NPR: Where's My Tomato?

Where's My Tomato?

I am going to put my invisible suit on for a few days. The lovely and talented Cheryl Corley will be here. Be nice to her. Happy Father's Day to all the dads.

See you next week!

Hi all ... its Douglas. Cheryl will step in to the blogosphere tomorrow. Until then, some thoughts about ... tomatoes.

Earlier this week I stopped into Phillips Deli, just down the street. Like most days, I'd waited too long to eat. I was ravenous. So I ordered a sandwich and asked for everything. Lettuce, sprouts, pickles, you name it ... a mountain of vegetables ... including 2 big slices of tomato. I came back to my desk and dug in, savoring every single bite. This was a good sandwich!

Until ... I saw what was on TV. There was a man in a lab coat holding a ziploc baggie full of tomatoes, swimming in a pool of pinkish water. The headline: MASSIVE RECALL: SALMONELLA OUTBREAK.

Well, of course, I ate the rest of the sandwich. But it made me stop and think how much I take for granted the availability of certain kinds of food. Its only June in DC. And yes, it has been HOT. Still, tomatoes are far from being "in season." Yet I assume - because I live in a big city with so many other luxuries - that I can have tomato on my sandwich any time of the year. What if that changes? Will contamination (and rising fuel prices) shut down mega-farms and force everyone to start eating local foods. The author of The End of Food has an answer. He and Michel talk about it on today's show.

Take a listen. And let us know what you think. Can the way we eat and shop last forever? What would you do if you only had local produce? How much would you pay for a tomato in June?

~ Douglas

Michel Martin

5:04 PM ET | 06-11-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Dear Douglas,

I really appreciate your reflection on the tomatoes in your sandwich. For a time I was an intern on different farms in Georgia. It was some of the physically most challenging work I have ever done. Until then, I really hadn't thought that much about where my grocery items may have originated, or what was involved in producing them. One good thing about these contamination episodes and rising fuel prices is that maybe folks will start to eat more locally-sourced foods. This may be a great boon to the limited-resource struggling local farmers who have to compete with mega-farms.

A farm that I worked on was trying to compete at one point with another farmer who had produced organic greenhouse tomatoes that were ripe for eating in April, which was unheard of at that time in Georgia. Of course, they had a great season, and sold their tomatoes at very high prices with much success!

I can only hope that folks who are already struggling financially will find ways to feed themselves without having to sacrifice good nutrition.

Thanks for all your great work!

Occasional Itinerant Farmer

Sent by Occasional Itinerant farmer | 7:03 PM ET | 06-11-2008

I really enjoyed today's show, particularly the topic of bi racialism. I am Black and Mexican, and as I listened I was reminded of growing up and not quite knowing how I fit in the world. I was never really accepted within either group as I thought I was a round peg being forced into a square hole. Sometimes you feel like you're alone, even your own parents, despite their own experiences with discrimination, did not have the same experiences and could not relate or explain how there were blacks and Mexicans who seemed more racist than people of other races. I am now married to a white woman and we have begun discussing what our future children will have to confront as they grow up. I've stopped trying to explain what I am to people, but I do have fun calling myself a Blaxican. Thank you for the show Michel.

Sent by Thad Murillo | 8:56 PM ET | 06-11-2008

I went grocery shopping last week and bought two cases of tomatoes. So on Sunday I had some time and I blended all the tomatoes and made some stew.

Only to find out late Monday of the Salmonella outbreak in tomatoes. You can't imagine what went through my mind. But they said as long as I didn't eat the tomatoes raw - thank goodness!

It's Thursday and I'm still kicking but I will say this, I've paid extreme attention to my health these past few days with taking my vitamins (which I used to forget most mornings).

Sent by Moji | 1:01 PM ET | 06-12-2008

Being Bi-racial isn't just about explaining "what" you are to other people, it's also about how society as a whole sees you.
For example, the Census still does not have a box for me as a Black/White individual; I have to check the "Other" box. Further evaluation of the Census form and other federal and state documents, even hospitals', have an appalling idea of what race is. There's White (non hispanic), Black (non hispanic), Hispanic, Alaskan Indian, Pacific Islander, and so on. Everywhere you go one is constantly asked what you are with these rigid guidelines. Truth be told, the only reason I went to Simmons College is because it was the only school that had a Bi-racial box on the application and asked you to clarify. I probably got as much financial aid offerings from other schools because I checked off the "Black" box on my SATs!

Sent by johanna wojciechowski | 1:34 PM ET | 06-12-2008

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

E-mail Updates from the Tell Me More Blog

Share Your Story

What would it take to get your vote? Share text, audio or video.

'Tell Me More' with Michel Martin

"Nothing is assumed." That's the unofficial motto of Tell Me More, the new Monday-Friday talk show with host Michel Martin. Grounded in lively interviewing and compelling storytelling, the program seeks to present diverse new voices, cross borders, challenge conventional wisdom and discover how other people think.