While I was reading the selected material for this week, I couldn’t help but relate the “unknowledgeable eater” to myself, as bad as they may sound. I found that in the past I have effortless grocery shopped and mindlessly eaten many meals without really knowing or caring where each ingredient came from, or if it was even natural or not chemically touched. I found myself just wanting the easy satisfaction of a quick and somewhat pleasing meal. Throughout the course of college and especially after receiving this internship I have now experienced and researched more on food systems and what we are even eating.
Starting my job this week at Bread for the City in D.C. has been a huge eye-opening experience. I have been in their orchard and up on a rooftop garden planting, harvesting, weeding, and watering for hours. It has shown me how much work has to go into our food, but how amazing hard work pays off in the end. I recently got to take home a squash that I had tended to and when I put it in my salad that night I was proud of the little thing. I noticed the taste and really was excited about the fact that I knew exactly where the little guy came from and also that I had picked weeds from his surroundings and watered him everyday. It put a new perspective on making a salad for dinner.
It also has opened my eyes to restaurants that offer local and fresh foods. Now when I see that option on a menu I find myself thinking of the local workers like myself that help harvest and produce fresh produce and meats. I think that having a hand in agriculture and this process has made me really appreciate my food and where it directly comes from. I for sure wont take local food for granted anymore and will be so thankful to go to restaurants that have these kinds of food options.
I think that throughout the summer I will continue to grow and develop skills of becoming a part of agriculture and seeing how just being mindful of what we eat and bring to the table, that we will be more happy with our meals and over all ourselves. It makes me really excited to continue being a part of the agricultural system and also makes me ambitious to, even when summer is over, carry out maintaining a garden or even a few small plants.
I think you touch on a really important point: that there tends to be a huge disconnect between farm-to-table, particularly for young people. Failing to understand what we eat makes eating such a passive activity. Additionally, lacking access to agriculture also widens that disconnect between food production and what we end up eating. Like Pollan says, there is a difference between food and food items. I completely understand what you mean when you mention food pride, though on a much more secondary level since I only cook food, I’ve never grown it myself. When I cook a dish, I feel proud of my creation. I take more time eating it, I think more about the flavors and the ingredients. I recognize every component of the dish. I savor it, mentally review what’s good and what’s bad, and I know exactly what I am consuming. Dining halls and cafeterias definitely detract from that pride in making your own food and knowing what you’re eating.