The next food revolution

We are in the midst of the next food revolution.

With Walmart now selling organic, the "eat organic" revolution of the 1970's (or thereabouts) is now normative behavior.

The next food revolution is all about eating fresh, local, seasonal produce. Some organic revolutionaries now actually prefer fresh, local, seasonal but conventionally grown produce to shipped from across the world organic. The focus on produce is now extended to eating simple: choosing to eat things that "grandma would recognize as food" or things that have less than five ingredients, all of which are foods, and none of which are corn derivatives. Michael Pollan wrote a long essay in the NY Times about this last month (which I blogged on here).

The word revolution connotes turning over, but also just turning, like a wheel... and by extension like a fly-wheel. I can feel the flywheel of this revolution turning faster and faster when I starting reading about these issues in the most unlikely of places: LifeHacker.

LifeHacker describes itself as "your own personal early adopter" and is focused on "simple and totally life-altering tips and tricks for managing your information and time". Imagine my surprise when I found the following posts on LifeHacker in the last few days.

• Save $988 per year by packing your lunch pointing to another blog that provides lunch options to pack for yourself "and a healthy menu at that".
• Lower your food costs by buying what's in season also aimed at your wallet, but promoting seasonal (and therefore somewhat local) foods.

I like to think these are small signs of a growing conciousness for a wider audience of being mindful about what we eat and where it comes from. Deciding to eat local, seasonal foods, for whatever reason, ends being good for the individual and good for many other reasons too.

The doyen of VC bloggers, Brad Feld, posted something relevant a year ago on Board Meeting Food. He notes that 98% of board meeting food is terrible (he uses another word), and calls for healthier, more interesting food. This is equally relevant for meetings and events in communal settings as it is in business settings.

We should be researching and publishing food and meal options for corporate and communal settings that are relevant for different areas of the country and different seasons which fulfill all our needs for good, wholesome food. Anyone up for the challenge?

Technorati: food health