Blog Prompt #7: Secrets about bananas

      When we are in a grocery store, specifically the produce section (which is often near the entrance), bananas are regularly the item we’ll see first. Whether it’s Chiquita of Dole, this fruit—a favorite to many people—is bundled and sold by the pound. Little known to the consumer is the working conditions that people go through to get them to our homes and how little they are paid in comparison to how much we pay for them. 

       As we’ve seen in various movies with the picking and transportation of crops across the world (see Hersey’s and Burger King), conditions are often extremely cruel. Often they are working in upward of 90-degree weather, but the physical toll it takes on their body is even worse. Not only that, but workers are often exposed to many chemicals to either maintain it’s color or modify it in other ways.

     More importantly, the wages that these individuals are making isn’t enough to make a living in Ecuador (one of South America’s more impoverished countries). From statistics I found, it takes a family of four $9.60 per day to pay for “basic necessities” however many of workers make $3 a day and often less. On top of that, it’s not uncommon for children under the age of 10 to be working. Though it doesn’t have to do directly with the secrets banana companies, Patel would still relate these to companies such as Burger King as I discussed in a previous post. These major corporations hate it when their secrets are covered up because they realize that it could affect their business and reputation.

    Even though bananas are now grown worldwide, we often date them back to Central and South America (Africa and southern parts of Asia are also recognized). One reason for their growth in these specific areas is that bananas need a hot and humid tropical climate to grow. Here is a picture of some of the places Dole gets their crop.

      Bananas—as well as the production and transportation of chicken and rice—relate very closely to Patel’s thought on consumer knowledge/freedom. He’s not necessarily trying to get a consumer to think one way or the other about a product; he wants people to have a choice. It’s such a recurrent theme, but the fact of the matter is that in today’s society, whether it is where we choose to eat, places we want to shop, or as simple as knowledge we want to have, the sad truth is that in specific times, the choice is out of our hands a lot like it is for these workers around the world.

Blog Prompt #6: Busch Lights Advertising at Dissmore's

         Because we live in a college town, and Dissmore’s is so close to campus, I was curious how much they advertised alcohol. Just as the stereotype for Wazzu would say, after walking in the door I only had to look 30 feet to see a pallet of Busch Light that was on sale. After seeing that I walked over to the beer cooler to see further how this was advertised.

       When I got to the aisle with beer, I realized that even though it was the main deal offered, and how they initially grabbed your attention, you had to look hard and toward the bottom to find Busch. Instead, they made the more expensive beers at eye level and up. It wasn’t until you went into the cooler that there was an abundance of Pullman’s finest. Going further, another popular place in the store for students is the deli and meet section. Right next to this was an entire aisle of wine and champagne.

      Even though the advertising of alcohol was a main point of curiosity, I noticed that it was this way for many products that would be ideal for a student on a budget. When you get to aisles with juices and pasta/pasta sauce, they put the more expensive products with eyesight, and the cheaper ones near the bottom shelves.

     The supply and demand for beer—mainly Busch Light—is very apparent. Knowing that it’s the cheapest type of product in high demand is why these chain stores are able to have so much readily available.

     Dissmore’s is a good representation of the relationship consumers have with stores. The major corporations are (usually) the ones that represent the more expensive product. However, because they are name brands and well known—along with potentially be of better quality—they have more credibility. Even though these company’s reputation and quality are enough to succeed in sales, the stores that sell the products help them by making them more visible to consumers.

        Because we live in a college town, and Dissmore’s is so close to campus, I was curious how much they advertised alcohol. Just as the stereotype for Wazzu would say, after walking in the door I only had to look 30 feet to see a pallet of Busch Light that was on sale. After seeing that I walked over to the beer cooler to see further how this was advertised.

            When I got to the aisle with beer, I realized that even though it was the main deal offered, and how they initially grabbed your attention, you had to look hard and toward the bottom to find Busch. Instead, they made the more expensive beers at eye level and up. It wasn’t until you went into the cooler that there was an abundance of Pullman’s finest. Going further, another popular place in the store for students is the deli and meet section. Right next to this was an entire aisle of wine and champagne.

         Even though the advertising of alcohol was a main point of curiosity, I noticed that it was this way for many products that would be ideal for a student on a budget. When you get to aisles with juices and pasta/pasta sauce, they put the more expensive products with eyesight, and the cheaper ones near the bottom shelves. The supply and demand for beer—mainly Busch Light—is very apparent. Knowing that it’s the cheapest type of product in high demand is why these chain stores are able to have so much readily available.

            Dissmore’s is a good representation of the relationship consumers have with stores. The major corporations are (usually) the ones that represent the more expensive product. However, because they are name brands and well known—along with potentially be of better quality—they have more credibility. Even though these company’s reputation and quality are enough to succeed in sales, the stores that sell the products help them by making them more visible to consumers. 

 

Blog #5---Consumer Freedom

          After watching “The Center for Consumer Freedom” video, it brought to light how many large corporations refuse to tell us things that contradict what they try to represent. And being in society where we should be able to make decisions on things with sufficient knowledge, I tend to agree with what they are trying to do. However, I do believe that as much as they want to try, not everyone will be for what they are trying to “sell”. 

         Though I’m not a member of HSUS and don’t know too much about the organization, but I’m guessing that they aren’t too happy that the CCF has made it public knowledge that much of the groups donation money doesn’t go to poor dogs and cats that we see in the Sarah McLachlan commercials. In the same way, the Center for Science in Public Interest has to be embarrassed to it becoming known that they’ve wavered on what they support. By doing this, the CCF is trying to help change both an organizations integrity and intentions. 

         Patel brings up the term “bottleneck corporations.” In many ways these organizations fit this profile. Much like Burger King doesn’t wanna release information about labor practices; PETA and the Center for Science in the public interest don’t release where much of their donations and help go. Can you blame them for not wanting to advertise it? No you can’t, because they are going against a lot of what they are supposed to represent. And that’s not how good organizations are, and that’s what the CCF is trying to do…bring everything to light for the public to see. 

        With that said, as important as being informed is, I feel that even with a good amount of knowledge, these facts might not affect an individuals feeling for these specific corporations. For example, the CCF has targeted PETA for euthanizing animals prematurely. I feel that avid members will still support them in general because of the good that PETA still does in their eyes. Like myself, I've had dogs my entire life and loved them. But that still doesn't cover up the fact that they may have acted against their morals. The picture below in no way represents my opinion towards PETA or saying that what Michael Vick did was "ok" but I did find it as a interesting representative of how people feel that PETA has misrepresented themselves.

 

           To me “consumer freedom” is almost non-existent. Other than deciding if you want to go to Dissmore’s or Wal-Mart, whether it is due to convenience or cost, you will likely be consuming the same thing. Further, even if how a food was produced or picked is something that means a lot to you, you don’t really have a choice to eat something that is of higher quality, or even avoid a food that was produced under poor labor conditions if you are on a budget (like many students are in Pullman) or in a lower class.

          But going back to the main point of the CCF. It is definitely important for us to be given adequate knowledge. These organizations are only hurting themselves by holding back all of this information. Because in the end, when the truth comes out and they are losing support, the only people they have to blame is themselves.