1. I think that the most valuable thing that I learned from this class is that conventional food has an unseen price that cannot be accounted for until the damage is done. This class taught me that buying foods that are local and organic can really help to reduce the amount of damage done in transporting and growing food. Even though before this class I was aware of the damage that conventional food does, I wasn't acutely aware of it. Now I make sure to check labels of foods that I buy and to look for foods that better for me and for the planet.
2. The group project aspect of this course was really rewarding because we were working on something that would help People's in the long run and would have tangible results. Our group was challenged mostly by the farmers themselves. It was sometimes hard to get a hold of them and hard to get them to make a commitment to us for a farm visit or interview. We had to rely on strangers' capacity to welcome us and to invite to their farms which was awkward at best sometimes. Another struggle within the group was just finding time when our schedules corresponded to go to the farms. With five of us and three without cars, it was difficult to find shared free time to visit farms that were somewhat far away. We resolved these issues by trying to be as friendly and inviting to the farmers when we were setting up appointments to visit. Toward the end of the project, we realized that it was best to go to the farmers first and then plan our time around their time, whereas at first we tried to figure out when everyone was free and then try to call farms that could have us at that time. This helped us get together and rally around a time that was convenient for the farmer.
3. This class helped teach me that issues of food are issues of social responsibility. We all the responsibility to be knowledgeable about where our food comes from and how it is grown. In America, most of us have the privilege to vote with our dollar. By buying foods that are low impact on the environment we are making a statement about what we want the world to be like for future generations. More people in America need to realize the high ecological and health costs of cheap, unhealthy, processed foods and engage in the issues that allow big corporations to have control over what goes into our bodies.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Assignment #4: Question 2
While reading J. Justin Wilson's review of Food Inc. I was struck by several of the points he makes about organic food. First, he states, “the weight of scientific evidence does not support claims that organic food is more nutritious or safer than conventionally produced food.” Clearly this statement is a blatant lie. Perhaps organic food hasn't be proven to be more nutritious than conventional food, but certainly it doesn't take an expert to know that it is safer. Blue baby syndrome, extinction of other species, and depletion of soil quality requires the use of heavy duty chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These substances are very dangerous for animal and human consumption and therefore organic farms who do not use them are safer farms to live downstream from.
Another part of this article that stuck out to me is when he talks about the low income family who is overweight and eats a lot of fast food. Wilson implies that this family is stupid because they were unaware of how bad fast food is for you. Wilson mocks Food Inc's advice to the family which is to eat more local and organic vegetables. This advice is the sage advice of doctors and parents all over the world; eat your fruits and veggies. It is remarkable that Wilson thinks that this advice is stupid and mocks its intention even though clearly following that advice would drastically improve the health of the family.
Another part of this article that stuck out to me is when he talks about the low income family who is overweight and eats a lot of fast food. Wilson implies that this family is stupid because they were unaware of how bad fast food is for you. Wilson mocks Food Inc's advice to the family which is to eat more local and organic vegetables. This advice is the sage advice of doctors and parents all over the world; eat your fruits and veggies. It is remarkable that Wilson thinks that this advice is stupid and mocks its intention even though clearly following that advice would drastically improve the health of the family.
Assignment #4: Question 1
I respond to the omnivore's dilemma by eating as locally and organic as I can. I like to buy my produce from the farmers themselves and try to foster relationships with the people that I rely on to grow my food. Buying bread and cheese that is made locally eliminates a lot of the shipping costs that would be necessary if they were shipped from all over the country and even world. I have been keeping a vegetable garden since last summer. In the winter I grow carrots, beets, kale, chard, and potatoes. This summer I have green and yellow zucchini, tomatoes, strawberries, basil, rosemary, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and bok choi. Having a garden makes me much more aware of the work and effort that is required to grow food. It also helps me eat more locally, by being able to use food from my garden instead of buying it from the store, I'm able to eliminate some of my reliance on others for food.
I also grow my own food as a part of my family's tradition of growing our own food. My mother grew up on a farm where they kept sheep, cows, and grew crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat, as well as maintaining a huge family garden. This is where she learned to garden vegetables and flowers. When she moved from the Midwest to the West coast, she brought her family's gardening tradition with her. She still has a large garden with flowers, vegetables, fruits, and berries. Her gardening practices definitely motivated me to start my own garden. As well as providing local, organic food for me, my garden keeps me connected with the traditions that have been in my family for hundreds of years. I may be growing different food than my ancestors, but I am still connected with the traditions that they practiced.
