Trader Joes to Sell Old Products to Poor
In class today, my classmates were hella problematic and I can only say so much in class where people won't take anything I say seriously or will be completely defensive. So, I'm going to get on the stage of tumblr and hope that maybe it'll be google-able.
The CEO of Trader Joes is proposing a plan to create a store in a low income neighborhood and sell it to the poor folks in Massachusetts. Trader Joes as it is an extremely wasteful grocery store, really many chain grocery stores throw out a lot of food due to regulations, liability, and who knows whatever other reason. However, Trader Joes takes extra measures to not let people access their waste through excessively locking it up; don't know what I'm talking about? You should watch Dive. I think this initiative is mostly in response to this documentary to better the bad rep that Trader Joes has begun to get.
Anywho, this sounds really great. Lets reduce our waste. People are hungry; so lets increase access. I understand that CEO Rauch acts upon some charitable and perhaps, good, intentions.
However, why are we not thinking about what the poor folks in Massachusetts want? Do they want your old, expired food? I don't really care that it's just as good still; hell, I agree with you. However, this does not get rid of the fact that you're selling your old expired food to the poor and even in a different place so people who buy regular priced food don't have to see them pick through their unwanted left overs.
I brought this up in class and someone said that the poor people should be grateful. Really?!? Should they be grateful to purchase your leftovers?!? I might be grateful if it was gifted to me. I might be grateful of a partnership to which Trader Joe's might work a more sustainable solution with this community, instead of depending on having expired food. I appreciate the thought. I appreciate the beginning of innovative thinking about how to approach both waste and food access issues, but we still have some more places to go on this one.
CEO Rauch, I hope you ask this community if they want to buy your leftovers off of you. To the girl in class who told me that my working class family should be grateful, fuck you.
