The Most Famous Farmer in America

July 22, 2010

Kristin

Today I picked up a magazine I get in the mail that had the headline “Green travel: Food lovers down on the farm”.  As you can imagine, based on the title, my interest was piqued.  I turn to the contents page and BAM – a large picture featuring none other than Joel Salatin himself.   My little intellectual heart sank.

If you’ve followed any sort of food issues recently, you are familiar with his name.  The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan – quite possibly the seminal book beginning the recent cultural critique of industrial farming – heavily features him and his farm, Polyface in Swoope, Virginia.  Since the publishing of Dilemma he has also featured prominently in several food and farming themed documentaries, including Food, Inc and Fresh.  But that’s not all.  Magazine articles, international newspapers, speaking engagements, books, blogs, radio interviews – he’s ubiquitous.  Here in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia he’s practically a celebrity.  In fact, in 2009 he was Charlottesville’s Person of the Year.  Personally, we’re a little sick of him. (more…)