I mostly think about the environment when I am making choices about what to eat. I know that factory farming is extremely detrimental to the environment, as is chemical pesticides and fertilizers, so I try and avoid any foods that would have extremely negatively impacted the environment. This is what has led me to a mostly vegetarian diet. I will still eat some seafood, especially if it is freshly caught or sustainably, wildly caught. When I am shopping I try and keep in mind what foods are the most damaging to the environment and which foods are lighter and easier to produce naturally. Keeping these things in mind makes shopping new and fun each time because I can always look and find a new, local, organic product that will better replace another, less sustainable option.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Assignment # 3
Assignment #3
1.a. Groceries from my last shopping trip:
1 head of lettuce, local organic
Motivations: Nutrition, Cost, Taste
1 peach, organic Motivations: Nutrition, Taste, Convenience 1nectarine,organic Motivations: Nutrition, Taste, Convenience
2 apricots, organic Motivations: Nutrition, Taste, Convenience
1 package of Tofurky breakfast links
Motivations: Convenience, Ethics, Cost
½ gallon Organic Valley soy milk
Motivations: Taste, Ethics
¼ lb bulk ginger cereal
Motivations:Convenience, Taste, Cost
Nancy's plain yogurt
Motivations: Taste, Nutrition
1.b. I know that some of my motivations for buying the items on this shopping list are because of marketing done by the grocery store because many of these items were on sale. The head of lettuce was on a special for over a dollar less than normal. The peach, nectarine, and apricots were not on sale, but were displayed beautifully and I'm sure that that contributed to my desire to buy them. The Tofurky breakfast sausages were also on sale, and I probably wouldn't have bought them if they weren't on sale because I usually don't buy fake meat products. The soy milk wasn't on sale either, but it was less expensive than the other brands of cow milk and milk alternatives. The ginger cereal wasn't on sale or attention grabbing, but sounded good from the bulk bin description, this descriptive sign definitely influenced my purchase. The yogurt wasn't really heavily marketed either, but I feel good about buying Nancy's brand yogurt because it is organic and delicious.
3. The day of healthy foods was pretty fun. For breakfast I at locally produced ginger granola with some soy milk. This breakfast was delicious and filling and also was ready to eat in 30 seconds. I don't know the nutritional content of the granola because it came from the bulk bin a People's and I didn't write down the nutritional info. The soy milk has dietary fiber, protein, and potassium, and is fortified with other vitamins. For lunch I made spring rolls with lettuce, organic tofu, carrots, green onions, and in some, beets. I ate these with some homemade peanut sauce. These were very good. The tofu has 16 grams of protein for the amount that I used. The lettuce was local and organic, this head of lettuce might be the best I've ever had from a store. It is a good source of vitamin A and C, a good source of calcium and selenium. The carrots are a great source of Vitamin A, B6, K and C, also dietary fiber, calcium, iron. The green onions were local and organic and is a good source of Vitamin A and C. The beets in the spring rolls came from the People's farmers' market, and they are a good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, Iron, Potassium, Folate, and Manganese. I had an apple for a snack, a red delicious from Washington state. Apples are high in Vitamins A and C and also in dietary fiber. For dinner, I made stir-fry with carrots, ginger, garlic, and broccoli served over brown rice. The ginger in the stir fry was from New Seasons, I don't think that it is locally grown. Ginger is a good source of potassium and copper. The garlic is also from New Seasons and I'm not sure if it is organic or local. Garlic is a good anti-inflammatory, and a good source of Vitamin C and B6, calcium, and Phosphorus. The broccoli was from People's and is a great source of Vitamins C, E, A, and K. High in dietary fiber, protein, iron, and calcium. It is also high in Thaimin, Riboflavin, and Magnesium. The brown rice was from the bulk bins at New Seasons, it is a good source of dietary fiber, selenium, and Manganese. At the end of this day I felt good about eating only foods that were whole and not too processed. The tofu and soy milk were both processed but not to the extent of a frozen lasagna or something like that. This project definitely felt good though, and I want to keep doing this and try to make this my regular diet.
