Download - Food Diary: A Food System Analysis
-
FOOD DIARY: A FOOD SYSTEM ANALYSIS Danielle Gilmour
Nutrition 302
From this assignment I have learned many things about transparency and my comfort level with that transparency. Working at Trader Joes has given me access to buying very affordable organic foods. This has helped my feel pretty great about my environmental impact through my food consumption. But through this assignment I have realized the stark variance between this organic food, and the organic foods I purchase
at the farmers market (or grow myself at the UW Farm). Those purchased at the farmers market are entirely transparent about location, growing and processing (all of which are minimal and local). Through Trader Joes foods I have the assurance of organic growing practices, but the rest is left to the imagination. It is nearly impossible for me to trace the foods origin and actual brand. I
have learned that with value comes opacity. My hope is to eventually have the means to purchase food from sources I know, because I enjoy the transparency provided by smaller and local growers.
Tuesday April 22
FOOD GROWTH AND HARVEST
PROCESSING PACKAGING SELL POINT TRANSPORTATION LABELING PREPARATION CONSUMPTION
Bobs Red Mill Extra
Thick Rolled Oats
-Oats need lots of moisture, and favor a cool climate and fertile, well-drained
soil - It is best to plant oats in very early spring
-planted in
-hulling process can be done by rubbing them between two rough surfaces that roll the hulls of the
seed (must be done for
consumption by humans, done by farmer)
-Creative and classic
style packaging to
give a holistic and family
farm feel -Signature and drawing
of Bob himself
Crisp Fresh Market:
I buy from crisp because they
are a small local grocer working hard to stay afloat in the U District, they
are a little more expensive but I do not mind
-Largest commercial
producers of oats are the Russian Federation, the United States,
Germany, Poland and Finland (so
start was in one of these places most
likely)
-Certified Organic by Quality
Assurance International -Friend of the Heart -Brief about whole grain consumption and decrease
in heart
I make oatmeal in the morning
using the microwave or boiling water
I eat breakfast alone because no one else in
my house wakes up as early as I
do
Key Breakfast
Lunch Snacks
Dinner
Repeat
-
fields using a grain drill
-Kiln toasted and milled by Bobs Red Mill
the cost disease and cancer
Woodstock Brown Sugar
- organic cane sugar is not treated with chemicals so
that (apparently) all the original vitamins and minerals are preserved
-Sugar is refined and then molasses is
added -Level of
refinement depends on processer
-Woodstock claims: molasses
content of this organic brown sugar retains essential minerals
-Attractive packaging, looks holistic and natural -Packaged in BPA-free re-sealable bags
Crisp Fresh Market
-Sugar cane is commercially grown in Brazil, China, Mexico, India, Australia,
Thailand, Pakistan and the United
States of America - 70% of
Woodstock products are domestically sourced
- I am not sure where processing and packaging took place
-Eat Because Its
Good -USDA Organic
-Non-GMO Project Verified
-Vegan, no animal products used
I add it to the oatmeal described above
Frozen Blueberries
- Must select type to work with climate: highbush,
lowbush, half-high, or rabbiteye
-The soil must be well
aerated, moist, high in humus, and VERY acidic -Mix in sulfur to raise acidity
-Washed and frozen at peak of freshness
-Plastic recyclable
bag -Laden with pictures of beautiful fresh
blueberries
Trader Joes (TJs):
I shop often at Trader Joes
because I work there. TJs is designed to
bring attractive different and
special products to
consumers at a low price. They
do not advertise other than occasional
Distributed from Monrovia, CA Northwest Trader Joes Warehouses U District Seattle TJs
TJs specifically hides the actual
brands of a majority of their products by
transforming the labeling into a generic brand This is to insure contracts are
Labeled USDA Organic
I add these to my oatmeal in an attempt to get a daily fruit
serving
-
radio advertisements
and their Fearless Flyer newsletter sent out to relevant neighborhoods
negotiated at a low price (no individual
advertising) and because some
companies make special changes to their products to fit the rigorous standards of TJs. This in turn makes
tracing the products virtually impossible, even to employees (contracting is kept secret, and not in any of the
employee accessible data
systems, I checked)
Soy Milk -Soy is often grown on huge
scale monocropped farms, Im sure this is also true for organics
-Clean, De-hulled,
Blanching/ Enzyme
Inactivation, Grinding, Fiber Separation (decanting), Deodorization (to get rid of unwanted
tastes/smells milk is
deaerated by means of
vacuum and
-Simple, attractive
packaging in recyclable tetra-pack
Trader Joes USDA Organic and
Quality Assurance
International
I add soymilk to my breakfast on a daily basis
-
parboiling), Standardization (water added to reach desired protein level), Flavoring and Formulation (Calcium and
other vitamins/ minerals are often added)
Torrefazion-e Italia Coffee
