#Food Preservatives Market Share

[priteshwemarketresearch]

Food Preservatives Market Report Includes Dynamics, Products, and Application 2023 – 2030

Food Preservatives Market Overview

The Food Preservatives Market is valued at around USD 2,511.5 million in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 3,671.7 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 3.4% over the forecast period. Products used in food processing to improve stability and prevent spoiling are known as food preservatives. Depending on the necessity, they are added in modest amounts to a variety of foods. In the past, meat and other foods were preserved with salt, sugar, and spices.

Food preservatives stop bacteria from growing, which delays or inhibits food spoiling. They are divided into two categories based on their level of toxicity non-toxic and moderately toxic. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are two regulatory agencies that govern moderately harmful preservatives. They are identified by their appropriate index (INS or E) numbers, while non-toxic preservatives can be used in processing.

To learn more about this report:https://wemarketresearch.com/reports/food-preservatives-market/783

Food Preservatives Market Dynamics

Market Drivers: Growing demand for food products with an extended shelf life

Global urbanization and employment growth have significantly altered consumer lifestyles and eating patterns. Thus, consumers are searching for food items with a longer shelf life, ease of preparation, and ease of consumption. In addition to keeping food fresh, food preservatives greatly increase the shelf life of food. Food Preservatives Market are therefore in greater demand in the food and beverage industry as a result of consumers' desire for foods with longer shelf lives. This is due to the fact that food makers benefit from preservatives in terms of competitive cost and effective storage. Furthermore, health concern has increased since the epidemic, which is helping to propel the market for natural preservatives like citric acid and rosemary extracts.

Growth Factors

Busier lifestyles lead to a greater demand for processed, simple foods with longer shelf lives.

Creative packaging can reduce the need for preservatives by increasing shelf life. When food is carried great distances, preservatives keep it safe and of high quality.

Online grocery shopping has led to a demand for products with longer shelf lives. Preservatives reduce food waste by extending shelf life.

In developing countries, the demand for preservatives and processed foods is driven by rising disposable incomes.

The Food Preservatives Market Segmentation

On the basis of label, the Food Preservatives Market is bifurcated into:

Clean label

Conventional

Others

On the basis of type, the market is segmented into:

Natural- edible oil, rosemary extracts, natamycin, vinegar, chitosan

Synthetic- propionates, sorbates, benzoates

Others

On the basis of function, the market is segmented into:

Anti-microbial

Anti-oxidant

Others

On the basis of application, the Food Preservatives Market is segmented into:

Meat and poultry products

Bakery products

Dairy products

Beverages

Snacks

Others

The Food Preservatives Market Key players

Albemarle Corporation,

Archer Daniels Midland Company,

BASF SE,

Cargill Incorporated,

Celanese Corporation,

Corbion N.V.,

Dupont De Nemours Inc.,

Galactic S.A.,

Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG,

Kemin Industries Inc.,

Koninklijke DSM N.V. and Tate & Lyle PLC.,

Growth of the Processed Food Industry

The market for food preservatives is heavily influenced by the increased globalization of the Food Preservatives Market sector. Preservatives are in greater demand as consumers want for quick, long-lasting food solutions to ensure product safety and quality. One example of this trend is the rise in frozen meals and snack foods, which mostly depend on preservatives to keep them fresh and prolong their shelf life. This highlights the vital function that preservatives play in the food supply chain.

Restraints/Challenges

High Price of Natural Preservatives

For food makers trying to strike a balance between competitive pricing and satisfying consumer demands, the higher prices of natural preservatives relative to synthetic alternatives pose a serious challenge. This financial obstacle restricts the Food Preservatives Market for food preservatives' ability to flourish by preventing the broad use of natural substitutes.

Extended Shelf-life Requirements

Manufacturers are faced with the difficulty of finding preservative solutions that satisfy safety and convenience requirements while following to clean-label trends and regulations due to the Food Preservatives Market growing demand for longer shelf-life. Because traditional preservatives might not be in line with these changing customer tastes and legal requirements, this pressure could impede market growth by encouraging a move toward alternative preservation techniques.

Opportunities: Clean-label trend across global food markets

Recent studies and polls indicate that people are becoming more inclined to study product labels and favor clean food ingredients. This is due to the fact that consumers today are always trying to find ways to include fresh, natural, healthy, and balanced food. The food preservatives industry's manufacturers are therefore focused on discovering clean-label products and market innovations. Innovation in natural preservatives is therefore booming in the sector. In order to concentrate on the creation of novel formulations and advancements in the food and beverage sector, market participants are anticipated to benefit greatly from the growing trend toward clean-label products.

Restraints: Growing demand for organic food

Because of the increased awareness of healthy eating, organic sales have increased dramatically over the past ten years, particularly in North America and Europe. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) forbids the use of artificial coloring, flavoring, and preservatives in organic goods. Customers who purchase organic food goods also eat them fresh, which reduces the need for lengthier food storage and eliminates the need for preservatives. Even though there is less of a demand overall for organic food than for non-organic food, the Food Preservatives Market for food preservatives can be held back by the notable increase in demand for organic food.

[rupalic]

Food Preservatives Market by Function (Antimicrobials, Antioxidants), Type (Synthetic Preservatives and Natural Preservatives), Application, and Region ( North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle-East Africa) - Global Forecast to 2028

[neha24blog]

Food Preservatives Market Outlook On The Basis Of Label, Type, Function, Application, Region And Forecast to 2030: Grand View Research Inc.

San Francisco, 5 Dec 2023: The Report Food Preservatives Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Label (Clean Label, Conventional), By Type (Natural, Synthetic), By Function (Anti-microbial, Anti-oxidant), By Application, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 – 2030 The global food preservatives market size is expected to reach USD 4.16 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View…

[aarunresearcher]

The United States food preservatives market size was valued at USD 794.8 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group estimates the market to reach USD 1,111.8 Million by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.80% from 2025-2033. 

[food-beverage-product]

Food Preservatives Market Report

Food Preservatives Market Report

Market Dynamics:

Growth Drivers:

Increasing Demand for Processed and Packaged Foods: The growing preference for convenience foods due to busy lifestyles is fueling the demand for preservatives to extend shelf life and maintain food safety. For more insights, you can access the Sample Report.

Rising Awareness of Food Safety: As foodborne illnesses remain a concern, consumers are increasingly looking for preservative solutions that can ensure safe consumption over extended periods.