4. I went to New Seasons to compare their store with People's using the “Leg-strecher” article as a model. From the point of view of the “Leg-Stretcher” article, I think that New Seasons would be ranked higher than People's. This is because many of the points that the article looked at are being consciously ignored and steered away from at People's. The first example that comes to mind is when the article assumes that major national corporate brands are always represented in the grocery store, there are some items that you find in virtually every grocery store that People's has never carried, whereas at New Seasons these are considered standard. People's customers appreciate this for the most part because the store refuses to sell brands that are notorious for pollution, bad labor conditions, and other non-appetizing corporate qualities. Another thing that distinguises People's from New Seasons is that New Seasons is constantly creating the image of farm freshness and local options with an extensive marketing campaign. People's on the other hand does not have as big of a marketing budget and in turn despite their much more local and sustainable product line, New Seasons is more recognizable as a leader in natural food stores. The reason that New Seasons can promote itself as the leader in sustainable grocery shopping is because there are a much bigger profiting and spending corporation than People's. They have many stores and thus higher profit margins, this allows them to promote their image as local and sustainable. Something that People's is probably better at is customer satisfaction. Because People's customers are primarily looking for whole and healthy foods, they are happy to shop at a place that doesn't sell products and profit from companies that don't agree with them ethically. This creates a different, more personal grocery shopping experience which leads to happier customers.
5. Hungry Planet” definitely cemented the idea in my head that Americans eat more processed food than anywhere else in the world. In the stories with the American families they had mostly packaged convenience foods, whereas in other places in the world there little or no foods that had already been prepared. The amount of soda consumed by Americans in this book was also an eye-opener. It became clear that the trend of drinking soda is also spreading all over the world. Some of my favorite families/foods in “Hungry Planet” were the Celiks from Turkey. I liked that they ate some meat, but mostly fruits vegetables and grains. In their monthly groceries there were very few packaged items, but they still consumed soda and beer. It was as if they had access to the modern Western diet, but still maintained their cultural food preferences. My other favorite family was the Matsudas from Okinawa. Their food choices looked mostly like fresh fish and fresh vegetables. There were some convenience foods, but again, even with modern amenities they have kept their food history alive and not converted to a Westernized convenience diet.
1.a. Groceries from my last shopping trip:
1 head of lettuce, local organic
Motivations: Nutrition, Cost, Taste
1 peach, organic Motivations: Nutrition, Taste, Convenience 1nectarine,organic Motivations: Nutrition, Taste, Convenience
2 apricots, organic Motivations: Nutrition, Taste, Convenience
1 package of Tofurky breakfast links
Motivations: Convenience, Ethics, Cost
½ gallon Organic Valley soy milk
Motivations: Taste, Ethics
¼ lb bulk ginger cereal
Motivations:Convenience, Taste, Cost
Nancy's plain yogurt
Motivations: Taste, Nutrition
1.b. I know that some of my motivations for buying the items on this shopping list are because of marketing done by the grocery store because many of these items were on sale. The head of lettuce was on a special for over a dollar less than normal. The peach, nectarine, and apricots were not on sale, but were displayed beautifully and I'm sure that that contributed to my desire to buy them. The Tofurky breakfast sausages were also on sale, and I probably wouldn't have bought them if they weren't on sale because I usually don't buy fake meat products. The soy milk wasn't on sale either, but it was less expensive than the other brands of cow milk and milk alternatives. The ginger cereal wasn't on sale or attention grabbing, but sounded good from the bulk bin description, this descriptive sign definitely influenced my purchase. The yogurt wasn't really heavily marketed either, but I feel good about buying Nancy's brand yogurt because it is organic and delicious.
