March 2007 Bibliographies

pp. 21-22

British journalist Tim Phillips explores the dark side of the fake goods market in Knockoff: The Deadly Trade in Counterfeit Goods (Sterling, VA: Kogan Page, 2005). Phillips investigates how the black market is undermining the legal economy in a number of developing countries.

Erdal, the principal character in Matt Mossman’s story, sells fake jeans in Eminonu Square; make sure you don’t get caught buying fakes on eBay by accident with these tips on how to spot counterfeits from UK jean-fetishist site Denimology.


“Organic Goes Boom”
Pamela Cuthbert
pp. 26-27

Books addressing organic food and ethical eating have also hit the big time. One of the biggest is Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (New York: Penguin Press, 2006), an eloquently written and well-researched investigation of the political, economic, psychological, and ethical issues involved in the seemingly simple task of deciding what to eat for dinner. His chapter “Big Organic” is of particular relevance, but with chapters such as “Gathering: The Fungi,” “The Market: ‘Greetings from the Non-Barcode People,’” and “The Plant: Corn’s Conquest,” it offers an engaging look at the origins of North America’s major sources of sustenance.

If you’re not already confused enough about where your food is coming from, check out “Who Owns What in the Organic Food Industry,” a chart created by Michigan State University’s Phil Howard, illustrating the connections between North America’s big food corporations and their organic offspring.

“Organic Goes Mainstream,” a three–part series that aired on CBC radio’s Ideas in June 2006, looks at the evolution (or perhaps devolution) of the organic industry, from the family-oriented farm co-ops of the 60s, through the birth of Earthbound Organics (purportedly the world’s largest organic produce company) in the 80s, to the American standardization of organics in 2002. Links to the series can be accessed through the Cyber-Help for Organic Farmer’s website.

The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada’s website offers detailed information about organic farming in Canada (including virtual farm tours) and provides links to educational resources such as courses on organic agriculture. Likewise, the Canadian Organic Grower’s website is an excellent resource for current news and statistics on organics in Canada.