Health-Conscious Consumer Trends: There is a significant rise in the demand for natural and organic preservatives as consumers shift away from synthetic chemicals.

Challenges:

Regulatory Challenges: The food preservatives market faces strict regulations, especially around synthetic preservatives. This can limit the market's growth potential in certain regions.

Consumer Health Concerns: There is increasing skepticism over synthetic preservatives, leading to a higher demand for natural alternatives.

Opportunities:

Technological Innovations: Advances in preservative technology, such as the use of natural antimicrobials and packaging innovations that reduce the need for chemical preservatives, are opening new growth avenues.

Rising Demand from Emerging Economies: Growing urbanization and disposable income in regions like Asia-Pacific and Latin America are boosting the market for food preservatives.

Latest Trends:

Shift Toward Natural and Organic Preservatives: Natural preservatives like essential oils, vinegar, salt, and plant-based extracts are gaining popularity as a response to growing consumer preference for clean labels and healthy, chemical-free products.

Demand for Clean Label Products: As consumers are increasingly looking for products with fewer additives, the "clean label" trend is reshaping the food preservatives landscape. Manufacturers are adopting simpler and more transparent labeling practices.

Advances in Microbial Control: Innovations in the use of bio-preservatives and the adoption of fermentation-based processes to control microbial growth are also notable. Bio-preservatives derived from probiotics, enzymes, and beneficial bacteria are being explored as alternatives to synthetic chemicals.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Practices: Sustainability has become a key focus in food preservation. Eco-friendly preservatives and sustainable packaging options are gaining ground as part of broader efforts in reducing food waste and enhancing product longevity.

Plant-Based and Vegan Preservatives: With the rise of plant-based and vegan food products, plant-derived preservatives are experiencing a surge in demand as they cater to this growing market segment.

Important Statistics:

The global food preservatives market size was valued at USD 3.36 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach from USD 3.5 billion in 2025 to USD 4.96 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.43% during the forecast period (2025-2033).

Regional Insights:

North America and Europe are currently the largest markets, driven by high consumer demand for convenience foods and stringent food safety regulations. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to see the highest growth rate due to increasing urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and changing dietary habits.

Types of Preservatives:

Synthetic preservatives still dominate, accounting for over 60% of the market share. However, natural preservatives are gaining traction, particularly in North America and Europe, where the demand for organic products is strong.

Segment Breakdown:

Antimicrobials hold the largest share due to their critical role in preventing spoilage and extending shelf life. Antioxidants are also significant, primarily for their use in preventing the oxidation of fats and oils in food products.

Market Segmentations:

By Label (2021-2033):

Clean Label

Conventional

By Type (2021-2033):

Natural

Synthetic

By Function (2021-2033):

Anti-microbial

Antioxidant

Others

By Applications (2021-2033):

Meat & Poultry Products

Bakery Products

Dairy Products

Beverages

Snacks

Key Players in the Food Preservatives Market:

The global food preservatives market is competitive, with several leading companies driving innovation and market growth. Notable players include:

Dow Chemicals

Brenntag

Archer Daniels Midland

DuPont-de-Nemours

BASF SE

Celanese Corporation

Eastman Chemicals

Tate and Lyle Plc

Corbion N.V.

Kerry Group

These companies play a crucial role in developing and manufacturing both synthetic and natural preservatives, contributing to the overall growth and transformation of the market.

Conclusion:

The food preservatives market is undergoing a significant transformation driven by the demand for healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable food options. While synthetic preservatives still dominate, the shift towards natural and organic solutions is reshaping the industry. Advancements in preservation technology and rising consumer awareness of food safety will continue to drive the market forward. Manufacturers who innovate in product offerings and adhere to clean label trends will be well-positioned to capture market share in an increasingly health-conscious consumer landscape.

With continued growth in emerging markets and the ever-increasing demand for convenience foods, the food preservatives market is expected to thrive in the coming years. Companies that can balance regulatory compliance, consumer preferences, and sustainability will lead the charge in this evolving sector.

For more information, you can access the Sample Report.

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[businessindustry]

Natural Food Preservatives Market Research and Share by 2032 | Reports and Insights

The Reports and Insights, a leading market research company, has recently releases report titled “Natural Food Preservatives Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2024-2032.” The study provides a detailed analysis of the industry, including the global Natural Food Preservatives Market share, size, trends, and growth forecasts. The report also includes competitor and regional analysis and highlights the latest advancements in the market.

Report Highlights:

How big is the Natural Food Preservatives Market?

The natural food preservatives market size reached US$ 498.26 million in 2023. Looking forward, Reports and Insights expects the market to reach US$ 856.10 million by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 7.0% during 2024-2032.

What are Natural Food Preservatives?

Natural food preservatives are substances sourced from natural ingredients used to prolong the shelf life of food and prevent spoilage without the use of synthetic chemicals. Examples include essential oils, herbs, spices, vinegar, salt, and citrus extracts, all of which have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. These preservatives work by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, molds, and yeasts, as well as reducing oxidative damage, thereby helping to preserve the quality, flavor, and safety of food products. Their popularity is increasing due to rising consumer preference for natural and clean-label food options.

Request for a sample copy with detail analysis: https://www.reportsandinsights.com/sample-request/2214

What are the growth prospects and trends in the Natural Food Preservatives industry?

The natural food preservatives market growth is driven by various factors and trends. The market for natural food preservatives is growing rapidly as consumers increasingly prefer clean-label and health-conscious food choices. This expansion is driven by heightened awareness of the advantages of natural ingredients and a growing demand for minimally processed foods. The market includes preservatives like essential oils, herbs, spices, vinegar, and citrus extracts, which offer effective antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits without relying on synthetic additives. North America and Europe are leading the market due to strong health trends and regulatory support for natural ingredients, while notable growth is also seen in the Asia-Pacific region, driven by rising consumer awareness and evolving dietary preferences. Hence, all these factors contribute to natural food preservatives market growth.

What is included in market segmentation?

The report has segmented the market into the following categories:

North America

United States

Canada

Europe

Germany

United Kingdom

France

Italy

Spain

Russia

Poland

Benelux

Nordic

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

ASEAN

Australia New Zealand

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Argentina

Middle East Africa

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

United Arab Emirates

Israel

Rest of MEA

Who are the key players operating in the industry?

The report covers the major market players including:

Agro Singularity

Naturex S.A

Handary S.A.

Cargill Foods

Danisco

Kalsec Inc.

