And why not begin with asparagus? Such a strange vegetable, with its pungent taste and phallic form. I am told that the plants must be allowed to mature for a few years before they can be harvested, and the cut stalks grow back, so the harvesting process does not actually kill the plant. I do not know any of this to be true or non-true, as I have never grown asparagus. I don't know anyone personally who has, either, which leads me to suspect that the north Georgia mountains are too far south for it to fare well. I do know that it provides an interesting political quandary in Germany, where it does grow well. Similar to strawberry picking in its labor intensity (something I do know quite a bit about), only migrant workers are willing to do the backbreaking labor of harvesting asparagus. The political issue created, then, is also held in common with the strawberries, as the jobs go to workers who are not part of the tax base, etc., but are you willing to do without your asparagus? OK, don't answer that. But what about your strawberries, your lovely, ripe, red, juicy, California-grown strawberries? Do you think jobs should not be given to migrant workers with no papers? Can you do without your strawberries? Will you? What about your tomatoes? Your melons, your bell peppers, your peas? Are you willing to pay twice the price for berries picked only by registered members of the local tax base? Most people aren't even willing to pay an extra buck or two for strawberries grown without toxic synthetic chemicals sprayed all over them (translation: organically grown). Strawberries are among the most pesticide-contaminated crops produced, and they must be hand-picked. I've noticed folks do a lot of complaining, but their actions still support the very thing they complain about. What sacrifices are you willing to make to support your beliefs?