3. The day of healthy foods was pretty fun. For breakfast I at locally produced ginger granola with some soy milk. This breakfast was delicious and filling and also was ready to eat in 30 seconds. I don't know the nutritional content of the granola because it came from the bulk bin a People's and I didn't write down the nutritional info. The soy milk has dietary fiber, protein, and potassium, and is fortified with other vitamins. For lunch I made spring rolls with lettuce, organic tofu, carrots, green onions, and in some, beets. I ate these with some homemade peanut sauce. These were very good. The tofu has 16 grams of protein for the amount that I used. The lettuce was local and organic, this head of lettuce might be the best I've ever had from a store. It is a good source of vitamin A and C, a good source of calcium and selenium. The carrots are a great source of Vitamin A, B6, K and C, also dietary fiber, calcium, iron. The green onions were local and organic and is a good source of Vitamin A and C. The beets in the spring rolls came from the People's farmers' market, and they are a good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, Iron, Potassium, Folate, and Manganese. I had an apple for a snack, a red delicious from Washington state. Apples are high in Vitamins A and C and also in dietary fiber. For dinner, I made stir-fry with carrots, ginger, garlic, and broccoli served over brown rice. The ginger in the stir fry was from New Seasons, I don't think that it is locally grown. Ginger is a good source of potassium and copper. The garlic is also from New Seasons and I'm not sure if it is organic or local. Garlic is a good anti-inflammatory, and a good source of Vitamin C and B6, calcium, and Phosphorus. The broccoli was from People's and is a great source of Vitamins C, E, A, and K. High in dietary fiber, protein, iron, and calcium. It is also high in Thaimin, Riboflavin, and Magnesium. The brown rice was from the bulk bins at New Seasons, it is a good source of dietary fiber, selenium, and Manganese. At the end of this day I felt good about eating only foods that were whole and not too processed. The tofu and soy milk were both processed but not to the extent of a frozen lasagna or something like that. This project definitely felt good though, and I want to keep doing this and try to make this my regular diet.
4. I went to New Seasons to compare their store with People's using the “Leg-strecher” article as a model. From the point of view of the “Leg-Stretcher” article, I think that New Seasons would be ranked higher than People's. This is because many of the points that the article looked at are being consciously ignored and steered away from at People's. The first example that comes to mind is when the article assumes that major national corporate brands are always represented in the grocery store, there are some items that you find in virtually every grocery store that People's has never carried, whereas at New Seasons these are considered standard. People's customers appreciate this for the most part because the store refuses to sell brands that are notorious for pollution, bad labor conditions, and other non-appetizing corporate qualities. Another thing that distinguises People's from New Seasons is that New Seasons is constantly creating the image of farm freshness and local options with an extensive marketing campaign. People's on the other hand does not have as big of a marketing budget and in turn despite their much more local and sustainable product line, New Seasons is more recognizable as a leader in natural food stores. The reason that New Seasons can promote itself as the leader in sustainable grocery shopping is because there are a much bigger profiting and spending corporation than People's. They have many stores and thus higher profit margins, this allows them to promote their image as local and sustainable. Something that People's is probably better at is customer satisfaction. Because People's customers are primarily looking for whole and healthy foods, they are happy to shop at a place that doesn't sell products and profit from companies that don't agree with them ethically. This creates a different, more personal grocery shopping experience which leads to happier customers.
5. Hungry Planet” definitely cemented the idea in my head that Americans eat more processed food than anywhere else in the world. In the stories with the American families they had mostly packaged convenience foods, whereas in other places in the world there little or no foods that had already been prepared. The amount of soda consumed by Americans in this book was also an eye-opener. It became clear that the trend of drinking soda is also spreading all over the world. Some of my favorite families/foods in “Hungry Planet” were the Celiks from Turkey. I liked that they ate some meat, but mostly fruits vegetables and grains. In their monthly groceries there were very few packaged items, but they still consumed soda and beer. It was as if they had access to the modern Western diet, but still maintained their cultural food preferences. My other favorite family was the Matsudas from Okinawa. Their food choices looked mostly like fresh fish and fresh vegetables. There were some convenience foods, but again, even with modern amenities they have kept their food history alive and not converted to a Westernized convenience diet.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Assignment #2. Questions 4 and 5
Briana Cox
4. I personally plan on focusing my time and energy on taking high quality video footage and pictures from the farms and farmer's market. I will also help write and ask in depth and interesting questions to the farmers to make our interviews fun to watch and captivating.
5. The four university studies goals fit into this project nicely. The goals are communication, critical thinking, ethics, and the diversity of the human experience. Our project will encapsulate communication by requiring our group to stay in touch with each other, but also because our project is focused on communicating with consumers about the produce that they buy. Critical thinking is important in this project because it will help us write interesting questions and to get in depth about the reasons some people don't care where their food comes from and hopefully what we can do to change their minds. Ethics are important to this project because we are working on a project that will promote and encourage people to buy their food more ethically. The food from the farmers at the farmer's market is organic and their farming techniques help to cut down on pollution by not using chemical fertilizers etc. Our project is designed to help promote consumers to buy from people who are ethically conscious of their environmental impact. Our project reflects the goal of the diversity of the human experience by having us interview and see what is special about many different farms. This will let people have an inside look at where their food is being grown and by whom.
