Where Am I Eating Book Report

Consumption of food has been recognised as a key sustainability issue, due to both food wastage and overconsumption of food. This can be clearly observed in the United Nations, where the Food and Agriculture Organisation is calling for change in the food and agriculture sector to adapt a more sustainable approach. Consumers, businesses, and governments all have significant roles to play in moving forward to address sustainability issues, in relation to food. It is an imperative for consumers to first take note of their own impact towards food sustainability and to address whether there are steps they can take in their own lives to diminish both food wastage and overconsumption. Issues such as overconsumption are in large, due to the excess demand for food by consumers and can thus, be addressed by consumers individually if the will is there. Businesses have an imperative to set sustainability goals and to ensure that sustainability is a key issue that is addressed within all corporations.

Wendell Berry’s “The Pleasures of Eating” is a strong-opinioned article on how and why people (in his view) take for granted the food they are served and nourished with everyday. The read itself is lengthy in the fact that the first three pages don’t mean that much; the numbered bullet points starting on page four outline what the author was trying to say throughout the whole piece. Berry is such a smooth writer with a strong vocabulary, that reader’s like myself could have trouble staying on topic with his side thoughts in just about every sentence. In dissecting his bullet points, I think this will serve as a good summary and personal reflection. The first point is about growing our own food to feel the reward and labor that many farmers

As Americans gain more and more options in the food industry, many are wondering where the best place to purchase meals to put on their table. Upon going to the supermarket they can look around not knowing which of the many brands and types of the same product are more healthy, how long they have been sitting out, and if they are even safe to eat. There is a very simple solution to this problem: becoming a locavore and eating goods that are grown locally. By going to farmer’s markets a customer can be certain they know their food is fresh, help boost their local economy by buying their groceries locally, and help prevent the air pollution caused by carting food long distances. Communities should make the healthy,

There are 226 fairtrade certified producer organizations in 74 countries. Moreover, small producer organizations spent 31% of their fairtrade premium on investments supporting productivity or quality of improvements and on plantations, workers spent 26% of their fairtrade premium on education. So Fair Trade starts the path for many other advancements. Some examples of products that are Fair Trade Certified are Stacy’s Pita Chips, Brownie Brittle, and the Whole Foods Market grocery store. There are many Fair Trade Certified companies all over the world, a handful of which include Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Fair Indigo, Fairhills Wine, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Theo Chocolate. Blends for Life, and Rishi Tea. All of these products are sold in local grocery stores and food markets. In order to incorporate these products into our daily life we have to make objective decisions and research the specific foods, and products we are buying everyday. By taking the time to find specific products that are Fair Trade Certified we not only benefit the worker we also benefit the environment and ourselves by supporting a morally conscious

There are a variety of universal lessons that the reader can master. Predominantly, Fast food has changed our nation, in a way that we want convenient, cheap, fast, and appetizing food without caring about the fat aspect. According to the author, "In 1970, Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food; in 2000, they spent more than $110 billion. Americans now spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software, or new cars. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music—combined." This is an indication that our nation has developed into an inconsiderate nation that doesn't show apprehension towards all the health issues that consumers consider a minor part in our daily lives. Another lesson that is acquired is, "It's not how much you eat, it's what you eat." The author points out that, "At the moment, the nation’s roughly 200,000 fast food restaurants are not subject to any oversight by federal health

Fair Trade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices, Fair Trade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives. Fair Trade also ensures that the products being purchased have been grown or created under a hygienic and safe environment. Today, more than six million farmers, producers and growers benefit from the unique Fair Trade system. This scheme provides the farmers and producers with a fair price for the produce helping them to sustain a suitable living. They also receive an additional sum, also known as the Fair Trade Premium, which can be used for social, economic and environmental development in their communities. The developments can include improvements in medical and educational facilities. Fairtrade also prohibits the use of the child labour system. (Fairtrade, 2015)

Fair trade is a label that businesses who follow certain criteria for environmental and labor standards can purchase. According to the network of Four Fair Trade organizations, ‘‘Fairtrade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of,

UK consumers are becoming more aware about the ingredients in food, e.g. boycotting trans-fats, battery farmed poultry and mass farmed tuna. In 2008 this motivated

Food has always had a significant influence on culture. As populations increased, societies began to function with the assumption that they must become more self-reliant to survive. At first, this simply began with cultures settling into an area and beginning to practice farming. Nonetheless, the pressure caused by growing families eventually spurred even greater innovations; pasteurization, canning, and genetic modification are all technologies which have enabled safer and more reliable food. However, these technologies are not the only thing becoming more complex. In fact, the very system of food, including production, transportation, allocation, and governing laws also has grown incredibly intricate. Not-so-stringent regulations, corporate agreements, and capitalistic motives have led the entire food system to its current, unsustainable state. Though this system has been politicized for a long time, its faults and errors are becoming increasingly apparent to the educated person. Herein lies the most significant problem: the uninformed person is blind to the issues in the current food system. Beyond those who lack an understanding, there are countless who willingly choose to ignore or deny the underlying science. Education is the key to fighting against governmental issues, ethical dilemmas, environmental concerns, as well as personal health interests.

