Jared Ingersoll on big business

This just in: Woolworths are a huge company that are motivated primarily by market share and massive profits! Other headlines include: Night follows day; the Pope is Catholic and man-flu is real.

Seriously people, Woolworths are doing nothing out of character. You, on the other hand, are not behaving normally, you’re getting upset, which is just weird.

It’s your choice to buy lacklustre produce at the same place you buy your chemicals and pre-digested convenience foods that make you, your family and the environment unhealthy. Perhaps letting a duopoly control your diet and Australian agriculture is seductive on some level. Maybe some of you are concerned that life without supermarkets would be really scary! Just imagine: fragmented markets offering seasonally and culturally diverse offerings at a fair price that actually represents the true cost of food production, whole communities of well-nourished people roaming the streets like some sort of weird hipster zombie apocalypse murmuring things like “kiiim-chiiiiii” – scary stuff.

I am here to tell you that you needn’t worry, it just will not happen, supermarkets will survive! They are in the business of being in business and they will meet your demands and they will sell you what you want. On the other hand, all you need to do is NOT buy their food, instead buy from people who actually give a shit. Supermarkets will come around to your way of thinking. They may even think up a new way to say ‘Market Fresh’. Now wouldn’t that be neat!

Perhaps you are worried about Jamie? You should let him know! Send him a quick note via Twitter, just tag @jamieoliver (yup, it’s that easy now days). Tell him that you are worried that his new partner is using their enormous position to shaft farmers. Let him know directly; tell him you think he is all ‘lubelly jubbely an’ all dat’ and that his ‘instantalian’ restaurants are ‘bang on’ but let him know this particular deal sucks – he may be able to do something about it. I would go as far as to say that his direct involvement with the general public (‘cos he is a man of the people, remember) would be a PR company’s wet dream!

Think of it this way: no one has anything to lose by you doing something. Eat well.