4. I personally plan on focusing my time and energy on taking high quality video footage and pictures from the farms and farmer's market. I will also help write and ask in depth and interesting questions to the farmers to make our interviews fun to watch and captivating.
5. The four university studies goals fit into this project nicely. The goals are communication, critical thinking, ethics, and the diversity of the human experience. Our project will encapsulate communication by requiring our group to stay in touch with each other, but also because our project is focused on communicating with consumers about the produce that they buy. Critical thinking is important in this project because it will help us write interesting questions and to get in depth about the reasons some people don't care where their food comes from and hopefully what we can do to change their minds. Ethics are important to this project because we are working on a project that will promote and encourage people to buy their food more ethically. The food from the farmers at the farmer's market is organic and their farming techniques help to cut down on pollution by not using chemical fertilizers etc. Our project is designed to help promote consumers to buy from people who are ethically conscious of their environmental impact. Our project reflects the goal of the diversity of the human experience by having us interview and see what is special about many different farms. This will let people have an inside look at where their food is being grown and by whom.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Assignment #1
Assignment 1
1a. What are the different motivations that drive Americans to make their food choices according to the readings and discussions we have had in class?
While discussing this question in class we decided that a variety of factors contribute to the choices Americans make when deciding what to eat. In Hungry Planet, although this book doesn't focus exclusively on Americans, we see that availability can be a major factor in choosing what to eat. Although most neighborhoods in America have more choices than refugees in Sudan, price and availability still greatly influence the food choices that we make. Another factor that we discussed in class was cultural and religious influences that affect the food we eat. Of course we learn about food from the people who raise us and the type of food that we are raised on can greatly influence our decisions at the grocery store. In “Omnivore's Dilemma” Michael Pollan discusses how the variety in the average American supermarket can be so overwhelming that we are confused and unsure about what is healthy and what is bad. He also discusses America's lack of a food culture. He states that because America is a place comprised of a mix of immigrants, the deep cultural roots of food get corrupted. This combination of immense variety and lack of a culture surrounding food creates an environment in which Americans are left with the responsibility to decipher which foods are healthy and which should be avoided.
1b. Do you agree? What are the motivations that drive you to make your food choices?
I agree with Michael Pollan that Americans are struggling with comprehending what their food is made of. It seems that over time people have become farther and farther removed from where their food comes from and what it is made of which turns the grocery store into a place where often giant corporations are walking away rich and the average American is largely misinformed about the contents of their food, especially processed foods. I also agree that necessity and price often drive people towards the foods that they eat. This is happening currnetly in America with the obesity epidemic present in intercity and other low resource neighborhoods. Fast food has become a staple on millions of American's daily menu because it is cheaper than fresh vegetables and quality proteins.
My food choices are based primarily on price and environmental ethics. I try and vote with my dollar generally when purchasing food. I don't contribute money to meat industry especially not factory farms, and I try to buy my produce locally. I also am a student so I have to think about money when buying groceries. I find that by not eating meat I have more money to spend to make sure that my food come from quality locations and farmers.
2a. Do you think the film “Super Size Me” is hopeful or pessimistic about the future of food? Why, specifically?
I think that “Super Size Me” showed a pessimistic but realistic view of the future of food especially in America but also in other countries which are quickly converting to a Western diet. The part of the film where he asks children to identify different mascots for foods marketed towards kids was very shocking. They knew Ronald McDonald's face but couldn't recognize Jesus' face. The fact that these companies who are selling junk to children are so incredibly influential to their market audience was very disturbing to me. Another part that was surprising and disappointing to me is when he talks to various people outside of fast food restaurants and asks them how often they eat fast food. When some of the people said that they eat there every day, I was horrified and even more so when I found out the results of Spurlock eating McDonalds for a month.
2b. Do you agree with the suggestions in “Organicize Me” about the cost of organic food?
