If you haven’t heard already, Gov. Granholm has declared Saturday, March 20 as Michigan Meat-Out day, encouraging people to abstain from meat thus promoting a healthier lifestyle. I should say, as I write this on Wednesday night, that this date is still set and she hasn’t completely rescinded her proclamation (even the Senate voted in favor of taking back the resolution).
I feel a little torn over this proclamation (and I mean a little).
Agriculture is a big business in Michigan, in fact it’s agribusiness. Now, perhaps it was wrong for the Governor to single out a group as she did. Many of the politicians are cited as saying that Granholm has never taken the agricultural industry seriously, as the reason for their disgust. True, true… But, the main concern is the fear that this will somehow hurt the livestock industry, which is possible, but highly improbable in my opinion.
I still say she has the right spirit. The point was to get people to eat healthier, and for one day to have one or two meals that don’t center around a slab of meat.
I love meat and I love farmers, but not all meat is created equal either. Since we have such a meat-dependent food system, farmers have had to figure out ways to meet this demand in the cheapest way possible- thus factory farms and CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) which produce huge amounts of pollution and animals that often never see the sun. Also, the last time I even glanced at beef in the supermarket it was from Argentina… So unless you read those labels very carefully you may not even be eating a domestically grown animal, or helping an even semi-local farmer.
Gone are the iconic green pastures spotted with cows, or pigs that live out their lives rooting in the soil. Of course you can still seek out those old fashioned types of production and meat, but that’s not what’s largely available. And, as many of you who have emailed me about where to get local beef know, supply of grass fed animals/meat is often short. The animals take longer to raise, and fewer can be raised per acre… which means in the long run, if we REALLY want our animals to be treated humanely… say it with me… we have to eat less meat!
So why not give up meat for a few meals? It’s healthier for you and the environment and there are some pretty darn good alternatives. My only pet peeve is that Granholm could’ve done this in the summer- then she could’ve made it a “Meat-Out, Veg-In” Day!
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