HW 3 - Food - Fast Food Insights and Green Market Realizations

        The Green Market in Union Square is a hot spot in New York for organic goods, it's constantly bustling with people. It has a lot for people trying to go 'healthy'. But, the real question is, Can it compete with the fast food chain McDonald's? That has a location directly across the block. I think not.
        McDonalds, or any fast food establishment for that matter, is indeed fast food. You can grab a burger that's ready to eat and far cheaper than the free range beef sold across the street.
        McDonald's' speed is a huge factor in attracting patrons. But it does lack the health factor, the organic hype that is growing by the day. These two places are similiar in one way however, the lie to sell. The "wild" arugala in the green market was not wild, only the seeds were, but saying that they're "wild" just sounds better. McDonald's lies too.They put up a front that they're doing good things for the world, ie Ronald McDonald House Charities, while I don't doubt that they are truthfully helping people, they're food probably leads to more cholestrol and heart problems than any other. But they do however have a response to the health-conscious wave, they have a line of fruit smoothies that seem healthy, and they also have salad options.
        The people I talked to were from the meat market, and didn't have nice things to say about McDonald's. One man working at the 'Free Range Beef' stand commented on the chain's treatment of livestock "They fatten them up [with hormones], while we let our cows roam free without adding hormones"
This has been a topic of controversy, not only surrounding McDonalds, but the fast food business in general.
        Personally, I do prefer McDonalds, when you have somewhere to go you can't dilly-dally in the green market admiring the natural organic produce, nor am I willing to spend that type of money. I can just as easily grab lunch or breakfast in McDonald's in a matter of seconds or minutes, spend half as much money, if not less, and not have to cook it. The health factor is huge, but is it really worth that amount of time and money? I don't think so.