At the end of Michael Strusser's month long organic experiment he finds that he spent 58% more money on food than he normally world in a month. This is a huge increase and it shows that buying all organic for most people is not always financially feasible. However something that struck me while reading this is that an organic diet that includes meat is much more expensive than a vegetarian organic diet. Organic meats are some of the most expensive products in the grocery store, and especially if he is buying groceries for his family of four these costs would add up quickly. I find that if you shop organic with a focus on vegetables and fruits which are in seasons locally and don't purchase expensive meat products, you can reduce the cost of shopping organically.
3. In your own words define a cooperative business model?
A cooperative business model is one in which member-owners work together to make consensus based decisions that represent the wishes of the member-owners. There are three types of co-ops producer, worker, and consumer. A consumer co-op uses it's pool of members to purchase goods wholesale, and therefore more inexpensively. This provides less expensive goods to the member-owners of the co-op. Worker co-ops are organizations owned and operated by the workers themselves. Instead of having people work for low wages, this allows the workers to make important decisions regarding the future of the company. Producer co-ops is a structure in which people who produce a product get together to sell and market their products together.
4. What are your first impressions of People's post expansion business model? Do you think they are running a strong business? Why or why not?
Based on their annual report is it clear that People's is doing very well financially. With an estimated growth of 28% in 2008 People's is doing much better than most businesses in the great recession. When looking over their plan for 2005-2010, my first impressions were that this company is very idealistic, which is not a bad thing. I especially liked how they outlined several areas where they could improve their sustainability and their outreach to the community. This is clearly a grocery store with more to offer than most. I think that People's is a strong business because they have been growing dramatically even during some of the worst financial times of recent history. This shows that they are providing something to the community that keeps them coming back despite the fact that they could buy cheaper groceries at another store. This connection with the community combined with People's dedication to sustainability and high quality products makes People's a strong business.
5. What are some of the markers of People's brand identity? Can you identify how People's store brand is marketed to its membership and the general population of consumers (in the store, newsletters and other promotional materials?)
People's brand identity is shown primarily through their choices of what to carry in their store. They are always looking for products that are local, organic, and produced sustainably. Another huge aspect of People's brand identity is their focus on the community. In their newsletter you can see all of the different activities, workshops, and classes offered by People's to the community. This is something that makes People's stand out from other grocery stores.
People's store brand is marketed to its members through the newsletter which connects members with all sorts of resources provided to the community by People's. A calendar of events, recipes, interviews with local farmers, product reviews, and interviews with board members and staffers at People's provide their members with a whole picture of the operation they are helping to finance. To the general population of consumers who probably doesn't have access to the newsletter, People's is marketed by the attitude and helpfulness of the staff when a new shopper arrives at the store for the first time. In this respect I feel that People's presents a positive first impression. The staff is knowledgeable and the products are very high quality so new shoppers would, I think, generally be impressed with People's upon their first visit with limited access to promotional materials.
1a. What are the different motivations that drive Americans to make their food choices according to the readings and discussions we have had in class?
While discussing this question in class we decided that a variety of factors contribute to the choices Americans make when deciding what to eat. In Hungry Planet, although this book doesn't focus exclusively on Americans, we see that availability can be a major factor in choosing what to eat. Although most neighborhoods in America have more choices than refugees in Sudan, price and availability still greatly influence the food choices that we make. Another factor that we discussed in class was cultural and religious influences that affect the food we eat. Of course we learn about food from the people who raise us and the type of food that we are raised on can greatly influence our decisions at the grocery store. In “Omnivore's Dilemma” Michael Pollan discusses how the variety in the average American supermarket can be so overwhelming that we are confused and unsure about what is healthy and what is bad. He also discusses America's lack of a food culture. He states that because America is a place comprised of a mix of immigrants, the deep cultural roots of food get corrupted. This combination of immense variety and lack of a culture surrounding food creates an environment in which Americans are left with the responsibility to decipher which foods are healthy and which should be avoided.
1b. Do you agree? What are the motivations that drive you to make your food choices?
I agree with Michael Pollan that Americans are struggling with comprehending what their food is made of. It seems that over time people have become farther and farther removed from where their food comes from and what it is made of which turns the grocery store into a place where often giant corporations are walking away rich and the average American is largely misinformed about the contents of their food, especially processed foods. I also agree that necessity and price often drive people towards the foods that they eat. This is happening currnetly in America with the obesity epidemic present in intercity and other low resource neighborhoods. Fast food has become a staple on millions of American's daily menu because it is cheaper than fresh vegetables and quality proteins.
