“This is a wonderful introduction to the triumph and tragedy of the American food industry. Mixing compassionate participant observation with in-depth, up-to-the-minute background research, Tracie McMillan takes us for an eye-opening, heart-rending tour of the corporate food chain. Along the way we meet unforgettable people who, at great personal cost, labor hard so that we can eat cheaply and easily. Having seen what it takes to move our meals from farm to table, the reader will emerge shaken, enlightened, and forever thankful.”
—WARREN BELASCO, AUTHOR OF
APPETITE FOR CHANGE AND MEALS TO COME
Praise for THE AMERICAN WAY OF EATING
“Tracie McMillan is gutsy, scrappy, and hard-working—you’d have to be to write this book. The American Way of Eating takes us local in a new way, exploring who works to get food from the field to the plates in front of us, what they are paid, and how it feels. It’s sometimes grim but McMillan doesn’t flinch; I especially appreciated her openness in telling us what she spent in order to get by (or not). A welcome addition to the urgent, growing body of journalism on food.”
—TED CONOVER, AUTHOR OF NEWJACK AND COYOTES
“To uncover the truth behind how our modern food system works, Tracie McMillan took jobs in a supermarket produce section, a chain restaurant kitchen, and the fields alongside migrant laborers. If you eat, you owe it to yourself to read this masterful book.”
—BARRY ESTABROOK, AUTHOR OF TOMATOLAND
“These tales lay bare the sinews, the minds, and the relationships that our food system exploits and discards. In a work of deep compassion and integrity, Tracie McMillan offers us an eye-opening report on the human cost of America’s cheap food.”
—RAJ PATEL, AUTHOR OF STUFFED AND STARVED AND THE VALUE OF NOTHING
“Three cheers for Tracie McMillan; this book is a revelation! It is the sort of engaging first-person adventure story that reads like a good novel, all the while supplying the facts and figures that make the larger picture clear. I’m grateful to her in equal parts for the stamina and courage to undertake this undercover journey, the narrative skill that makes the account so digestible, and the commitment to social justice for both workers and consumers that infuses the whole project.”
—JANET POPPENDIECK, AUTHOR OF FREE FOR ALL AND SWEET CHARITY?
“Tracie McMillan has written a remarkable book for right now—a book that smartly tells us what is wrong with what we eat and how we might improve it. But what is even more remarkable about the book is how deeply engaging it is. With her intimate and confident portraits of American food workers, she crafts a touching, emotional narrative that will stay with you long after you have finished the last page.”
—JAMES OSELAND, AUTHOR OF CRADLE OF FLAVOR