BTSA Biotecnologías Aplicadas

Royal DSM

Kemin Industries, Inc.

Brenntag Inc.

Kerry Group Plc.

MAYASAN Food Industries A.S.

Siveele B.V

View Full Report: https://www.reportsandinsights.com/report/Natural Food Preservatives-market

If you require any specific information that is not covered currently within the scope of the report, we will provide the same as a part of the customization.

About Us:

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[futuretonext]

The Global Natural Food Preservatives Market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of about 4.7% during the forecast period, i.e., 2023-28. The preference for food & beverage among consumers is changing with the passing of time & in effect to their changing lifestyle, which is pushing the market for natural food preservatives. The usage & inclusion of preservatives has been in the hype across the food & beverage industry for many years.

[bitchface24-7]

V , I love your writing and I was hoping you could do a jayvikx reader , where they all wash eachtohers hair after getting caught in the rain ?

❤️❤️❤️

SHOWERED IN LOVE - JAYVIK X READER

synopsis: the three of you had gone to the market to get a few things. More food was the main priority. But then you saw a homemade crafts table, full of knickknacks. Viktor and Jayce got intrigued by the scrap metal stand. Then it started to rain, and eventually thunder. You three had to bring your stuff back to the house stat; and you had to take a shower to warm up. Nobody is in the mood to get sick.

warnings: fluff, pre-established relationship, goofing off in the shower, kisses, getting bundled up and going to bed. Literally 100% fluff. Grammarly is my beta

genre: m/m/f or m/m/m

p.s. This is so cute, but not realistic LMAO when I shower I'm sheading hair and putting it on the wall, the waters hot, I'm scrubbing down my body with a loofa, I’m washing my face. Showers together seem so romantic but I think I'd actually hate having to share one irl

You three were only going to get groceries, the necessities. But… that plan went down the drain real quick.

You were entranced by a homemade knickknacks stand. Plates, bowls, jewelry, décor, really anything you can think of.

Your boys got distracted by the scrap metal stand a few feet away. Looking at all the sheets of metal possible. You smiled at them and felt a drop of water hit your cheekbone. Then another. And another.

Before you know it it’s pouring rain, and every so often a light rumble of thunder is heard. The three of you look to one another before walking as quickly as you can to the bus stop, to wait under some cover as you wait to go home. That’s a major upside, there’s a bus stop right outside your apartment complex.

The three of you stand there, shivering, wet, and cold. The forecast said it was supposed to be a nice day; guess not.

You almost sigh in relief when the bus arrives. The three of you scramble on and try to get as close as you can to one another, trying to preserve body heat.

You can’t wait to get home and take a nice warm shower.

 · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The three of you barge into your shared apartment and sigh. At least you got all your shopping done.

You quickly take the two bags you’re holding and put everything where it needs to go, Jayce doing the same thing with his bags.

Viktor shivers lightly and states, “I’m going to start the shower. Don’t take too long, or I’ll use up all the hot water before either of you get the chance!”

The two of you look at each other in mock hurt as Viktor walks to the bathroom, his cane thumping against the hardwood floor.

“Go. I’ve got one more thing to do.”

Jayce looks at you for a second before quietly following Viktor. You smile at the sight of your boys going to the bathroom before going to your shared bedroom, getting all of your pyjamas and throwing them in the dryer for twenty-five minutes.

Nice warm jammies after a nice warm shower.

You smile in pride to yourself, putting your hands on your hips before you join your two loves in the bathroom.

The room is already lightly steamed as Jayce and Viktor undress. You have to stop yourself from ogling them. They’re so undeniably handsome it hurts. You quickly take your clothes off and put them in the laundry hamper.

The three of you step inside your massive shower, ensuring no one slips. Each of you go under the stream of water one at a time and get warmed up. Viktor then sits on the showers bench and goes to wash his own hair, you take the shampoo bottle out of his hand with a small sound, “Can I?” Viktor smiles and nods his head.

You lather up the shampoo and get to work. Viktor’s hair is soft to the touch, thick, and has nice waves to it. He looks like a satisfied cat as you wash his hair, if you didn’t know any better you’d think he’d be purring contently.

Then you feel your hair being washed. Oh Jayce, you massive sweetheart. He gives you the best head massage you’ve ever received, you may ask him to do this more often. Your eyes flutter at how nice it feels.

“You’re doing amazing Jayce. Keep it up.”

Viktor’s gone nonverbal at how good your hands feel in his hair, Jayce just laughs.

“Who’s gonna wash my hair?” He questions, his voice in a joking whine.

Viktor's eyes flutter open, “I will. I didn't realize how nice it felt to have someone else wash your hair.”

You stop your washing in shock and Viktor whines, displeased, “Wait. You've never had someone else wash your hair? What about when you go to the hair salon to get a hair cut?”

Viktor deadpans, “I cut my own hair.”

“Well… looks like we got a stylist Jayce. No need to waste money at a salon.”

Jayce laughs and Viktor smirks, “My payment methods are kisses and one of you washing my hair when I ask. Maybe a massage when my back and leg are acting up.”

You turn your head to look over your shoulder to Jayce, the two of you stare at one another for a minute before you both say simultaneously, “Deal.”

You take the shower head and hold it for Viktor to rinse his hair. He smiles and slowly stands up with the wall rail, moving a bit. You put the shower head back and rinse your own hair, then ordering Jayce to rinse again.

“Your hair is damp at best now, you want a nice lather? Wet your hair again.”

He does so without complaint.

Then Jayce sits on the bench, allowing himself to become shorter so that Viktor isn’t over extending anything. You stand behind Viktor to be a silent support, back to chest.

Viktor is very detailed with how he washes Jayce's hair, and Jayce looks like he's in heaven. You swear he's fallen asleep sometimes. After Jayce's hair is rinsed, you all wash your bodies. Getting each other's backs, making jokes, even play-fighting to get back under the warm stream of water.

A kiss is shared between you three. You and Jayce, Jayce and Viktor, you and Viktor. Eventually, you leave the shower, not wanting to wrack up a massive water bill.

You dry yourself off best you can, put a robe on and go get your toasty pyjamas. Your two boys whine at you when you leave them, but beam when they seen what your idea was.

“You're so smart. I love you.” Viktor states as he kisses your cheek, throughly dried as he puts his pyjamas on. Jayce just sighs in content and shoves his face into the warm PJs, “What would I do without you?”