My food choices are based primarily on price and environmental ethics. I try and vote with my dollar generally when purchasing food. I don't contribute money to meat industry especially not factory farms, and I try to buy my produce locally. I also am a student so I have to think about money when buying groceries. I find that by not eating meat I have more money to spend to make sure that my food come from quality locations and farmers.
2a. Do you think the film “Super Size Me” is hopeful or pessimistic about the future of food? Why, specifically?
I think that “Super Size Me” showed a pessimistic but realistic view of the future of food especially in America but also in other countries which are quickly converting to a Western diet. The part of the film where he asks children to identify different mascots for foods marketed towards kids was very shocking. They knew Ronald McDonald's face but couldn't recognize Jesus' face. The fact that these companies who are selling junk to children are so incredibly influential to their market audience was very disturbing to me. Another part that was surprising and disappointing to me is when he talks to various people outside of fast food restaurants and asks them how often they eat fast food. When some of the people said that they eat there every day, I was horrified and even more so when I found out the results of Spurlock eating McDonalds for a month.
2b. Do you agree with the suggestions in “Organicize Me” about the cost of organic food?
At the end of Michael Strusser's month long organic experiment he finds that he spent 58% more money on food than he normally world in a month. This is a huge increase and it shows that buying all organic for most people is not always financially feasible. However something that struck me while reading this is that an organic diet that includes meat is much more expensive than a vegetarian organic diet. Organic meats are some of the most expensive products in the grocery store, and especially if he is buying groceries for his family of four these costs would add up quickly. I find that if you shop organic with a focus on vegetables and fruits which are in seasons locally and don't purchase expensive meat products, you can reduce the cost of shopping organically.
3. In your own words define a cooperative business model?
A cooperative business model is one in which member-owners work together to make consensus based decisions that represent the wishes of the member-owners. There are three types of co-ops producer, worker, and consumer. A consumer co-op uses it's pool of members to purchase goods wholesale, and therefore more inexpensively. This provides less expensive goods to the member-owners of the co-op. Worker co-ops are organizations owned and operated by the workers themselves. Instead of having people work for low wages, this allows the workers to make important decisions regarding the future of the company. Producer co-ops is a structure in which people who produce a product get together to sell and market their products together.
4. What are your first impressions of People's post expansion business model? Do you think they are running a strong business? Why or why not?
Based on their annual report is it clear that People's is doing very well financially. With an estimated growth of 28% in 2008 People's is doing much better than most businesses in the great recession. When looking over their plan for 2005-2010, my first impressions were that this company is very idealistic, which is not a bad thing. I especially liked how they outlined several areas where they could improve their sustainability and their outreach to the community. This is clearly a grocery store with more to offer than most. I think that People's is a strong business because they have been growing dramatically even during some of the worst financial times of recent history. This shows that they are providing something to the community that keeps them coming back despite the fact that they could buy cheaper groceries at another store. This connection with the community combined with People's dedication to sustainability and high quality products makes People's a strong business.
5. What are some of the markers of People's brand identity? Can you identify how People's store brand is marketed to its membership and the general population of consumers (in the store, newsletters and other promotional materials?)
People's brand identity is shown primarily through their choices of what to carry in their store. They are always looking for products that are local, organic, and produced sustainably. Another huge aspect of People's brand identity is their focus on the community. In their newsletter you can see all of the different activities, workshops, and classes offered by People's to the community. This is something that makes People's stand out from other grocery stores.
People's store brand is marketed to its members through the newsletter which connects members with all sorts of resources provided to the community by People's. A calendar of events, recipes, interviews with local farmers, product reviews, and interviews with board members and staffers at People's provide their members with a whole picture of the operation they are helping to finance. To the general population of consumers who probably doesn't have access to the newsletter, People's is marketed by the attitude and helpfulness of the staff when a new shopper arrives at the store for the first time. In this respect I feel that People's presents a positive first impression. The staff is knowledgeable and the products are very high quality so new shoppers would, I think, generally be impressed with People's upon their first visit with limited access to promotional materials.
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