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Where am I eating?: an adventure through the global food economy with discussion questions and a guide to going "glocal"
A deeply human-centered perspective on the origins of America's food Where Am I Eating? bridges the gap between global food producers and the American consumer, providing an insightful look at how our eating habits affect farmers and fishermen around the world. Follow the author on his global quest to meet the workers that nurture, harvest, and hunt our food, as he works alongside them--loading lobster diving boats in Nicaragua, harvesting bananas in Costa Rica, lugging cocoa beans in Ivory Coast with a modern-day slave, picking coffee beans in Colombia and hauling tomatoes in Indiana. This new edition includes a study guide, a deeper explanation of the glocal concept, and advice for students looking to become engaged as both local and global citizens. Arguing neither for nor against globalization, this book simply explores the lives of those who feed us.
Imports account for eighty-six percent of America's seafood, fifty percent of its fresh fruit, and eighteen percent of its fresh vegetables. Where Am I Eating? examines the effects of this reliance on those who supply the global food economy.
Learn more about the global producers that feed our nation, and learn from their worldviews intensely connected to people and planet Discover how food preferences and trends affect the lives of farmers and fishermen Catch a boots-on-the-ground glimpse of the daily lives of food producers on four continents Meet a modern-day slave and explore the blurred line between exploitation and opportunity Observe how the poorest producers fare in the global food economy This book takes a human-centered approach to food, investigating the lives of the people at the other end of the global food economy, observing the hope and opportunity--or lack thereof--that results from our reliance on imports. Where Am I Eating? is a touching, insightful, informative look at the origins of our food.
Imports account for eighty-six percent of America's seafood, fifty percent of its fresh fruit, and eighteen percent of its fresh vegetables. Where Am I Eating? examines the effects of this reliance on those who supply the global food economy.
Learn more about the global producers that feed our nation, and learn from their worldviews intensely connected to people and planet Discover how food preferences and trends affect the lives of farmers and fishermen Catch a boots-on-the-ground glimpse of the daily lives of food producers on four continents Meet a modern-day slave and explore the blurred line between exploitation and opportunity Observe how the poorest producers fare in the global food economy This book takes a human-centered approach to food, investigating the lives of the people at the other end of the global food economy, observing the hope and opportunity--or lack thereof--that results from our reliance on imports. Where Am I Eating? is a touching, insightful, informative look at the origins of our food.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
31 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Kelsey Timmerman
10 books60 followersI'm the author of "Where Am I Eating? An Adventure Through the Global Food Economy" and "Where Am I Wearing: A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People That Make Our Clothes"
I've spent the night in Castle Dracula in Romania, gone undercover as an underwear buyer in Bangladesh, played PlayStation in Kosovo, taught an island village to play baseball in Honduras, and in another life, worked as a SCUBA instructor in Key West, Florida.
I live with my wife and two kids Muncie, IN, the hometown of Garfield.
I read a lot of nonfiction to inform my writing, but try to sneak in some fiction, from cowboys to space battles, to wizards when I can. I'm also really pumped to have an excuse to read kid lit now...kids.
I've spent the night in Castle Dracula in Romania, gone undercover as an underwear buyer in Bangladesh, played PlayStation in Kosovo, taught an island village to play baseball in Honduras, and in another life, worked as a SCUBA instructor in Key West, Florida.
I live with my wife and two kids Muncie, IN, the hometown of Garfield.
I read a lot of nonfiction to inform my writing, but try to sneak in some fiction, from cowboys to space battles, to wizards when I can. I'm also really pumped to have an excuse to read kid lit now...kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 12, 2013
This title was chosen as the 2013 "Campus Read" for the staff and students at Tarrant County College Trinity River Campus. The author, Kelsey Timmerman, journeyed around the world to learn the truth about certain foods that are generally consumed in America without receiving much thought as to how the foods arrived there. Timmerman investigated Coffee, Chocolate, Bananas, Lobsters [who on earth ate the first one of those!!), and Apple Juice. Written with candidness and some doses of humor, I learned a great deal about foods I have taken for granted, and the families in other countries who labor to allow me to enjoy the foods.