You just shrug, changing into your own pyjamas. The three of you then head to your bedroom, your massive bed beckoning you to lay down. Go to sleep.

The three of you cuddle up, and you're smack dab in the middle. The three of you are so toasty and comfy you fall asleep in no time.

Maybe you all should shower more often together. This was nice.

🥺🥺 so fluffy!! I love getting my hair washed by someone else, its the best part to getting your hair cut (even though the bowl makes me feel like I'm getting decapitated, I ignore it. The hands in my hair make up for it) now I want someone to wash my hair ☹️

[mushroomates]

the fellowship grocery shopping (modern au!):

frodo: has a list which he always loses halfway through shopping. tries to bring his own bags but they’re never enough, or he forgets them in the car and realizes mid checkout. does not like a lot of the name brand foods, goes for the knock offs- partly because he thinks they taste better and partly because he’s rooting for the underdog. (also they’re cheaper which means more money go towards buying treats for the neighborhood cats.) makes an exception for name brand strawberry poptarts, a pippin favorite. keeps his fridge stocked with snacks for his friends.

sam: grows a lot of his own produce and makes an effort to shop local. has his own chickens and a thriving herb garden. he often trades with neighbors-tomatoes for honey, basil for goats milk, etc. once a month he teams up with boromir and goes to costco for insane amounts of flour (he bakes his own bread) and a foot long hotdog. sam refuses to get his own membership.

merry: has a list of things to get that he has worked very hard to compile. this list stays on fridge, and whenever he runs out of something he adds it. this is always sabotaged by pippin who, in a port attempt to mimic merry’s handwriting, adds a copious amount of sweets and things only pippin likes. ends up buying them anyways only to not share with him- will gloat by snacking in front of pippin and not offering any to his cousin.

pippin: does not actually grocery shop. yes, he has food in his house but this is more because he just tags along whenever someone else is going. selectively copies whatever they get into his own basket. has eight jars of peanut butter because he loves peanut butter but does not consume it at the rate he believes he does. also for backup, incase he runs out mid sandwich and needs eight jars of the stuff. loves to ride in the shopping carts when no one’s watching. definitely scooters along isles. loves to hijack boromir’s shopping trips as boromir is the only one who will push him in the cart and give him a lil treat at the end.

gandalf: kind of just. wanders around the store. gets lost in the bakery. buys the most random things, causing the clerks to conspire about what he’s doing with two packs of rubber gloves, a rosterseie chicken, and a tub of mayonnaise. is he a murderer? a professor? a single mother? what is he doing with this stuff?

aragorn: does a lot of trading with neighbors, like sam. likes to accompany arwen on errands and do the little things. she points at an item and he puts it in the basket. he bags at checkout. drives her home. unloads the car and put it away. real quality time and acts of service. yes, arwen is capable of doing these things herself, but he likes to do it for her: hunts so be always has a surplus of jerky, does need to buy more salt then the typical person.

boromir: also hunts. has a thing about using every part of the animal, will eat bone marrow straight out of the femur with a spoon for breakfast. eats a lot of protein. is real big about no food waste and will use everything he can. has his own compost bin and a humble herb garden. likes hosting barbecues for everyone, and makes the burgers and hotdogs from scratch. every other tuesday is grocery day. he goes to costco and buys his things in bulk. he’s the only one in the fellowship with a costco card and everyone loves to take advantage of it.

legolas: mainly just happens upon farmers markets and grabs what appeals to him in the moment. does not have any seasonings or cooking oil as it’s not something that’s ever really occurred to him to buy. will forget he has food in his fridge for weeks and when he finally does it’s gone bad. this, however, does not stop him from eating it. makes a lot of smoothies.

gimli: has a lot of preserved foods and a cupboard dedicated to emergencies. owns a lot of canned beans, fruits and vegetables- anything that will keep well. has a freezer filled with food in his garage with backup stock. is a very good with coupons- pippin likes going with him just to see the total (and the clerks jaw) drop. eats a lot of trail mix and jerky. enjoys fresh fruit when he can but doesn’t like to buy it because it doesn’t last.

gollum: sneaky little man. he hides in the bottom part of the carts meant for heavy items and parties his way across the store with his hands, scooting along tile and grabbing anything with reach, tossing it back up to the cart and continuing on his journey. then he just rolls right out the door. no one can stop him.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Sympathy for the spammer

Catch me in Miami! I'll be at Books and Books in Coral Gables on Jan 22 at 8PM.

In any scam, any con, any hustle, the big winners are the people who supply the scammers – not the scammers themselves. The kids selling dope on the corner are making less than minimum wage, while the respectable crime-bosses who own the labs clean up. Desperate "retail investors" who buy shitcoins from Superbowl ads get skinned, while the MBA bros who issue the coins make millions (in real dollars, not crypto).

It's ever been thus. The California gold rush was a con, and nearly everyone who went west went broke. Famously, the only reliable way to cash out on the gold rush was to sell "picks and shovels" to the credulous, doomed and desperate. That's how Leland Stanford made his fortune, which he funneled into eugenics programs (and founding a university):

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/malcolm-harris/palo-alto/9780316592031/

That means that the people who try to con you are almost always getting conned themselves. Think of Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) scams. My forthcoming novel The Bezzle opens with a baroque and improbable fast-food Ponzi in the town of Avalon on the island of Catalina, founded by the chicle monopolist William Wrigley Jr:

http://thebezzle.org

Wrigley found fast food declasse and banned it from the island, a rule that persists to this day. In The Bezzle, the forensic detective Martin Hench uncovers The Fry Guys, an MLM that flash-freezes contraband burgers and fries smuggled on-island from the mainland and sells them to islanders though an "affiliate marketing" scheme that is really about recruiting other affiliate markets to sell under you. As with every MLM, the value of the burgers and fries sold is dwarfed by the gigantic edifice of finance fraud built around it, with "points" being bought and sold for real cash, which is snaffled up and sucked out of the island by a greedy mainlander who is behind the scheme.

A "bezzle" is John Kenneth Galbraith's term for "the magic interval when a confidence trickster knows he has the money he has appropriated but the victim does not yet understand that he has lost it." In every scam, there's a period where everyone feels richer – but only the scammers are actually cleaning up. The wealth of the marks is illusory, but the longer the scammer can preserve the illusion, the more real money the marks will pump into the system.

