The Points We Cover
1. List the health and cost benefits for a consumer and a community for buying locally sourced meat and produce. Why it this healthier and cheaper for a consumer? Why is this better for an entire community on a more local scale?
Produce does not retain its nutrition forever. The longer it is separated from its food source, the more the vitamins deplete, leaving the consumer with food of no nutritional value. Eating local produce not only cuts down ecological harm, but gives the consumer the nutrition they need to stay healthy. Getting vitamins from food is far healthier (and more economical) than from vitamin pills. A well-balanced diet from local ingredients will help prevent certain diseases, such as gout, type II diabetes, heart disease and even scurvy.
2. The overarching benefits and risks for outsourcing the production of our food. Does this benefit others in the world, does it do more harm than good for others?
Many questions come to mind when considering outsourcing production of food. Is this beneficial for everyone or just a select few? Is the food safe to consume? How is the economy of local communities affected? Consumers do not necessarily know where the food they eat is grown, or how it was grown, or even how it arrived at the grocery store. Since the 1980’s with Farm Aid events and others bringing American farmers plight forward to the general public, there has been a steady decline in farms and land lost that still continues today due to other countries ability to grow food at a significantly reduced cost.
The benefits of outsourcing food production are few. Not all foods can be grown in all regions of the country or even the world. Being able to eat bananas and mangos and drink coffee would not be possible without shipping them from other countries. Now foods that are easily grown on American soil such as apples, potatoes, and asparagus are being produced in other countries and sent here to fill our grocery store shelves and produce section. Washington State was once the highest producer of asparagus for the processing market but has had a steady decline since the 1990’s and in 2004 did no processing of asparagus in over 60 years. Thousands of jobs have been lost in a once stable and predictable market. (alternet)
Another crop that has been diminished is the soybean in Illinois. Once thriving farms are now suffering since Brazil has taken over first place in the soybean growing business. How is it possible that previously flourishing farms and communities can no longer maintain their level of success? The answer is simple, cost. In the article The Outsourcing of Food on www.alternet.org an anonymous worker states “We can’t compete with labor. In Mexico they pay $5 a day. We pay $8 to $10 an hour.” American farmers can’t keep up with rising costs of seasonal union workers demanding benefit packages in addition to housing and a paycheck compared to other countries that pay the bare minimum. Populations of other countries are benefitting from the work, America is losing out.
Where does the demand for cheaper food come from? Certainly not consumers who have little to no say in the cost of food or where it comes from. Major food processors and corporations are likely the culprit behind the American farmer demise and the rise of other countries farmers. Big business may not have any apprehension when purchasing apples from China to make into applesauce for distribution at a local grocery store. The bottom line and profits are the main concern. Supply and demand are at work and the one that can supply at a lesser price is usually the winner. Not only are American farmers losing business, they are being slowly stripped of all assets as they attempt to keep up with foreign markets to stay in business before they finally decide to fold.
If we are truly ready for a global economy, all farmers and corporations around the world could work together to develop solutions to enhance and sustain all food growers, therefore benefitting consumers. But the issues are bigger than just one industry or topic.
The benefits of outsourcing food production are few. Not all foods can be grown in all regions of the country or even the world. Being able to eat bananas and mangos and drink coffee would not be possible without shipping them from other countries. Now foods that are easily grown on American soil such as apples, potatoes, and asparagus are being produced in other countries and sent here to fill our grocery store shelves and produce section. Washington State was once the highest producer of asparagus for the processing market but has had a steady decline since the 1990’s and in 2004 did no processing of asparagus in over 60 years. Thousands of jobs have been lost in a once stable and predictable market. (alternet)
Another crop that has been diminished is the soybean in Illinois. Once thriving farms are now suffering since Brazil has taken over first place in the soybean growing business. How is it possible that previously flourishing farms and communities can no longer maintain their level of success? The answer is simple, cost. In the article The Outsourcing of Food on www.alternet.org an anonymous worker states “We can’t compete with labor. In Mexico they pay $5 a day. We pay $8 to $10 an hour.” American farmers can’t keep up with rising costs of seasonal union workers demanding benefit packages in addition to housing and a paycheck compared to other countries that pay the bare minimum. Populations of other countries are benefitting from the work, America is losing out.