May 17, 2014
Wow. I haven’t been this motivated and depressed since reading Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring back in high school (the 1970’s).
Kelsey Timmerman is not some hard-core investigative reporter in high-tech-operative stealth mode. You won’t find him silently dangling from a retractable cable in search of dirty little multi-national corporate secrets. Kelsey uses his easy-going, boy-next-door personality to gently charm his way into the lives of everyday people trapped in the global food empire’s machinery, to experience their days and thoughts.
“Where Am I Eating?” is not about politically correct socio-environmental causes du jour. It is not filled with hysteria or antagonistic rants. Rather, it is simple exposure to how certain key food items are grown and sold, to their actual birthplaces and rearing, and to the people who make their living from that part of the process.
Regardless of age, gender, education or continent, farmers and fishermen struggle to balance spiraling consumer demands with back-breaking – and often life-threatening, work in a world where climates are changing radically and governments turn blind eyes to horrendous practices and conditions. It is the curse of modern society made tangible: For the savings of mere pennies per banana or café Grande, consumers through their wallets have created a system of producers and manufacturers whose ruthlessness in keeping expenses and retail prices low and profits high is nothing short of Machiavellian.
There are bright spots in the dismal gloom, orchestrated displays that are anything but representative of probably 90% of any plantations, farms, or orchards. These are places where public outcry can be nominally assuaged via visible and selected infusions of technology and improvements to human welfare. They are examples of what the mega-giants of the food industry could do but will not do until consumer pressure forces them to change.
A particularly appalling example was the plight of Nicaraguan lobster divers. Anyone in the U.S. who has learned to scuba dive does so with very specific pieces of equipment and safety gear, and only after being taught about depths, times, and the dangers associated with diving. On average, indigenous lobster divers have virtually no training and no more equipment than masks and basic air tanks. They routinely dive beyond safe limits and suffer permanent damage at very young ages. The number of their deaths per year is an obscene figure.
Not all of the scenarios in this book are that grim. Many of the workers in the various countries develop a level of acceptance that great changes are slow to come, and may not come for generations. They may in fact earn more than many of their compatriots, but as do most parents on this planet, they hope their children will not have to struggle quite so painfully to provide necessities and education for their own families. Their living conditions and attitudes are in contrast to those of traditional Western European and U.S. societies. For these people, life is a matter of perspective, network, and kinship with family, community and the earth. Tangible possessions, while welcomed, are far less important and not obsessed over.
“Where Am I Eating?” asks many questions that have no foreseeable answers. One of those questions deals with the quality and purity of what we in America eat. Our insistence on visually appealing produce comes with many consequences, including residual contaminants that build up in our systems and undermine our physical and mental health. It is incumbent upon us to reject less wholesome but outwardly perfect food items in favor of responsibly grown and harvested ones. The cost of groceries will necessarily increase, but the cost of continuing to poison ourselves and those who provide those food stuffs is beyond our combined ability to pay.
Kelsey Timmerman is not some hard-core investigative reporter in high-tech-operative stealth mode. You won’t find him silently dangling from a retractable cable in search of dirty little multi-national corporate secrets. Kelsey uses his easy-going, boy-next-door personality to gently charm his way into the lives of everyday people trapped in the global food empire’s machinery, to experience their days and thoughts.
“Where Am I Eating?” is not about politically correct socio-environmental causes du jour. It is not filled with hysteria or antagonistic rants. Rather, it is simple exposure to how certain key food items are grown and sold, to their actual birthplaces and rearing, and to the people who make their living from that part of the process.
Regardless of age, gender, education or continent, farmers and fishermen struggle to balance spiraling consumer demands with back-breaking – and often life-threatening, work in a world where climates are changing radically and governments turn blind eyes to horrendous practices and conditions. It is the curse of modern society made tangible: For the savings of mere pennies per banana or café Grande, consumers through their wallets have created a system of producers and manufacturers whose ruthlessness in keeping expenses and retail prices low and profits high is nothing short of Machiavellian.
