Mcmillan's Grapes: Chapter Analysis

1. McMillan’s thoughts about the problems with the wages in the produce industry in the “Grapes” chapter were disturbing. She writes, “most of the price tag at the store pays for the system that moves it from place to place-not the wages in the field.” She later goes on to say “So if the farmer is only getting 16 percent of what we pay for food, what share is being paid to me, the worker in the field?” The wages being low for the agriculture industry are shocking to me because as discussed in class, the agriculture industry is needed for human’s wellbeing. Fruits and vegetables are vital to the health of humankind. Without fruits and vegetables, people such as vegetarians for example, would not have many options of what they can or cannot eat
In the “Grapes” chapter, McMillian insights about the relationship with the grower and the supermarket was interesting. After working on the grape fields for a while, McMillian was able to learn how the process worked from start to production to the selling of the produce. She writes, “if the grower has a direct contact with a supermarket, they’ll deliver it to one of the chain’s distribution centers, where the produce is transferred to stores.” While reading this, I immediately thought back to our class discussion of “buying local” and what it means to “buy local”. My personal definition of buying local means that the buyer has a relationship with the seller (the growers). Based on my definition, the supermarkets that are buying from this particular farm are buying local and supporting local
In the “Peaches” chapter, McMillian complains about the cleanliness of the kitchen. She said that she lost interest in cooking because she feared that her food would get contaminated. With all of the workers that lived in the same home together, McMillian felt uncomfortable to the point where all she did was eat out at different restaurants. Despite the aggressiveness from Lorena, her husband, and Mrs. Vasquez, she continued to use her extra money that she was saving by living there to travel and get food. McMillian’s emphasis on cleanliness correlated with domestic science. Ellen Richards, who pushed for the advancement of home economics understood the importance of cleanliness. She believed that women should know how to cook, sew, and clean. The home that McMillian stayed in would have made Ellen Richards cringe because Richards advocated for sanitary