MLMs are particularly ugly, because they target people who are shut out of economic opportunity – women, people of color, working people. These people necessarily rely on social ties for survival, looking after each others' kids, loaning each other money they can't afford, sharing what little they have when others have nothing.

It's this social cohesion that MLMs weaponize. Crypto "entrepreneurs" are encouraged to suck in their friends and family by telling them that they're "building Black wealth." Working women are exhorted to suck in their bffs by appealing to their sisterhood and the chance for "women to lift each other up."

The "sales people" trying to get you to buy crypto or leggings or supplements are engaged in predatory conduct that will make you financially and socially worse off, wrecking their communities' finances and shattering the mutual aid survival networks they rely on. But they're not getting rich on this – they're also being scammed:

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4686468

This really hit home for me in the mid-2000s, when I was still editing Boing Boing. We had a submission form where our readers could submit links for us to look at for inclusion on the blog, and it was overwhelmed by spam. We'd add all kinds of antispam to it, and still, we'd get floods of hundreds or even thousands of spam submissions to it.

One night, I was lying in my bed in London and watching these spams roll in. They were all for small businesses in the rustbelt, handyman services, lawn-care, odd jobs, that kind of thing. They were 10 million miles from the kind of thing we'd ever post about on Boing Boing. They were coming in so thickly that I literally couldn't finish downloading my email – the POP session was dropping before I could get all the mail in the spool. I had to ssh into my mail server and delete them by hand. It was maddening.

Frustrated and furious, I started calling the phone numbers associated with these small businesses, demanding an explanation. I assumed that they'd hired some kind of sleazy marketing service and I wanted to know who it was so I could give them a piece of my mind.

But what I discovered when I got through was much weirder. These people had all been laid off from factories that were shuttering due to globalization. As part of their termination packages, their bosses had offered them "retraining" via "courses" in founding their own businesses.

The "courses" were the precursors to the current era's rise-and-grind hustle-culture scams (again, the only people getting rich from that stuff are the people selling the courses – the "students" finish the course poorer). They promised these laid-off workers, who'd given their lives to their former employers before being discarded, that they just needed to pull themselves up by their own boostraps:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/10/declaration-of-interdependence/#solidarity-forever

After all, we had the internet now! There were so many new opportunities to be your own boss! The course came with a dreadful build-your-own-website service, complete with an overpriced domain sales portal, and a single form for submitting your new business to "thousands of search engines."

This was nearly 20 years ago, but even then, there was really only one search engine that mattered: Google. The "thousands of search engines" the scammers promised to submit these desperate peoples' websites to were just submission forms for directories, indexes, blogs, and mailing lists. The number of directories, indexes, blogs and mailing lists that would publish their submissions was either "zero" or "nearly zero." There was certainly no possibility that anyone at Boing Boing would ever press the wrong key and accidentally write a 500-word blog post about a leaf-raking service in a collapsing deindustrialized exurb in Kentucky or Ohio.

The people who were drowning me in spam weren't the scammers – they were the scammees.

But that's only half the story. Years later, I discovered how our submission form was getting included in this get-rich-quick's mass-submission system. It was a MLM! Coders in the former Soviet Union were getting work via darknet websites that promised them relative pittances for every submission form they reverse-engineered and submitted. The smart coders didn't crack the forms directly – they recruited other, less business-savvy coders to do that for them, and then often as not, ripped them off.

The scam economy runs on this kind of indirection, where scammees are turned into scammers, who flood useful and productive and nice spaces with useless dross that doesn't even make them any money. Take the submission queue at Clarkesworld, the great online science fiction magazine, which famously had to close after it was flooded with thousands of junk submission "written" by LLMs:

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/24/1159286436/ai-chatbot-chatgpt-magazine-clarkesworld-artificial-intelligence

There was a zero percent chance that Neil Clarke would accidentally accept one of these submissions. They were uniformly terrible. The people submitting these "stories" weren't frustrated sf writers who'd discovered a "life hack" that let them turn out more brilliant prose at scale.

They were scammers who'd been scammed into thinking that AIs were the key to a life of passive income, a 4-Hour Work-Week powered by an AI-based self-licking ice-cream cone:

https://pod.link/1651876897/episode/995c8a778ede17d2d7cff393e5203157

This is absolutely classic passive-income brainworms thinking. "I have a bot that can turn out plausible sentences. I will locate places where sentences can be exchanged for money, aim my bot at it, sit back, and count my winnings." It's MBA logic on meth: find a thing people pay for, then, without bothering to understand why they pay for that thing, find a way to generate something like it at scale and bombard them with it.

Con artists start by conning themselves, with the idea that "you can't con an honest man." But the factor that predicts whether someone is connable isn't their honesty – it's their desperation. The kid selling drugs on the corner, the mom desperately DMing her high-school friends to sell them leggings, the cousin who insists that you get in on their shitcoin – they're all doing it because the system is rigged against them, and getting worse every day.

These people reason – correctly – that all the people getting really rich are scamming. If Amazon can make $38b/year selling "ads" that push worse products that cost more to the top of their search results, why should the mere fact that an "opportunity" is obviously predatory and fraudulent disqualify it?

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/29/aethelred-the-unready/#not-one-penny-for-tribute

The quest for passive income is really the quest for a "greater fool," the economist's term for the person who relieves you of the useless crap you just overpaid for. It rots the mind, atomizes communities, shatters solidarity and breeds cynicism:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/24/passive-income/#swiss-cheese-security

The rise and rise of botshit cannot be separated from this phenomenon. The botshit in our search-results, our social media feeds, and our in-boxes isn't making money for the enshittifiers who send it – rather, they are being hustled by someone who's selling them the "picks and shovels" for the AI gold rush:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/03/botshit-generative-ai-imminent-threat-democracy

That's the true cost of all the automation-driven unemployment criti-hype: while we're nowhere near a place where bots can steal your job, we're certainly at the point where your boss can be suckered into firing you and replacing you with a bot that fails at doing your job:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/11/robots-stole-my-jerb/#computer-says-no

The manic "entrepreneurs" who've been stampeded into panic by the (correct) perception that the economy is a game of musical chairs where the number of chairs is decreasing at breakneck speed are easy marks for the Leland Stanfords of AI, who are creating generational wealth for themselves by promising that their bots will automate away all the tedious work that goes into creating value. Expect a lot more Amazon Marketplace products called "I'm sorry, I cannot fulfil this request as it goes against OpenAI use policy":

https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/12/24036156/openai-policy-amazon-ai-listings

