Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Uniformity, an observation
Working in the produce business, again, there is something that has always been on my mind. All the produce is uniform in size. Size 90 potatoes, size 80, size 70, which means that it takes 90, or 80, or 70 pototoes of a uniform size to make 50 pounds. 88 count oranges, 88 per 40 pound case, 113's as well. 48 count avacadoes. 200 count limes. 12 and 9 count cantelopes.
We get organic produce as well, all of it uniform in size. Organic...uniform in size. Each and every one of the red bell peppers is not only uniform in size, but they all look exactly alike.
It says alot about our world. A desire to control that which is natural. Uniformity in shape and size. Little or no differentiation. Everything has to be exactly alike. Like the plants grow every piece of fruit exactly alike, or are supposed to...but they are controlled on the sale end.
Where do all the "mis-shapen" fruits and vegies go? Where do all those fruits and vegies that don't fit into the uniform size go? Why do all the waste vegies go right into the dumpster instead of a special container where the homeless and hungry to dig through? Instead, food goes right into the garbage.
If you don't fit in, where do you go? Get in line by shape and size. Even the organically grown, that is the oddest. It is a metaphor about society. What metaphors can you make out of this? Can they fit in the box, by proper shape, size, and weight? Will they rot in the box or be made into a wonderful delicious dish?
What an odd world we live in.
We get organic produce as well, all of it uniform in size. Organic...uniform in size. Each and every one of the red bell peppers is not only uniform in size, but they all look exactly alike.
It says alot about our world. A desire to control that which is natural. Uniformity in shape and size. Little or no differentiation. Everything has to be exactly alike. Like the plants grow every piece of fruit exactly alike, or are supposed to...but they are controlled on the sale end.
Where do all the "mis-shapen" fruits and vegies go? Where do all those fruits and vegies that don't fit into the uniform size go? Why do all the waste vegies go right into the dumpster instead of a special container where the homeless and hungry to dig through? Instead, food goes right into the garbage.
If you don't fit in, where do you go? Get in line by shape and size. Even the organically grown, that is the oddest. It is a metaphor about society. What metaphors can you make out of this? Can they fit in the box, by proper shape, size, and weight? Will they rot in the box or be made into a wonderful delicious dish?
What an odd world we live in.
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