by Levi Russell
Blue Apron released a very nice-looking ad back in January that I'm certain appeals to their audience. Unfortunately, it perpetuates some wrongheaded ideas about food systems. Yes, I know this is an ad and that it's sort of silly to criticize an ad, but I think there's some value in explaining what is wrong with the sort of thinking put forth in ads like this. Now that I've "poisoned the well," here's the ad:
After mischaracterizing the US food system as a grayed-out assembly line factory, the narrator describes an ideal food system in which "chefs and farmers would plan crops and recipes together to make farm land healthier and grow ingredients that taste better." He then complains about the current system's supermarkets, food transit, and waste. Instead, in the ideal food system, food would be delivered fresh, straight to your door!
All of this sounds great, but what does it cost? Certainly Blue Apron isn't suggesting that literally the entire food system of the US could be replaced by their model. How much does Blue Apron cost? About the same as a meal at a fast-casual restaurant.
Yes, there are problems with food waste, lack of freshness, etc in the current food system. However, specialized production and large supermarkets feed the poorest among us quite well. At its current prices, there's simply no way Blue Apron could do that.
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