No one's going to buy these products, but the AI picks-and-shovels people will still reap a fortune from the attempt. And because history repeats itself, these newly minted billionaires are continuing Leland Stanford's love affair with eugenics:

https://www.truthdig.com/dig-series/eugenics/

The fact that AI spam doesn't pay is important to the fortunes of AI companies. Most high-value AI applications are very risk-intolerant (self-driving cars, radiology analysis, etc). An AI tool might help a human perform these tasks more accurately – by warning them of things that they've missed – but that's not how AI will turn a profit. There's no market for AI that makes your workers cost more but makes them better at their jobs:

https://locusmag.com/2023/12/commentary-cory-doctorow-what-kind-of-bubble-is-ai/

Plenty of people think that spam might be the elusive high-value, low-risk AI application. But that's just not true. The point of AI spam is to get clicks from people who are looking for better content. It's SEO. No one reads 2000 words of algorithm-pleasing LLM garbage over an omelette recipe and then subscribes to that site's feed.

And the omelette recipe generates pennies for the spammer that posted it. They are doing massive volume in order to make those pennies into dollars. You don't make money by posting one spam. If every spammer had to pay the actual recovery costs (energy, chillers, capital amortization, wages) for their query, every AI spam would lose (lots of) money.

Hustle culture and passive income are about turning other peoples' dollars into your dimes. It is a negative-sum activity, a net drain on society. Behind every seemingly successful "passive income" is a con artist who's getting rich by promising – but not delivering – that elusive passive income, and then blaming the victims for not hustling hard enough:

https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2023/12/blueprint-trouble

I'm Kickstarting the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There's also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/15/passive-income-brainworms/#four-hour-work-week

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[nardo-headcanons]

National Holidays in the Ninja Villages + Bonus

I've had this idea in mind for a while, and now I finally got to write it down. Feel free to use these for your own works. Please tag me so I can read em all! <33

Iwagakure: The Lunar Lights of Gratitude The moon has a special place in the heart of every Iwa citizen. To them, it is a part of the earth, now observing its mother body from space. So naturally, the spectacle of a blue/super moon is a special occasion in Iwagakure. To honor and greet the moon, which is actually called "daughter" in the earth country's language, large fireworks are organized every new moon after a blue moon. As previously established, the earth country's firework industry is the largest, which Iwa shinobi are very proud of. Lighting the sky on fire and turning night into daytime is the Iwa way of giving back some of the light that the moon gives us at night.

Kirigakure: The Moonshine Sea Festival Despite the rivalry between the land of earth and the land of water, there is one thing they have in common, which is their spiritual connection to the moon and space. To water country citizens, especially the fishermen, the moon is a protector and guardian of the night, along with the stars. They strengthen the their connection to their biggest source of both faith and fear: the sea. The special climate in the water country, combined with its great biodiversity give a great habitat for biolumescent plankton, turning the sea itself into a starry night sky. It is one of the only pieces of culture that has been preserved, since the celebration itself was founded by the water country's union of fishermen, who don't belong to a particular clan with a kekkei genkai; most of the kekkei genkai wielders in Kiri have been wiped out, along with their culture, traditions and religions.

Sunagakure: Winter's Return The wind country is often ravaged by agonozingly hot summers, sand storms and heat waves are not a rarity in this country. While foreigners might groan and roll their eyes at the thought of the return to cold, foggy winter days, in Sunagakure it is a day for celebration. On the day where the sun stays for the longest, in the middle of the year, a large celebration is held across the nation. The way it is celebrated is different from family to family, and every Suna family is convinced that their way is the right one. Typically, markets are closed the whole day, and any missions rank B or below are halted for the day.

Kumogakure: Whale Festival of Generosity During winter, whales can be found emigrating along the lightning country's coast line, towards the land of iron. This holiday once came to be to celebrate the whales emigration towards a more prosperous habitat to mate and provide enough food for their young - a truly generous gesture. Over the years, many kumo shinobi have forgotten the old tale behind this festival, and it has turned into more of a mere gift giving occasion. And yet, it is widely popular and celebrated throughout the whole country.

Konoha: Cherry and Plum Blossom Viewing In Konoha, Hanami is annually celebrated. It is a custom celebrating the transitionary nature of cherry and plum blossoms blooming in spring.

BONUS: Uchiha Clan Honoring one's ancestors and traditions is of high importance to the Uchiha. Every year, on a clear fall night, the whole clan gathers together to light up little candles using their katon. The tealights are arranged in the Uchiha crest and left to light up the night and the clan share the evening together eating dinner, drinking hot tea and praying at the nakano shrine.

That's all, folks!

[gyeomsweetgyeom]

[8:12 pm]

“Smile!” You heard a voice call out.

You turned to face the camera with a wide smile with your arms wrapped around Johnny’s waist and your face pressed to his chest.

“I think that’s enough pictures for tonight Mom,” Johnny chuckled. Every few displays, she would stop you both to take a picture of the both of you. A bright flash of light would go off and then she’d look down at her phone screen with a fond smile and continue walking until she got to the next spot where she wanted a picture.

“Nonsense! It’s your first time seeing the Christmas lights together, you’ll want to remember this,” she smiled warmly before taking her husband’s hand and walking down further from both you and Johnny.

“I’m sorry about her,”Johnny murmured after his mom was a good few feet away.

You smiled, “don’t apologize! She’s cute, I love her.”

He smiled warmly, taking your hand in his and led you down the walkway to look at more of the extravagant light displays.

This was your first Chicago Christmas. In previous years you and Johnny would either spend the time apart or spend it together in Korea, this year you had decided you wanted to spend it with his family. He had told you he loved going to the Christmas markets, going shopping, and all the food that his parents made during the holiday season. It was enough to sell you so here you were.

Despite it being nearly freezing outside, you never had it in you to tell Johnny’s parents no- even when the house had been so warm and cozy, especially under the fuzzy blanket Johnny’s mom had thrown over you with a Christmas movie playing in the background. The ground was wet from the rain earlier in the day and it was coldest it had been all day with the sun now fully set, but the lights from the Christmas light lane were gorgeous to look at. A lot of the houses had gone all out, lights that strobed with music, various inflatables, and different animals made from strings of lights. Johnny had told you that this had been one of his favorite traditions to do with his parents in the holiday season. He went every year he was in Chicago for the holiday season and never skipped even when he got to the age where he thought it was too lame.