The truck travels down the highway. In a refrigerated cabin, produce bounces in its crates. It's been several days, and there are still more to go before the vehicle reaches its final destination. By the time the food arrives, it's days old and has traveled more than most people. As it fills the store shelves, the harsh white rays of the supermarket lights reflect off its pesticide coated surface. There has been an awakening. Every day, more and more people demand fresher produce from providers and are frustrated with the wasteful industrial cycle used to produce their food. Consumers are ready for change and are anxious to commit their part. Consumers can change the environment for the better if they move to support local farms and

Over the years, food has changed. From the way it is grown and processed, to how it is prepared for consumption. However, many consumers are still influenced by the misconception that food comes from friendly family farms and not farm yards influenced and ran by corporations. In this day and age, everything is instant and questions are asked only when there is a waiting time. Something is wrong with that, but the food industry would rather not have people questioning what they are eating because if they truly knew they probably would not be eating it (Kenner). Many don’t care to ask where their food is coming from or what is in it, all that matters is that it is delicious and ready in a

Trade is the act of buying and selling goods and services. This idea of trade became popular globally, starting the fair trade movement. According to FINE in 2001, fair trade is defined as a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency, and respect that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers - especially in the South (Moore, Wilkinson, Redfern & Snedker). The fair trade movement originated in the late nineteenth century. It began as charitable organizations and political solidarity trading with poor communities in the 1940s until it expanded to become a movement in the 1960s-1970s. The movement was officially created when the leading traders and importers joined forces from multiple different countries. The movement was created to to import goods for trade. Fair trade organizations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade (Moore 73-74). The importance of the fair trade movement can be explained by the foundation of the movement, the goals of the movement, the obstacles of the movement, current organizations who follow the movement, and the overall movement itself.

You are what you eat is an age-old saying that has been around for centuries in many societies around the globe. For a long time, people have taken this saying lightly, but recent research, as well as trends, indicates that people are beginning to agree that the saying holds some truth. Food is an important aspect of life for all organisms on earth, and the same also applies to human beings. Before agricultural revolution, survival and life for all human societies revolved around the search for food. In those days, the only concern people had from morning to evening was searching for food either through hunting or gathering. Gradually as societies began to emerge and people began farming and domesticating livestock, the resulting improvement in food security enabled people to start concentrating on other aspects of life apart from the search of food. This contributed to the emergence and development of the civilization we see in the modern times. Since the first wave of European immigrants began arriving in the east coast of America in the 15th century, agriculture has been an important industry in the United States. Today, the United States has grown to one of the world leading producer and market for food in the world market. The United States produces various plant and animal food both for export and local consumption. The country also imports various foods from different countries around the globe. Unsurprising, the issue

Throughout her book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver presents several impactful reasons that persuaded me to want to eat locally. In recent years, the food industry has transitioned from local sourcing to global sourcing. Did you know that the average food item in a U.S. grocery store has traveled further than most families go on their annual vacations? To be transported from the factory to our plate, the food people consume on a daily basis travels over 1500 miles (Kingsolver, 4-5). Food that travels less is not only fresher, but produces less damaging effects on the environment, such as pollution. Interestingly, the average person consumes nearly 400 gallons of fossil fuel per year through their food - both the final product and the factors of production. Eating “off the grid,” as Kingsolver states it, would not only help support local farmers but the environment as well. Factory farming is killing the environment, animals, and consumers one product at a time. Simple solutions, such as eating local food, is a way to minimize damage to the environment, which is something I wholeheartedly support for the safety of myself and future family. “If every U.S. citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal), composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce our country's oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week” (Kingsolver, 5). Switching to a local diet could not only save my life, but the

Fair trade is an initiative that was created by importing organisations in the United States and Europe with the purpose of fostering inclusion, capacity building as well as equal opportunities for agricultural and textile producers who had been marginalised in less developed nations (Huybrechts 2012). The whole concept of fair trade has seized the imagination of the public in a remarkable way. This is evidenced not only by increased sales of products or the rampant acknowledgement of the trade mark, rather from the almost global recognition and understanding of the term itself as well as immense advocacy at the grassroots through establishments as fair trade towns.