There are bright spots in the dismal gloom, orchestrated displays that are anything but representative of probably 90% of any plantations, farms, or orchards. These are places where public outcry can be nominally assuaged via visible and selected infusions of technology and improvements to human welfare. They are examples of what the mega-giants of the food industry could do but will not do until consumer pressure forces them to change.
A particularly appalling example was the plight of Nicaraguan lobster divers. Anyone in the U.S. who has learned to scuba dive does so with very specific pieces of equipment and safety gear, and only after being taught about depths, times, and the dangers associated with diving. On average, indigenous lobster divers have virtually no training and no more equipment than masks and basic air tanks. They routinely dive beyond safe limits and suffer permanent damage at very young ages. The number of their deaths per year is an obscene figure.
Not all of the scenarios in this book are that grim. Many of the workers in the various countries develop a level of acceptance that great changes are slow to come, and may not come for generations. They may in fact earn more than many of their compatriots, but as do most parents on this planet, they hope their children will not have to struggle quite so painfully to provide necessities and education for their own families. Their living conditions and attitudes are in contrast to those of traditional Western European and U.S. societies. For these people, life is a matter of perspective, network, and kinship with family, community and the earth. Tangible possessions, while welcomed, are far less important and not obsessed over.
“Where Am I Eating?” asks many questions that have no foreseeable answers. One of those questions deals with the quality and purity of what we in America eat. Our insistence on visually appealing produce comes with many consequences, including residual contaminants that build up in our systems and undermine our physical and mental health. It is incumbent upon us to reject less wholesome but outwardly perfect food items in favor of responsibly grown and harvested ones. The cost of groceries will necessarily increase, but the cost of continuing to poison ourselves and those who provide those food stuffs is beyond our combined ability to pay.
August 15, 2013
I loved this book. It sheds light on the global food economy through personal stories of the people who grow our food. It changes the way you think about what (or where) you are eating but doesn't pretend to have all of the solutions. Having grown up on a small dairy farm in Michigan I can relate to some of the stories and how hard my parents worked to make ends meet. If you enjoy adventure, touring, agriculture, and revelations about the corporations that most of us buy from, this is the book for you!
March 11, 2016
Wonderful book! Was my common core book for Winthrop University. I absolutely loved it
September 16, 2019
This book discusses the global trade in coffee, chocolate, bananas, lobsters, and apple juice as a way to explore our relationship with the people who produce our food in this interconnected world.
I read the coffee section to prepare for a talk I was asked to give at a local junior college, where they have been reading the book as part of a school project. I have been in the coffee business for years, so am not really the audience it was intended for.
For a casual coffee drinker, this book could serve as an important reminder of the ways our small, everyday decisions have an impact on the world, how we are connected to the lives of the people who grow the coffee we drink, and the importance of the small decisions we make every day.
For the more serious coffee drinker, or for the reader who is intrigued by Mr. Timmerman's concept, I suggest going deeper.
For instance, Timmerman praises the successes of the Fair Trade model, and shows how it has helped a particular group of farmers. But there is much more to the issue, and Fair Trade is actually a controversial subject in the industry. When coffee prices are especially low, what is 20 cents more than nothing? And how many farmers is it actually helping?
I believe that my company was the first in North Texas to embrace Fair Trade many years ago, and I still stand by it - as one small part of the solution to a bigger problem. But there are other approaches to the problem of poverty and food insecurity among coffee growers. Cup of Excellence tastings and auctions. Direct Trade. NGOs like Food4Farmers and Coffee Kids. The list goes on.
So if you enjoyed the book, or if it touched you, don't stop there. Look at the books mentioned in the footnotes, and go to them. Talk with roasters in your area about what they believe in, what they are doing to support the farmers without whom we could not enjoy our daily cup of coffee.
But most importantly, as Mr. Timmerman reminds us, do not forget that the coffee you drink was produced by human beings,and that the choices we make in our daily lives have a deep impact on the lives of others around the world.
