Whether you’re a vegetarian or an omnivore, there’s always something more to learn about your food and where it comes from. Thanks to Whole Foods Market and the Humane Society, there’s a chance Little Rockers can catch a documentary that takes a surprisingly fresh look at the story behind our farmed animals in the U.S. – “At the Fork.”

The two organizations have teamed up with the filmmakers to bring a private screening to Little Rock’s Chenal 9 IMAX Theatre on July 13 at 7 p.m. This is all part of a nationwide crowd-sourced effort to get people talking about how animals are raised for food in America.

After previewing the film we have this to say – it’s a beautiful, balanced look at our animal agriculture. “At the Fork” manages to be honest, touching, and yet full of the hard questions we should ask about every burger, glass of milk, or piece of chicken we consume.

The original idea for the documentary came out of a challenge between a vegetarian wife and omnivorous husband. John Papola, the filmmaker and husband in this story, decided to document his examination into farmed animals, and his wife, Lisa Versaci, a produce and writer in her own right, embarks on the quest with him.

The result is an enlightening conversation with experts on food, as well as close looks at many different types of farms, ranging from small to industrial sized. Arkansas-based Crystal Lake Farms even makes an appearance.

Notably, the farmers in the film aren’t shown in a bad light, rather they’re shown as people who themselves struggle with the status quo.
“At the Fork” also includes thoughts from world-renowned animal welfare expert Dr. Temple Grandin; Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States; and Mark Bittman, bestselling author and former New York Times columnist, among others.

Rather than feeling helpless at the end of watching the documentary, we felt informed. The film lands on the power consumers have to help change the way animals are raised, giving viewers a route for action, if they so choose.

Informative and interesting, this film is sincere and honest, but the only way to guarantee that you get a chance to see it is to buy your ticket by July 1, because a minimum number has to be sold in order to guarantee the screening.

You’re not likely to catch “At the Fork” on the big screen, so let’s bring it to Little Rock. Head here to reserve your ticket, and be sure to spread the word.

(Top photo via attheforkfilm.com)