Life in the Red State

In the chapter "Life in the Red State", Kingsolver explains how the month of August means tomatoes to small farmers. Fifty pounds of tomatoes quickly became over 300 pounds, and Kingsolver's family turned to different storing methods. She explains how canning has a bad reputation as being "murderous to women's freedom and sanity" (200). She parallels canning with her friends to a book club, and enjoyable put time consuming way to spend your time. She also explains how one can freeze whole tomatoes in the feezer, which I had no idea you could do. Another interesting thing Kinsolver goes into is the packing of organic produce. Organic commercial farming is hard work because farmers need special training, orgainic certification, reliable markets, and a packaging plant. She gives us a look at the behind-the-scenes workings of one orgainic packaging plant, Appalachian Harvest. Appalachian Harvest packaging plant is on the border of Virginia and Tennessee. Farmers bring in their organic produce, which is then washed, sorted, and packaged in the plant. The sorting of the produce must comply with rediciulus supermarket standards, such as cucumbers between 6 and 8 inches only. The farmers are paid after the supermarkets issue their checks, with Appalachian Harvest taking a 25% commission. Although sales have gone up, organic Californian tomatoes were being sold for less and beat local farmers to the markets. Though they are still organic, produce from California being sold in Virginia represents a lot of fossil fuels being burned from transportation. That's a whole lotta pollution that could be decreased by buying organic and local.