The following just came in from Sustainable Table, who produced the “fun” Meatrix, a series of cartoons featuring the “terrible” practices in modern food production.”  Meatrix I focused on dismantling pork and poultry production, Meatrix II goes after “industrial” dairies, and Meatrix II½ “exposes” meat processors. If you’re in agriculture and haven’t seen these, take a look – they are tremendously effective in the media savvy under-40 crowd. 

Note the positioning of their announcement; it’s appealing, mainstream, and, unless you know their background – not terribly threatening to agriculture.  However, if you want to look at it ethically, as they infer below, one could easily question the ethics of promoting one type of farm while condemning another. If you don’t believe groups like this should be defining which agrifood practices are sustainable, who’s a family farmer, and what’s ethical – perhaps it’s time for you to learn a bit more about their work.

New York City, May 30, 2008—Sustainable Table,the creator of the animated short film series, The Meatrix, is going on the road again, headed to this year’s Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. Founder/Director, Diane Hatz, and Moopheus, the larger than life, trench-coat-clad cow and superhero star of The Meatrix, will bring festival goers an urgent message—“Eat locally grown, sustainably raised foods to help save the environment.”  2008 is emerging as the year of ethical eating. Local food is becoming an important part of the consumer food market as consumers want to know more about their food — where it was grown, what ingredients it contains, how it was packaged, and the footprint its production left on the earth.

“By purchasing sustainable, local foods in-season, you eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods thousands of miles, your food dollar goes directly to the farmer, and your family will be able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables. Buying seasonal produce also provides an exciting opportunity to try new foods and to experiment with seasonal recipes. And it simply tastes better!” said Diane Hatz, Founder/Director of Sustainable Table.

Sustainable Table and HOMEGROWN, a campaign of Farm Aid, are teaming up to send a message of food sustainability and stewardship of the environment to people at this year’s Bonnaroo festival.  Sustainable Table believes that people can still eat sustainably when camping, whether at festivals or in the woods, as well as at summer barbecues and picnics.  The program will share sustainable campfire and grilling recipes which will be posted online at Sustainable Kitchen.