| Welcome to GoodFood World | February 19, 2012
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This week we take a serious look at where our food comes from and how we choose what we buy and eat. How all those products make it to the supermarket shelf is something that most of us don't know.
 Why is this product available and not another one? Who determines what it is that you get to buy? As you stand in the produce section of the grocery store, and reach out to select a piece of fruit, you are deciding what you get to eat, right?
Well, actually you don't! Yes, you get to decide which item you'll take off the shelf, but how did it get there? That decision is made by lots of folks in the supply chain and only incidentally by the consumer. And as a consumer, you have very little control over the products that appear on the grocery shelves. You are like a contestant playing the "Dating Game;" you get to choose from a predefined assortment of products. And some of those choices are pretty dismal!
There are a lot of people who control what gets grown, what gets processed, and what gets sold. Take a look at the complexity of the fresh produce supply chain, the first in a series of articles looking at our food system.
 Big Ag - in the shape of companies like Monsanto - have a heavy hand in determining what's available to choose from! Make no mistake about it... Monsanto would be VERY happy to have you PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE GMOs BEHIND THE CURTAIN!
And behind the curtain is where the truth and greatest dangers lie, because their span and depth are nearly omnipresent in our modern American standard diet. Our Healthy Living correspondent, Ina Denburg, takes a look behind the curtain here.
There's more, keep reading! Get a cup of coffee and join us at GoodFood World, where we get to the source by talking to the people who produce, process, and deliver good food. Take care, eat well, and be well! |
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 Katie Hilmer, our Good Food on a Budget correspondent says:
"Meat and poultry that is conventionally produced to reach the market quickly and in large quantities comes to us at a cheap cost, but it's a high price to pay for the environment and our health (not to mention animal cruelty issues). Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make it easier; not only for the earth, but for our wallets, our conscience, and our bodies. Here are some ideas, in no particular order of importance. Depending on your situation, one might take priority over another, but I find that they work best in combination."
Here are her thoughts, and suggestions for eating less meat and meat that is local, natural, and whole. And this time Katie throws in some recipes too!
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 Our Minnesota shepherdess, Lea McEvilly, is back at her keyboard and filling us in on life on the farm. Here are her latest installments:
Keep reading, there will be more!
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 Kitchen Literacy by Ann Vileisis (Island Press, 2010)
Ask children where food comes from, and they'll probably answer: "the supermarket." Ask most adults, and their replies may not be much different. Where our foods are raised and what happens to them between farm and supermarket shelf have become mysteries.
How did we become so disconnected from the sources of our breads, beef, cheeses, cereal, apples, and countless other foods that nourish us every day? Ann Vileisis' answer is a sensory-rich journey through the history of making dinner.
There are more books on GoodFood World and more coming every week.
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Marion Nestle Helps You Decide What To Eat (Audio)
Overwhelmed by bread options at the grocery store? How about lettuce? You're bound to find 10 different options just for romaine lettuce, and more for bread, water, cheese, broccoli - everything! Do you simply guess which product to buy?
In an interview on KUOW Radio's Speaker Forum, Marion Nestle talks about what foods to buy and she lets you in on some supermarket industry secrets. Namely: the more you see, the more you're likely to buy. Listen to the interview here.
There are more audios and videos on GoodFood World and more coming every week.
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 We post a new food-related word or phrase every week. This week's word is: Cioppino - A very fine fish soup.
The Dictionary of American Regional English is a multi-volume reference that documents words, phrases, and pronunciations as they vary from place to place across the United States.
Read about today's GoodFood Word at DARE.
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 We can help you get your products to market! You put your heart and soul into growing, preparing, packaging, and delivering whole, minimally processed, local/regional, and organic or sustainable food. Marketing your products to discerning consumers can be a challenge.
 We can fix that! I am a former corporate marketing professional seeking clients in the good food world - organic and sustainable farmers, food processors, retailers, restaurateurs - who need to reach more customers and buyers through a creative, affordable, collaborative process that includes business planning, marketing program development, a bold web presence, and social media marketing. Let's get you more customers, generate more sales, and boost your bottom line.
Consulting and business services for small socially-innovative businesses and grass-roots "good food" producers and processors. Visit Green Business Strategies and learn more.
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Your Chance to Contribute Content, Advice, Input
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We welcome photos, tips, observations, and links to stories about the world of good food. Send us stories about what you've seen or heard. Tell us what we're doing right. We like "atta boys!" Got a beef? Send it on... we need to know! Here's the place to do it.
See you next week!
Gail Nickel-Kailing and Ken Kailing
Co-Publishers/Editors
Reach us at:    
P.S. And as always, if you just want us to leave you alone, use the "unsubscribe" button below. |
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