Newsletter - August 18, 2021

Dear brothers and sisters,

We celebrate quick fixes to profound problems. Consider, for example, the economy. It has experienced little or no growth for over a decade. America has gone from a manufacturing economy to one based on finance, insurance and real estate. Instead of rebuilding the industrial base, the engine of accumulation, the  response has been to been to keep printing money. Hence the bubble economy.

Similarly, in regard to health, an astonishing 42.4% of the population is obese.Think of it- 140 million Americans. According to the CDC, 79.1% of severe covid patients are overweight and obese (28.3% and 50.8% respectively).  Obesity is also a risk factor for other chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.  All of which cost 100’s of billions to treat annually, fill hospital ICU’s, and fatten corporate profits. Yet  little or nothing is being done to address the problem of obesity.

Consider also that an astonishing  60% of the food Americans eat is ultra-processed. This includes potato chips, candy, pizza, chicken nuggets and soda. Ultra processed foods weaken the immune system.They lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

They contain unnaturally high amounts of sugar, salt, processed oils and unhealthy fats. They supply only calories. Concentrated calories are addictive. They produce a high as with a drug.

Tragically enough,  the problem of ultra processed foods is largely ignored.

It seems to me, brothers and sisters, that we've got to look at the deep causes-an imbalanced,  unnatural diet and the loss of our industrial base.

We are confident, brothers and sisters that you will lead us through just as your forebears, the greatest generation, did after Pearl Harbor.

Jesse Schwartz
President
Living Tree Community Foods

We have a winner! Michele, a young mother, has won our Almond Flour Recipe Contest with her recipe for Vegan Chocolate Almond Butter Bars.

Here is her creation!