-Planted during wet season and kept in shade while seedling
-Harvest cherries after 2/3 years
(mechanized or hand-picked)
-Process Cherries either dry or wet
method to get to bean
-Dry beans -Milling the
beans: hulling, polishing, and
sorting -Exported and
Roasted
-Packaging looks classic,
semi-deceiving considering they are no
longer independent
Gould Court Cafe
-Most likely grown in Brazil (worlds largest exporter of coffee) or Vietnam
(2nd largest)
Brand remains despite
being bought by Starbucks in 2003 and cafes were shut down by them by 2005 (used to be local Seattle Roaster)
Discover the Warmth of
Italy
Getting coffee in my majors
building is often a social event
done after class, but I usually
drink the coffee alone while
studying in the CBE library
Polenta -Corn is grown organically,
most likely on large scale and mechanized
-Corn is ground into meal -Polenta is processed in factory with natural
preservatives added for
freshness and shelf stability
-Plastic thick packaging
Trader Joes Quick and easy to use
are advertised
USDA Organic and Quality Assurance
International
Had lunch with roommates
while they ate their own lunches
Olive Oil -Olives are cultivated over long periods of time because
-Clean olives, grind into paste,
Malaxing (mixing) the
-Packaged in nice thick green glass
bottle
Trader Joes Also: Imported from Italy
-Olives grown in Italy in a
USDA Organic and
Quality Assurance
I use olive oil in many of my dishes for
sauting and
My roommates also use olive oil often, and I often have to hide
-
trees need long-term
establishment before they bear fruit
-Mechanized harvesting has become the main form of harvesting, this has led to a push in the
standardization and uniformity of olive trees to insure they can be harvested by one tractor
paste, presses used to
separate the oil from the rest of
the olive components
-Shows quality
Mediterranean climate, not sure where they were processed and
bottled, but most likely in the EU
International roasting, I would consider it an essential and staple
ingredient in my cooking
(put it away) mine to assure it
is not used
Sea Salt -Salt is harvested
through solar evaporation
from seawater or salt lakes -Usually
harvested once a year when
the salt reaches a specific thickness
-Grinding to desired size
-Chunks packaged in glass grinder for fresh
salt
Trader Joes N/A A staple for my cooking
Garbanzo Beans
- cool-season annual that
requires about 100 days to reach harvest -Require a lot of sunlight, are susceptible to
-Shelled, salted and canned
Trader Joes USDA Organic and
Quality Assurance
International
One source of protein I often depend on and add to many
meals
-
fungus Asparagus - Well drained
soils are a must for successful production,
and very sandy soils are preferred - Plant
asparagus crowns (roots plus plant buds)
- It takes a long time for
asparagus to develop a large root system (many years
before established
crop)
Washed and packaged
Sealed in plastic wrap
Trader Joes USDA Organic and
Quality Assurance
International
Roasted with salt and oil
Nashs Produce Parsnips
-As a certified organic farm, Nash produced this product following organic
standards -They were harvested by Nashs Farm Farmworkers
Washed and tops removed
No Packaging, put into reused plastic
produce bag
University Farmers Market
From Sequim, WA Seattle U
District Farmers Market
No Label Peeled and roasted with salt and oil
Stoney Plains Organic Farm
Northern
-Follow organic growing
certifications -Plant seeds in spring, great
Washed and dried
In small plastic
recyclable container
University Farmers Market
From Thurston county in
Washington Seattle U District Farmers Market
No label I soaked these beans for a day
and boiled them for over 3o minutes
Consumed with my personal
meal which I ate alongside my
other
-
White Beans
for drying and storing
roommates and their dinner
meals Sweet
Potatoes - Require
loamy, well-drained soil
that is not too rich
-Grow to be large plants that need space -Dig up potatoes
Washed and bagged
In netted bag
Trader Joes USDA Organic
I sliced potatoes in my food processor and roasted
with salt and oil
Olive Oil Salt
Once Again Tahini
-Broadleaf plant that
grows about 5 to 6 feet tall,
height dependent on the variety and
growing conditions -Harvested From Pods
-Made from ground sesame
seeds
-Packaged in jar with fun drawings -Doesnt require
refrigeration but oil will separate if left on shelf
Crisp Fresh Market
Domestic and international fair
trade, Small organic farms and
cooperatives
-USDA Organic
-We Spread Integrity -Non-GMO Project Verified
I added to my beans and
potato mixture
Water (All Meals)
Harvested from the Tolt (30%) and Cedar River
(70%) Watersheds
Cedar River: used for Seattle
City Lights hydroelectric powerplant at Cedar Falls, and ensure safety and quality
using watershed protection,
N/A Seattle Public Utilities
Cedar River: Gathered from Chester Morse Lake and the Masonry Pool
reservoirs created by the Masonry Dam 35 miles southeast of
Seattle Seattle City Light
N/A In my home we have a Brita
filter that I use approximately 75% of the
time.
Water accompanies all of my meals, each of my roommates usually has a
water glass being reused
throughout the day.
