Food Gentrification / Presenter: Faith Bennett

 

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Reeder

Gentrification, while beneficial to some, can damage the lives of both lower income people and ethnic minorities. This paper aims to discuss the failures of the organic food movement, the use of health food as a status symbol, and the damage that is done by a “reimagining” of indigenous or traditional foods. It focuses on gentrification and food and examines USDA prices over the years, income levels, and the effect of chains like Whole Foods and pricey comfort food restaurants like Harlem’s Red Rooster, in an attempt to reveal the tendency toward tone-deafness in the organic food industry. It also aims to bring to light more effective ways to both honor the many cultures in America, and facilitate better and more affordable food for all.