He was happy that you were now included, years into your relationship, his parents loved you, he loved you, and you were finally joining in on exclusive family traditions. His parents had been very welcoming, including you in every detail of their usual traditions and daily routine like it was second nature to them. You woke up every morning with a cup of coffee made just the way you liked, a blanket draped over you while you laid on the couch, and even your usual shampoo in the shower when you got there. They were so excited to have you stay with them for the holidays, that they had even asked Johnny to share some of your usual traditions over the holidays so they could make you feel more at home. They made you love Johnny even more than you already did.

You had been so excited to leave that you failed to grab your gloves off the dresser in your room. Your pockets weren’t going enough to keep your hands warm out in the cold. You brought your hands up to your mouth and breathed hot air onto them before rubbing them together quickly and shoving them into your pockets to preserve the heat.

“There’s a little stand coming up that has some great hot chocolate,” Johnny smiled at you fondly.

You nodded, your ear muffs sliding forward until Johnny fixed them, “I feel like my fingers are going to freeze and fall off.”

He laughed loudly and pulled you into his side while you walked to the hot chocolate stand. The line was unfortunately long, a lot of people clearly having the same idea as the two of you, but you joined the line anyway.

You wrapped your arms around Johnny’s waist, burying your face into his back while you joined the back of the long line. He grabbed your hands and pulled them up under his jacket to rest right over the first layer of his T-shirt. “Baby! I can feel how cold your hands are,” he laughed while his body flinched, feeling the cold from your hands seeping through the cotton of his shirt.

“I told you! Maybe if you didn’t rush me I’d have remembered my gloves,” you pout, poking your fingers into his sides.

He squirms as you tickle him but let’s your warm your hands under his layers but keeping his hands over yours. You move up the line as one, shuffling forward without disconnecting your bodies.

“Smile!” You hear again. You turn, with your cheek pressed to Johnny’s back and hands buried under his jacket to keep your hands warm, with a bright smile.

“Gorgeous,” she smiles warmly. Finally, it’s yours and Johnny’s turn to order and you reluctantly remove yourself from his warmth. This is thankfully soon replaced by a hot cup of hot chocolate in one hand and Johnny’s free hand in the other.

You all stand huddled in a close group, taking sips of the hot chocolate while you discuss your favorite displays and plans for the rest of your stay. “We’re so glad you’re enjoying yourself,” Johnny’s dad smiles at your brightly.

You smile in return, “everything we’ve done so far has been so amazing. Thank you for including me.”

They wave you off, telling you you’re an official member of the Suh family before Johnny’s mom starts going on about Johnny proposing before they get too old.

With a deep sigh, Johnny follows his parents back to the car with your hand placed on his waist under his warm layers. He wraps his own arm around your shoulders, his head resting on top of yours, “I love you.”

“I love you too, John.”

“More than my parents?”

Your silence is enough of an answer for him, unfortunately.

[rupalic]

Food Preservatives Market Share, Forecast | Growth Analysis and Opportunities

[uselessmoonlight]

Stranger part 2

Reader is Telemachus' friend, and when he leaves for his "diplomatic mission" he asks her to watch over his mother.

Later, once the king has returned, she stumbles upon an injured Poseidon.

Previous / series masterlist / Next

☆☆☆

Content specs: she/her pronouns used, afab reader, Platonic!Telemachus x reader, unrequited love, blood, fighting, nudity, illusion, possibly more?, trying to avoid using y/n, slowburn, suggestive themes, but no smut, English is not my first language, sorry if it's too much exposition, it's my first fic.

Also, I'm aware a God would have gold blood, but he's disguised himself, so somehow he's also changed the colour of his blood, idc.

☆☆☆

However tired she was, sleep would have to wait. This person needed help, and it was her duty to provide it. While he was technically not her guest, this part of the shore was basically her backyard, so she felt obliged.

It took quite some effort to get the man inside her home, even more to get him onto the bed, where she'd be able to attend to his wounds. The man almost had more wounds than flesh on his torso. It was rather surprising that he was still breathing at all.

With this strange man on her bed, she didn't really have anywhere she could rest. Not that she could, with a stranger in her home. She lived in a very modest house, if you could even call it that. She had 2 rooms, one for bathing and one for everything else. The latter only fitting a bed, a table with two chairs, and some kitchen essentials. Most of her cooking she did outside, but for rainy or cold days, she did have a pot inside.

Until high noon, she'd sat on one of the chairs, watching the man, not even daring to wash herself. She had treated her wounds, however. Well, to the best of her abilities, at least. Her chiton was splattered with blood, both her own and that of the suitors, and most of her body was also covered with splashes.

But fatigue was winning from fear and caution. She'd been awake since yesterday morning, had fought hard through the night, and was injured herself. Trying to stay awake was like fighting a losing battle, pointless, only to preserve ones pride, and peach would not go down without a fight.

☆☆☆

She's only been asleep for about an hour when she awoke from the noise within her home. The man had woken up and was struggling to get out of bed. Hundreds of questions flashed through her mind, questions she'd wanted to ask this stranger, but according to Xenia, it would be rude to do so.

"It'd be best if you were to remain still." She warned gently.

The man's head snapped towards her. He'd either not seen her yet or hadn't expected her to wake up so soon.

"You're rather injured. It would be a shame if your bandages became undone, took quite some work to put them on." She was met with silence as the man studied her.

His silence irked her, but at least he’d stopped struggling. Perhaps he was too injured to speak, mute, or he’d travelled too far from home and did not share her language. Now that his eyes were open, she’d found them to be a striking blue.

“I was unable to go to the market today, so I haven’t got any food to offer you, but I can catch us some fish and get some fruit to eat.” She said to the man “I’d just have to leave you, some stranger, alone in my house, with all my possessions.” She muttered under her breath. Peach could’ve sworn she’d seen the man smirk at her as she’d whispered to herself. Did he find her predicament amusing? Or had she correctly assumed his intentions to rob her?

Either way she herself was starving too, and fishing could include an improvised scrub to wash away last night. “I’ll be close by, just call out if you are in need of assistance.” She paused. “You are able to do so, right?”

“Yes.” The man grunted, his voice like honey and smoke. She half expected him to say more, to berate her for asking her guest a question before offering him a proper meal. She knew her question was not the kind Xenia spoke of, but still. Hospitality laws were a delicate thing, she did not want to offend the man, or worse, invoke the wrath of the Gods. Peach nodded her head in acknowledgement, and all but sprinted out the door. She grabbed her axes on the way out, not wanting to give the man the opportunity to arm himself while she was away.

