I watched another food-focused documentary this past weeked called King Corn.  It’s the story of two friends from Boston who decide to grow one acre of corn in Greene, Iowa and follow it from seed to plate.  They quickly realize farming isn’t as romantic as they had thought, learning the sad irony that a farmer with 7,000 acres of corn can’t feed himself: the corn he grows is inedible and barely profitable.  King Corn examines the pervasive nature of corn, especially genetically modified corn in the US economy and diet.

King Corn was written, photographed, produced, and directed by Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, who drew huge inspiration from Michael Pollan.  Pollan is featured in the film, along with other notable food writers and reseachers.  I don’t think Cheney and Ellis are film students, and filmically it shows at times, but they tell a very compelling story.

King Corn is available on DVD and slated to air on PBS stations across the country.

This weekend I watched The Future of Food, a documentary about genetically modified/engineered foods. The synopsis from the film’s website describes it best:

…an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade…The health implications, government policies and push towards globalization are all part of the reason why many people are alarmed by the introduction of genetically altered crops into our food supply…THE FUTURE OF FOOD examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations seek to control the world’s food system.

I was completely fascinated by the film, and particularly disturbed by how many genes and organisms have now been patented - a thought that has lingered since watching. If you’re at all concerned about what you put on your table and in your body, I consider The Future of Food mandatory viewing.

The Future of Food was written, directed, and produced by Deborah Koons Garcia, and is available on DVD. Watch the trailer