-
chlorination, ozonation and ultra-violet light disinfection Tolt: some
hydroelectric, treated with filtration, ozonation, chlorination,
fluoridation and the addition of minerals for corrosion control
Landsburg diversion dam Lake Youngs Cedar Water
Treatment Facility Tolt: 35 miles southeast of
Seattle in cascade foothills, gathered at a dam South Fork Tolt River small hydroelectric
facility regulating basin
Tolt Water Treatment Facility
Sunday April 27
FOOD GROWTH AND
HARVESTING
PROCESSING PACKAGING SELL POINT TRANSPORTATION LABELING PREPARATION CONSUMPTION
Kashi Autumn Wheat
-Grown and harvest whole organic wheat
berries
-Steam, shred, and
weave wheat -Bake Wheat -Add organic sweetener -Package
-Plastic Bag (trash) and cardboard
box (recyclable)
Trader Joes
-From wheat farms to processing plants
-Eventually sold to TJs and distributed alongside their
products
-USDA Organic -Non-GMO Project Verified
-Healthy:
50g Whole
Grains, 6g Fiber,1g
Simple and quick breakfast
Eaten alone
-
Fat per serving, Sodium-Free
Soy Milk Trader Joes Strawberries -Most likely
grown in San Joaquin Valley on large scale organic farm -Harvested by
migrant workers (my
guess)
-Washed, sorted and packaged
-In recyclable plastic
container
Trader Joes USDA Organic, grown in California
Tops cut and washed
With breakfast
Nashs Peas -As a certified organic farm,
Nash produced this
product following organic
standards -They were harvested by Nashs Farm Farmworkers
-Taken from pods,
Washed and bagged
In resealable ziplock bag
University Farmers Market
From Sequim, WA Seattle U District Farmers
Market
Simple label with USDA Organic Label
I soaked the peas for 1.5
days and boiled for over 30
minutes, then added to
simple soup
Enjoyed with my lunch, alone this
time
Salt Trader Joes Potato -Stem of
plant, can be grown in many
climates
-Dug up and washed
-Weighed and put into plastic bag
Trader Joes USDA Organic
Used in broth and soup
Carrots -Root of plant, can be grown in many
climates
-Dug up and washed, tops removed
-Weighed and put into plastic bag
Trader Joes USDA Organic
Used in broth and soup
-
Navel Orange
-Grown organically on
trees in probably large scale organic orchard
-Most likely harvested by
migrant workers
-Washed, sorted and
boxed
No packaging
Crisp Fresh Market
Not sure of origin, maybe Florida?
USDA Organic judged by produce number
Peeled and devoured
Snack on the go
Holmquist Hazelnuts
Grown in the shadow of the North Cascades in the fertile soil
of the Nooksack
River Valley
University Farmers Market
From Lynden, WA U District Farmers Market
Polenta Trader Joes As base of scramble
The rest of what wasnt used earlier in the
week UW Farm
Kale I took part in growing and harvesting, simple small scale organic methods
Washed at home
No packaging
Trader Joes In my backpack on my bike No label Sauted and added to scramble
Eaten on campus alone while studying
Olive Oil Trader Joes Tofu Soybeans
grown on (most-likely) large scale organic farm
-Cook soymilk, add coagulant, cool and press, add
soy whey, cut
In plastic package with
water
Trader Joes USDA Organic
Sauted and added to scramble
Salt Trader Joes
-
Water (All Meals)
Sources:
Seattle Public Utilities- http://www.seattle.gov/util/MyServices/Water/AbouttheWaterSystem/WaterSystemOverview/index.htm
Bobs Red Mill- http://www.bobsredmill.com/organic-thick-rolled-oats.html
Oats- http://rodaleinstitute.org/ask-the-farmer-getting-started-with-oats/
Woodstock- http://www.woodstock-foods.com/pages/productdetail.aspx?p=4256300975
Brown Sugar- http://www.organic-sugar.com/properties-of-organic-sugar/
Blueberries- http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/blueberries
Olive Oil- http://www.oliveoilsource.com/page/extraction-process
Soy Milk- http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0532e/t0532e09.htm
Coffee- http://www.ncausa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=69
Torrefazoine Italia Brand- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrefazione_Italia
Polenta- http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/egg/egg0297/poleckry.html
Sea Salt- http://www.maldonsalt.co.uk/About-Salt-Where-does-Salt-come-from.html
Garbanzo Beans- http://www.harvesttotable.com/2009/04/how_to_grow_chickpeas_garbanzo/
Sesame- http://www.backyarddiva.ca/grow-your-own-sesame-seeds/
Sweet Potatoes- http://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-sweet-potatoes/
Asparagus- http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hil-2-a.html
Hazelnuts- http://www.holmquisthazelnuts.com/Departments/Dry-Roasted-Ennis-Hazelnuts.aspx
-
Tofu- http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0532e/t0532e10.htm