Whole Story

The Official Whole Foods Market® Blog

Let's Retake Our Plates: Food on Film

By Amanda Yates, March 26, 2010  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Amanda Yates

filmfestheader Earth Month is just around the corner and we are celebrating by hosting our very first company-wide film series! We’ll be featuring films that show the connection between the food we eat and its impact on the environment. Our food choices matter and each of us should feel empowered to make informed decisions. Different cities are doing things a bit differently, so to find info on a film series near you, check out Let’s Retake Our Plate Film Series. Giveaway Alert: Starting next Thursday and continuing throughout Earth Month (that means April!), we’ll be featuring team member reviews of select films that are part of the film series. Readers, we’d love to hear what you have to say about these films too! Check back each Thursday in April to share your film review with us in the comments for a chance to win a $25 gift card. (Not on this post, though. The contest starts on April 1st!) To whet your palate, here are a couple of encore film reviews posted by team members in the last few months. Both of these films are part of our film series. Team Member Rachael Gruver wrote this in her full review of Food, Inc.:
FOOD, Inc. takes a peek into the supply chain of much of the food we eat and talks about the consequences of the way food is currently grown, raised and processed. Consequences like deadly new strains of E.coli, epidemic obesity, type II diabetes, pollution from pesticides and feedlots, and the effect this system has on people in the industry. Although this subject matter sounds both complicated and mind-numbing, FOOD, Inc. presents the information in an engaging and interesting way.
Watch the trailer:
Team Member and seafood quality standards coordinator Carrie Brownstein had this to say in her full review of The End of the Line.
The film begins with beautiful footage of marine life and quickly (and graphically) moves toward its key message: The oceans are overfished and fish populations are in trouble. Some of the most well-known and well-respected marine scientists are interviewed in the film to confirm these bleak trends. I appreciate the filmmaker’s intention to tell this important story about the oceans. Our oceans are under incredible pressure and overfishing is a HUGE problem.
Don't forget to check out one of our film series near you at Let’s Retake Our Plate Film Series. Join us throughout April for review from our esteemed Team Member film reviewers who will be giving you their thoughts on films in our series in the coming weeks: ashleygibbonsAshley Gibbons is the Marketing Supervisor at our Arroyo store in Pasadena and loves eating food other people have cooked at home. When left to her own devices however, a monstrous salad and Murphy’s Stout usually hit the spot. davidlannonDavid Lannon is the President of the Northern California Region of Whole Foods Market. He is a film buff and can help you win your Oscar Pool. laurenLauren Craig is the Associate Marketing Coordinator for the Rocky Mountain region.  A chef at heart, she loves to read about food, eat from her garden and experiment with new and exciting flavors. robinRobin Rogosin is SoPac’s regional Supplement and Body Care Buyer.  For over 30 years, she has been an advocate for eating more green vegetables.

 

39 Comments

Comments

Polly Severy says ...
I like the idea of having a movie night at Whole Foods -- or at Wild Oats -- in Santa Fe. A great idea to get community together, and share in knowledge for healthier lifestyles.
04/01/2010 3:39:22 PM CDT
Tahirih says ...
Eyeopening
04/01/2010 4:38:15 PM CDT
Lori says ...
I plan on seeing the movie in June. I think people should know what their eating & being better informed. Hopefully, the movie will do great & will get more out there! Thanks, Whole Foods for making a difference, Lori
04/01/2010 9:02:31 PM CDT
Phyllis F. says ...
Food ,Inc, was actually very frighting.
04/01/2010 10:17:32 PM CDT
Khadijah Hawkins says ...
Hello, One thing I know is that as consumers we need better choices. I am vegetarian and have been for approximately twenty years, so I am careful of what I eat. However, all foods, even vegetarian foods are subject to contamination, and just downright dishonest maneuvers from food companies. So, yes, our rights as consumers for better foods needs to be accepted and acknowledged! Make better foods, or we as consumers will find a better way to feed ourselves! The film is right on!!! Thank you, Khadijah Hawkins
04/02/2010 6:06:24 AM CDT
Linda Perlin says ...
My vegan daughters have brought to my attention many of the issues raised in these provocative films. If we want to seriously address the health issues in this country, often attributed to a diet loaded in salt, sugar, and fat, we must become aware of and refrain from purchasing what is easy, quick, and generally bad for us.
04/02/2010 11:15:36 AM CDT
Catherine Castro says ...
This short is AWESOME, the more we just keep on getting the message out there, the more we touch with information. I have just been changed by all the information, but especially in "Food,Inc." when they are talking to a person working on a cow (it's horrible) and there's a hole in the side of cow, as if nothing is hurting that poor animal. I know that we are turning things around for the better, slowly but surely. Thank you Whole Foods for your generosity, and providing excellent education for all; because knowledge is power! Love you Whole Foods! c xo
04/02/2010 5:04:02 PM CDT
Dale Roland says ...
It is very interesting the way the movie started as it wants you to believe everything is okay with our food industry and then you get the real deal. Today's food is based on greed, immediate gratification and not on true healthy survival. this movie seems like it will portray the truth about what really goes on and how our animals are actually slaughtered. We need to know the truth in order to change the world and let them know we won't stand for it.
04/03/2010 8:14:21 AM CDT
steve rasinsky says ...
Great movie I suspect that at least one half of all cancers are due to chemicals in our food and water supply. We really need to force our government to clean up this mess. But I suspect that the food industry owns congress. We need to change the laws and get rid of lobbyists. This can only be done with people power, just as we did with health care.
04/04/2010 2:38:31 PM CDT
Jill lin says ...
This documentary reminds me of "sweat, tears and chicken" from green channel. Not only animals were suffering, laborers' conditions were harsh and subhuman. Respect the earth and eat locally grown (or home-grown food is vital to our value and sustainability. Thanks for the film!
04/04/2010 4:24:38 PM CDT
The Healthy Apple says ...
Food Inc. was an incredible eye opener and I am thrilled to see Fresh The Movie, as well...I'm looking forward to seeing the film here in Manhattan and attending the Food on Film events!
04/06/2010 10:26:23 AM CDT
John Fry says ...
6 billion people and going to 12 billion.
04/06/2010 11:18:36 PM CDT
Kathy says ...
It would be nice if some of these movies were in St. Louis. I have seen No Impact Man and thought it was interesting. My boys (11 and 16) got a kick out of having the whole movie theater to ourselves, and I think they even enjoyed the movie.
04/08/2010 4:17:22 PM CDT
Gail K says ...
I've seen many films and read many books about how the quality of our food is declining. More and more people are speaking up demanding changes to the food we eat. Let's keep spreading the message about increasing food standards!
04/11/2010 9:03:04 PM CDT

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