The trouble with generalization

In the article, “Why you can’t sit down to eat without making a statement,” Author Scott Canon attempts to make the point that locally grown and organic produce is better than buying from big growers. The arguments that he uses to make his case can at times be compelling, however he misses the point when he makes gross overstatements and sweeping generalizations. His audience is most likely to believe his point already and it feels like the rampant fallacies in his rhetoric are excused by this.
He gives a lot of credence to the power of the consumer. While he never does openly state this point, he does say things like, “Purchasing McNuggets is a tacit endorsement of Big Agriculture,” and, “Picky eaters are every bit as influential as politicians.” Statements like these make it seem as if the consumer is all powerful. He forgets to mention that people on a budget can’t always afford organic produce. Not to mention that most produce from a farmers market is also more expensive.
There is also a lack of reality in this piece. The idea that we consumers can control the market in any sustainable way borders on the fanciful. The movie industry is a perfect example. For years the most popular movies, those that consistently sell the most tickets have been the more family friendly ones. Yet, despite the data that these movies make much more money than less family friendly ones, Hollywood continues to crank out movie after movie that demoralize our society with their eroding values. To assume that we can consume that which, in many areas, is not readily available is not a sound argument by any means.