Economic interests vs. nostalgia (exploring a hypothetical)
Del Monte will stop growing pineapple in Hawaii. (That's not the hypothetical part, that's real.) Some obsrvers expect the other two major pineapple growers of Hawaii (Dole Food and Maui Pineapple Co.) to pull out also. (Because, as a Del Monte statement put it, it's cheaper to buy pineapples on the open market than to grow them in Hawaii.) I think the others will stay, at least a little while, until "those costs" get even worse.
Why is it so expensive to grow pineapple in a place where the soil and climate are perfect for pineapple? I'll let you economic planners figure that one out. I want to talk about a "what if." What will Hawaii do if no one chooses to grow pineapple in Hawaii anymore? You can bet some people would be upset at the break with tradition, just as they were when sugar growers pulled out of Hawaii. Maybe someone will demand government aid for the pineapple growers, so they can compete, and save those Hawaiian jobs. Perhaps a philanthropist will come along and grow Hawaiian pineapple to sell it at a loss, just to preserve the tradition of growing pineapple on the island state. If there comes a day when no more pineapple is grown on the Hawaiian archipelago, you can bet the farm that people will be nostalgic for the good ol' days.
"It's a travesty!" Some will say. "How can people disregard such a long and beautiful tradition just for economic reasons?" People easily forget that all of our old traditions and all the good ol' ways came about for almost purely economic reasons. Why do you think people planted vast pineapple farms on Hawaii in the first place? It wasn't because they had a massive jones for pineapple. They didn't have a vision of improving everyone's health by getting them to eat more fruit. They saw that the soil and climate of the islands were perfect for growing something that could be sold to mainlanders at a tidy profit. So they grew pineapple, and they profited. Now that they can't make a profit, is anyone surprised that they want to stop?
Maybe something can be done to make Del Monte's Hawaiian pineapple profitable again, or to ensure that Dole and Maui stay profitable. (Ask me, and I'll tell you.) But even if not, let's not bribe or threaten companies to do what is otherwise not in their best interests. (For the record, I haven't yet heard or read of anyone trying to bribe or threaten Del Monte, but I will be very surprised if Dole and Maui move out without attempts made to bribe or threaten them.) Let's just accept that economic motivations are just as valid as sentiment for planning what to do. In fact, more valid, because sometimes someone's survival depends on his pursuing his economic best interest. (That's why it's sometimes called "vital economic interest.")
Now then, enjoy your pineapple, and if you feel very strongly about where it's grown, check with your local grocery store manager. Personally, I'll chance the Filipino and Costa Rican pineapple, if it saves me a few bucks and I can't taste the difference.
SRS
Why is it so expensive to grow pineapple in a place where the soil and climate are perfect for pineapple? I'll let you economic planners figure that one out. I want to talk about a "what if." What will Hawaii do if no one chooses to grow pineapple in Hawaii anymore? You can bet some people would be upset at the break with tradition, just as they were when sugar growers pulled out of Hawaii. Maybe someone will demand government aid for the pineapple growers, so they can compete, and save those Hawaiian jobs. Perhaps a philanthropist will come along and grow Hawaiian pineapple to sell it at a loss, just to preserve the tradition of growing pineapple on the island state. If there comes a day when no more pineapple is grown on the Hawaiian archipelago, you can bet the farm that people will be nostalgic for the good ol' days.
"It's a travesty!" Some will say. "How can people disregard such a long and beautiful tradition just for economic reasons?" People easily forget that all of our old traditions and all the good ol' ways came about for almost purely economic reasons. Why do you think people planted vast pineapple farms on Hawaii in the first place? It wasn't because they had a massive jones for pineapple. They didn't have a vision of improving everyone's health by getting them to eat more fruit. They saw that the soil and climate of the islands were perfect for growing something that could be sold to mainlanders at a tidy profit. So they grew pineapple, and they profited. Now that they can't make a profit, is anyone surprised that they want to stop?
Maybe something can be done to make Del Monte's Hawaiian pineapple profitable again, or to ensure that Dole and Maui stay profitable. (Ask me, and I'll tell you.) But even if not, let's not bribe or threaten companies to do what is otherwise not in their best interests. (For the record, I haven't yet heard or read of anyone trying to bribe or threaten Del Monte, but I will be very surprised if Dole and Maui move out without attempts made to bribe or threaten them.) Let's just accept that economic motivations are just as valid as sentiment for planning what to do. In fact, more valid, because sometimes someone's survival depends on his pursuing his economic best interest. (That's why it's sometimes called "vital economic interest.")
Now then, enjoy your pineapple, and if you feel very strongly about where it's grown, check with your local grocery store manager. Personally, I'll chance the Filipino and Costa Rican pineapple, if it saves me a few bucks and I can't taste the difference.
SRS
posted by weblogbob83 at 12:47 AM
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