FOOD NEWS: Part3: Conversation with King Corn Filmmaker Curt

[Bluesteel484]

Corn is the exact opposite of what we should be growing. They tell us the diversity of this crop ranges from food to gasoline. The problem is that it is not even edible to begin with. You HAVE to process it before people can eat it. The crop we SHOULD be growing is HEMP. This is one of the only plants in the world to NATURALLY produce seeds containing an ideal ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids for the human body. Hemp will benefit all, we just need to demand it!!

[HunterMann]

I've been traveling/working in Mexico off&on for 30 years and have noticed increased obesity. There seems to be very little exposed about high fructose corn syrup there. They have just as much junk food there and the processed food with corn syrup are cheaper than whole, quality foods. I think the goal need to be: to make the healthier foods CHEAPER than the crappy ones. People want cheaper, they want sweet too.

[kombatmaster12]

No matter what, America is gonna get fat. We can't stop it :(

[dicksatan]

Yep. The farm bill needs overhauling. I remember Reagan using terms like 'family farms' to pass bills that helped mostly mega agribusiness.

I'm sure the Dems didn't help in putting much in there to help family farms either.

[annieffa]

Ok! Listen... You didn't get your hands dirty becuase you weren't truly farming! You were unloading into a pickup! We farm about 1000 acres and we market an extremely safe extremely productive crop. Ethonal is not controling the market. The demand for the product is and ethnol does not comprise that much of it. I believe that its is the food processers that need to be revised. Farmers are just doing what they always have.

[spurcross]

If you find King Corn to be an important message, you should follow up by googling a copy of Michael Pollan's essay "Power Steer". It is a quick read and every bit as insightful as King Corn, but from the perspective of it's role in factory farming (feedlot cattle).

[AcaiBerryMONAVIE]

HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP-man made sugar vs. Mother nature. sugar cane , beets, honey maple trees, etc

[free2hug]

Corn on the brain. If you are concerned about high fructose corn syrup, join a campaign to get cola companies to switch to beet or cane sugars at thepoint[dot]com and search for corn syrup ...I just signed my name.

Hopefully this starts the path to better corporate responsibility. Cola companies seem to use cane or beet sugar in countries outside the U.S. Why not in the US?

[tadpolenese]

@free2hug

National security, man. US corn (and syrup thereof) is meant as strategic human/know-how reserve against long-term oil embargo. Granted, all that carb was meant to feed cars, but it's ending up feeding humans (including export.) But trust me, when war happens, oil reserve will be used for war, corn-derived products will be used for civilian energy. You don't kid around with the national security of 300 million people. So, in your dreams will US use cane/beet sugar.

[INeedAManifesto]

"farming is largely not what we imagine it to be..." yes...including of livestock. Check out Proposition 2 in California on stopping the extreme caging of chickens and livestock animals.

[eltearpdx]

Just a reminder - King Corn will air on most PBS stations tomorrow - April 15 2008 (10 pm? check local listings)

[heathenhell]

We saw this film in San Francisco in November and it is GENIUS!!!!!! If you have a chance I not only recommend for you, I would say to bring everyone you know. One of the best Documentaries in years, this should have won the Oscar by far!

[eltearpdx]

I heard King Corn movie will be on TV in April 2008. PBS stations, Independent Lens is the series name.

[toughfarmingboy]

to add to my other commentm, plus theres maintenance for your farm and its equipment!

[eltearpdx]

i think the filmmaker has a lot of respect for the hard work of farming. He said what he did wasn't "hard dirty work"... toughest job was signing up for govmt programs.  Most farmers are just as frustrated with the current food system in US.

[toughfarmingboy]

This really pisses me off because hes says its not dirty hard work, when all they are growing is 1 acre,not thousands or 100s and most farms dont just grow crops!

[averagebetty]

Real food... what a concept. I can't wait to see this movie!

[wizteen5]

this sucks

[wizteen5]

boring

[avaistheone]

I am looking forward to seeing this film.

There certainly is too much high-fructose corn syrup in our foods. I would like that to change soon.

[andyraw]

OR MYB SHARK LOL

[hazzardien]

OR LIK TROUT DAT U LIF IN MONTAINS

[OmigotDskim]

R U A TUNA BY ENY CHANS????

[CMLovejoy]

The problem is that land is to expensive, and people like me that want to be farmers can't afford the large upfront cost. Banks refuse to finance beginning farmers as well, because of the high risk involved.

[cookingupastory]

You make a very good point. I recently did a story, 'a New Family Farmer', who had hit a wall when trying to secure a loan for his first farm. He was finally able to do it, fortunately for us all.

[hollybearyhaleystar]

@CMLovejoy @CMLovejoy I know this documentary focuses on farms and larger scale food production, but if you just want to feed yourself and your family, it is more than possible to do so even in a rural setting. Check out /dervaes they grow 6,000 pounds of food a year on 1/10 of an acre in their front and backyard. It's called urban homesteading and is a new tread that people who can't afford land or to move are using to take back control of our food production.

[wosyangping]

cbbbccbb

[bratfink74]

Were you trying to spell "corn on the cob"? LOL

[AvatarKatAang91]

He has a funny lookin' face

[jeanie123124]

I think he is cute! nerdy cute, but cute.

[teresaveg]

We hope to grow real food one day on a big Iowa farm. Today's farmer is KRAFT and other processed food plants. When we can, we will provide food for our community. It is more work than the average person thinks. Great video.

[marywinmusic]

Howdy Rebecca, thank you for sharing your video. Wow! Awesome footage. Hooray for industrialization! Five stars and thank you for the enrichment : ) Cheers, ~Mary

[cookingupastory]

Yes, they've done quite a job of it.

[dionysusstar]

Thanks for posting...is the documentary available now...if not when?

[cookingupastory]

I'm not sure, dionysusstar...check their website, kingcorn[dot]net

[dionysusstar]

thanks for the website...the DVD is available from their site for $25. I'm defeintly putting it on a to get list. Thanks.

[st3v3nth0mps0n]

shut the fuck up!

[Urgelt]

This three-part series is a superb introduction to an important film. Until we return to producing and consuming real food, our health costs and obesity problems can only get worse. Thank you for sharing this on YouTube!

[glebefarmvt]

Kunstler said it yesterday, very succinctly:

"In the 1930s, many people could return to family farms and get by, even with little money. Today there are far fewer family farms."

[ReliableInsider]

We seem to be trying to save the family farm the same way we try to save nature.

We put a little fence around it and call it a park.

There is nothing wrong with running a kernel of corn through a machine, but the time has come to stop running chickens and pigs and cows through machines. We are not monsters. We should be putting corporations in pens and allowing the tigers to run free, not the other way around.

[bdjhrb13]

dumb

[Suzanne42]

Excellent, as always!