Where does the demand for cheaper food come from? Certainly not consumers who have little to no say in the cost of food or where it comes from. Major food processors and corporations are likely the culprit behind the American farmer demise and the rise of other countries farmers. Big business may not have any apprehension when purchasing apples from China to make into applesauce for distribution at a local grocery store. The bottom line and profits are the main concern. Supply and demand are at work and the one that can supply at a lesser price is usually the winner. Not only are American farmers losing business, they are being slowly stripped of all assets as they attempt to keep up with foreign markets to stay in business before they finally decide to fold.
If we are truly ready for a global economy, all farmers and corporations around the world could work together to develop solutions to enhance and sustain all food growers, therefore benefitting consumers. But the issues are bigger than just one industry or topic.
3. The benefit of empowering people in the local community to start community gardens and the positive impact it would have on food deserts.
Food deserts are defined as parts of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas. This is largely due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and healthy food providers. Food deserts are sometimes associated with supermarket shortages coupled with an overabundance of fast food chains. These are geographic areas where affordable and healthy food is difficult to obtain, particularly for those without access to an automobile. The USDA defines what is considered a food desert as a “low-access community,” at least 500 people and/or at least 33 percent of the census tract's population must reside more than one mile from a supermarket or large grocery store (for rural census tracts, the distance is more than 10 miles).
Food deserts have become a big problem because while they are often short on whole food providers, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, instead, they are heavy on local quickie marts that provide a wealth of processed, sugar, and fat laden foods that are known contributors to our nation’s obesity epidemic.
People in these areas, especially children are adversely affected by not having healthy food options. With their lengthy transit rides to get to a store, grocery shopping at Plaid Pantries has become the norm. Cans of processed Spaghetti O’s is a cooked dinner. Low-income households seem to be punished for being so. Instead of local or chain grocery stores being available within reasonable distances we have families resorting to processed or fast food as sustenance. With all of these factors working against them it is no surprise that the rate of obesity and diabetes is on the rise.
Food needs to change in these areas. Education and local options is paramount for these communities to turn around. Food deserts can be improved through several different types of efforts. Establishing a community garden where participants share in the maintenance and products of the garden and organizing local farmers markets are two efforts that community members themselves can do. Local governments can improve local transportation like buses and metros to allow for easier access to established markets. They can also change zoning codes and offer economic or tax incentives to attract retailers with healthier food offerings to the area. Having more local farmer’s markets would be significantly beneficial to these communities and the farmers that grow the food. This seems like a win-win situation for everyone.
Here are United States Department of Agriculture pages displaying interactive maps that show an atlas of food access.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/go-to-the-atlas.aspx
and
http://ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-environment-atlas/go-to-the-atlas.aspx
Food deserts have become a big problem because while they are often short on whole food providers, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, instead, they are heavy on local quickie marts that provide a wealth of processed, sugar, and fat laden foods that are known contributors to our nation’s obesity epidemic.
People in these areas, especially children are adversely affected by not having healthy food options. With their lengthy transit rides to get to a store, grocery shopping at Plaid Pantries has become the norm. Cans of processed Spaghetti O’s is a cooked dinner. Low-income households seem to be punished for being so. Instead of local or chain grocery stores being available within reasonable distances we have families resorting to processed or fast food as sustenance. With all of these factors working against them it is no surprise that the rate of obesity and diabetes is on the rise.
Food needs to change in these areas. Education and local options is paramount for these communities to turn around. Food deserts can be improved through several different types of efforts. Establishing a community garden where participants share in the maintenance and products of the garden and organizing local farmers markets are two efforts that community members themselves can do. Local governments can improve local transportation like buses and metros to allow for easier access to established markets. They can also change zoning codes and offer economic or tax incentives to attract retailers with healthier food offerings to the area. Having more local farmer’s markets would be significantly beneficial to these communities and the farmers that grow the food. This seems like a win-win situation for everyone.
Here are United States Department of Agriculture pages displaying interactive maps that show an atlas of food access.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/go-to-the-atlas.aspx
and
http://ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-environment-atlas/go-to-the-atlas.aspx