First she scrubbed off the grime, the dirt would lure back the fish she’d scared away by disturbing the water. Then she sent a prayer to both Glaucus and Poseidon. She did not have a patron God, or at least not yet, just like she did not have a job. Well technically she did have a job, but she did not get paid for it. She was a protector, she’d protected the queen for a week, she’d protect the priestesses of Dionysus during their intoxicating rituals, and there were many other instances where she’d protect those who could not protect themselves.

She helped around the village, too. Harvesting the fruits that were too high up to reach, when the farmers boy got too heavy for the branches of the trees. Helping the shepherd find his lost sheep or protecting them from wolves. Going out with the fishermen when the tides and fish were not in their favour. This was what kept her fed and clothed.

But now she found herself protecting this stranger. Peach was protecting this man from the elements, by allowing him in her home, protecting him from injury, by cleaning and dressing his wounds, and now she was protecting him from starvation, by catching him food.

☆☆☆

It had not taken peach long for her to catch a nice, large fagri. It would be enough to feed them both, had she been alone she could stretch it at least 3 days, combined with the peaches from her tree. Alas she was not. The peach tree next to her house, the one that had been the reason for her nickname, or part of, had not a lot of ripe fruits yet. Only those at the very top would be good for eating, and even then they’d not be quite sweet enough to eat just so. While peach didn’t hold a candle to the palace chef, she was not a bad cook.

On the fire outside she’d made a surprisingly tasty meal, and now she sat once more in her home, watching the stranger laid in her bed. Normally she would not allow anyone to eat on her mattress, but this guy was too injured to move himself, and she was not going through the struggle of moving him again.

As peach was picking at her food, she wondered, if he was sleeping in her bed tonight, where would she rest?

Next

☆☆☆

A/N: possible only one bed trope?

[dailyanarchistposts]

8

What is subsistence? Subsistence means committing to a place and the people who live there. It means generally getting food from your region because that is the geographical area that you understand and are familiar with and therefore you know when and how much of each item or animal is acceptable to gather or hunt.

Subsistence means fishing with friends. It means preserving food with others in your group or village or clan or whatever. Subsistence is getting together, voluntarily, with folks that you have an affinity with, to provide yourself with food and shelter and musical instruments and friendship.

Subsistence means abundance and balance, it means wildness and harmony at once. Subsistence is not an impoverished, depleted existence.

Time spent repairing the fishing nets or pickling vegetables or building a communal smokehouse isn’t alienated time. It is meaningful and joyous. In some places likely characterized by songs and mead, in others by quiet satisfaction. It means providing for yourself where you live.

Subsistence is participatory. It involves understanding your habitat and finding a healthy place within it.

Subsistence could be the bedrock upon which an anarchic culture’s ways rest on. It is the foundation of a healthy, independent, autonomous set ofliving practices, based on the cycles of the place where you live. Sense of place. Sensual wisdom.

This doesn’t mean that primal people don’t make mistakes. But overall, they rely on directly lived experience complimented by generations old wisdom to make their decisions.

Life in nature isn’t nasty brutish and short. This is a lie of the fearful and the fear mongers, of ruling classes set on the conquest of land-based people.

Subsistence means no or very little material waste: no dumpsites, no burning piles of garbage, no necessity of a recycling industry, and no mountains of appliances, gadgets and plastic. It is based in the natural cycles of your group’s land base. It means respecting nature where you live and all of the life forms that you share your habitat with, even the ones that are threatening to you, because we are all interconnected.

Subsistence isn’t about dumpster diving, scams, food banks, stealing and welfare cheques. Subsistence is directly participating in a collectivity’s future and thus ensuring your own.

For now, a group of five or ten folks acquiring food and shelter together is a form of surviving or pioneering. Fifteen or twenty people providing food and shelter for themselves, communally rearing their children, and generally taking care of each other is perhaps the ember of a clan, but true kinship probably takes a few generations.

When fifty or more people spend their lives, within the context of a successful break from the current world of hierarchy and private property and ideology, making sure that everyone within their group is fed and sheltered and nurtured and have built an infrastructure of ways and tools to assist them, anarchy begins to take hold.

This speculative glimpse is just my notion of how an urban area might de-urbanize should the present social order get cast overboard. Today, inhabitants of rural communes and eco-villages can practice some subsistence skills, but these are generally projects of the fortunate, out of reach of the majority, and can’t be viewed as the primary tactic of a thrust toward autonomous, genuine communities embedded in nature. A rural intentional community based around principles of mutual aid, cooperation and ecology might be a qualitatively superior place to live than most others, but truly self-directed people embedded in a habitat requires secession from private property and a refusal to obey the laws of both the market and the nation-state.

Power abhors subsistence. Capitalism depends on obedient producers and consumers spending our lives shopping and at work, not friends and neighbors practicing communal self reliance within a shared habitat. But together we can say no, we can disobey, and in this negativity there will birth a positive and creative force.

[strongbookthoughts]

Notes on Preservation Pantry by Sarah Marshall

So I'm gonna admit this book wasn't what I expected, but that's because I was rushing to pick something so I could check out before the library closed. That made it a little hard to accept on it's own terms, but I've come around to finding it charming.

Okay, so a lot of people I know are pretty worried about grocery prices. Doing your own food preservation is a way to stretch your pennies or at least raise the quality of what your pennies can do. I was hoping for something that would be a little more in depth about more techniques, but.. yeah, anyway. That's on me for being in so much hurry that I didn't even read the subtitle.

So the biggest downside to the book is that the recipes really highlight what's available at North Pacific farmer's markets. If you live in a different area, you might never see some of this stuff, or it might be horrifyingly expensive. Or maybe you'll just take a road trip so you can go on a canning spree vacation. That's a thing normal people do, right?

The book is sectioned by fruit or veggie. For each main ingredient, there are two canning recipes, one other recipe that can be stored, and then a recipe that uses on of the 3 previous recipes to make a dish. I LOVE that. One of the biggest problems with canning recipes is figuring out what to do with the results beyond eating out of the jar with a spoon. I'm definitely interested in the onion jam that can be turned into french onion soup.

I also really liked the idea of creating a canning club with my friends. There's a whole section on what the idea is and how to run one. I know a lot of food nerds, so... yeah. Sharing is caring and all that.