations can, then consider my remarks misplaced but affordable food is the name of the game for many in this economy.
I'm working on an app that pop's popcorn.
@Donatella: "what we think is direct, honest, funny and friendly comes off to some of them as rude" -- that is so true! Jersey girl here with no friends. Wanna hang?
Fortunately for me, I managed to dodge the bullet,,,I was in a band at the time and we were still in the rehearsal stage so I was interested in finding other avenues to generate income, The guitarist told me about an audition opportunity with Rick West so I went with him to the audition. I play bass and sing and was on ricks radar when he attempted to throw me off with a wave of his arms to indicate a stop. Old school Stuff.....so after the rehearsal he brought us all into his office for a personal interview and when it was my turn, he started off by asking me why I was there, I immediately told him, MONEY! ...When he said that I would have to work with him for free until the show got off the ground, I said well I would except a notarized contract stating the terms of my obligation and a compensation agreement either hourly or weekly. He Immediately walked to the door and said thank you for your time! never heard from him again.....I just knew something wasn't right with this guy
Hey Justin, the Fannect Team would like to send a huge 'Thank You' to you for such an awesome article! Much thanks to you and the Pitch staff for your hard work. For everyone else, be sure to pre-register for Fannect at http://www.fannect.me/pre-register-for-fan… so we can send you a quick note the second the app comes out.
So calling yourselves the meth busting capitol of the nation/world wouldn't imply that you are, in fact, the meth producing capitol of the nation/world?
I grew up here - but change your marital status - and look at. He is exactly right. Awesome place to raise a family, but not to be single. Lol - my friends all have fabulous advice - join a group. Which one would you join? Response is always...well, I don't know - I'm married. Ok - pretend your husband dies......blank stare. Lol - I'll have learned all the home repair skills they never knew they needed - so I'll have friends again.
You seem to have an accurate view of Kansas Citians. We are nice but not overly welcoming. Maybe to people from other areas of the country we are boring. I will say that when I was living near Boston it was very easy to meet people, much more so than in KC.
I sort of feel like we midwesterners are sheltered a bit. We (in general) are not sure what to do with life so we take the path of least resistance. This partly explains why Missourians don't seem to care which political party someone belongs to: if your name is well-known then you will get their vote because they don't actually spend time following issues.
As a writer, I can only assume you are an introvert. Don't be shy about walking up to people and striking up a conversation. Some will be put off by this but it's not like they are going to punch you for saying "Hi, my name is Matt."
Offer to buy your readers drinks, then you will find yourself with more friends than you can count!
As a native east coaster who has spent collectively 7 years in the midwest (1.5 of those years in KC), I definitely agree with the "very friendly, but overly welcoming" culture here. It took almost a year for me to find my way in KC - that happened not via churches (which seems to be the first thing people recommend as a place to meet people), but via engaging in activities you are interested in (volunteering, the Arts, etc). The single scene here is probably the worst I have seen (and I've lived in a number of different cities both large and small), especially if you are in your late 20's/early 30's.
Can a guy make some friends? What an unadulterated heaping, steaming pile of shit. What about the freaks running the city like Sly and the family stoned? Where is the hard hitting news of the David Martin days?? Find some muck and rake it. How about something about development in the city and the dysfunctional bunch at the kc economic develoment corp? How irrelevant. The Star has been castrated for years and now The Pitch writes about fruity drinks served by the best bartender in town. How about some copy for those of us who don't drink the koolaid or waste our time at haunted houses.
I moved to KC as a fresh eyed 20 year old back in 1993. Freshly married. Got divorced about 2001. Moved back to Raleigh NC in late 2007 after many years single. KC is a great area if you are newly wed or nearly dead. As a single guy back int he 200's I was around when much of downtown was revitalized. And I perpetually had to scratch for a date. the dating market for a 30 something there was HORRIBLE. I finally moved to NC and my luck and life changed dramatically. I do miss the cheap rents though! (At least compared to Chapel hill!)
I was friends with Amber and Nadia at Loyola. Amber was my next door neighbor my junior year and her sophomore when she was living with Jason. We quickly became friends. Even though I last saw her at a reggae bar on Clark street in Wrigleyville in '03, I still cherish her friendship. Almost 10 years later, I was reminiscing about college when I remembered what I had heard in Chicago in 2004. She was a great friend. She did not judge anyone nor did she look down on anyone. Amber always had a smile and was always happy to see you. My thoughts and prayers still go out to her family, friends, and loved ones.
DK
Great article. I am literally in the process of moving back to KC right now...I'm writing this from Arizona on the drive from San Francisco (southern route)...after being there 14 years. I lived in KC right after college for 6 years....left for a job...and moving back for a variety of reasons.
I still have friends from my time there, so am starting with a small pool of familiar people. And my family is in the general area. That said, I'm quite anxious about meeting new people. I do not yet have a job (adventure!!) so hopefully when that is resolved, it will provide an additional kick-start. I agree with the author and others posting here....beyond work, it's finding activities/causes you care about and jumping in with both feet. My fingers are crossed that this move is a great one...and the job search short. Thanks for the article.
Re: “AgLocal wants to help you find guilt-free meat”
To bakedman:
Yea, you're correct. My logic was somewhat flawed.