I read the coffee section to prepare for a talk I was asked to give at a local junior college, where they have been reading the book as part of a school project. I have been in the coffee business for years, so am not really the audience it was intended for.
For a casual coffee drinker, this book could serve as an important reminder of the ways our small, everyday decisions have an impact on the world, how we are connected to the lives of the people who grow the coffee we drink, and the importance of the small decisions we make every day.
For the more serious coffee drinker, or for the reader who is intrigued by Mr. Timmerman's concept, I suggest going deeper.
For instance, Timmerman praises the successes of the Fair Trade model, and shows how it has helped a particular group of farmers. But there is much more to the issue, and Fair Trade is actually a controversial subject in the industry. When coffee prices are especially low, what is 20 cents more than nothing? And how many farmers is it actually helping?
I believe that my company was the first in North Texas to embrace Fair Trade many years ago, and I still stand by it - as one small part of the solution to a bigger problem. But there are other approaches to the problem of poverty and food insecurity among coffee growers. Cup of Excellence tastings and auctions. Direct Trade. NGOs like Food4Farmers and Coffee Kids. The list goes on.
So if you enjoyed the book, or if it touched you, don't stop there. Look at the books mentioned in the footnotes, and go to them. Talk with roasters in your area about what they believe in, what they are doing to support the farmers without whom we could not enjoy our daily cup of coffee.
But most importantly, as Mr. Timmerman reminds us, do not forget that the coffee you drink was produced by human beings,and that the choices we make in our daily lives have a deep impact on the lives of others around the world.
January 21, 2018
Kelsey Timmerman's a regular fellow, like you or me, in the habit of letting his curiosity lead him on worldwide adventures. I haven't read his previous book, "Where Am I Wearing?" wherein he traveled the globe to learn the origins of his attire. Here in "Where Am I Eating?" he is, you guessed it, exploring the world to find out where our food and drink comes from.
Timmerman befriends coffee cultivators and banana farmers. He goes to the countries these items come from. He heads oversees to learn about orange juice production. And he spends a good deal of time advocating for each person in the U. S. learning more about where their food comes from, and what kind of elements their money is supporting.
The most shocking discovery Timmerman makes is the reality of slavery in the chocolate industry in West Africa, becoming personally acquainted with, and later acting on behalf of, a man who has all the appearance of a slave.
Timmerman mixes up his tenses quite a bit, switching back and forth somewhat awkwardly. An editor should have caught that. This is my major criticism, however. The writing is otherwise enjoyable. The author seems like a nice fellow who genuinely cares about the impact he makes on this planet, encouraging others to do the same.
Timmerman befriends coffee cultivators and banana farmers. He goes to the countries these items come from. He heads oversees to learn about orange juice production. And he spends a good deal of time advocating for each person in the U. S. learning more about where their food comes from, and what kind of elements their money is supporting.
The most shocking discovery Timmerman makes is the reality of slavery in the chocolate industry in West Africa, becoming personally acquainted with, and later acting on behalf of, a man who has all the appearance of a slave.
Timmerman mixes up his tenses quite a bit, switching back and forth somewhat awkwardly. An editor should have caught that. This is my major criticism, however. The writing is otherwise enjoyable. The author seems like a nice fellow who genuinely cares about the impact he makes on this planet, encouraging others to do the same.
August 14, 2018
Oddly I chose this to read mostly at the dinner table during meals...
Kelsey Timmerman travels the world in a sort of journalistic adventure of finding out truths about things we eat.
He objectively describes farm/food industry workers' lives and the impacts of some big business on what we eat.
The book looks into the charitable benefits of Starbucks for Colombian coffee farmers, the lobster industry in Central America, bananas in Costa Rica, chocolate in Africa, apple juice from China...
Look forward to meeting this author next Monday at our Author at JCPL series at White River Branch.
Kelsey Timmerman travels the world in a sort of journalistic adventure of finding out truths about things we eat.
He objectively describes farm/food industry workers' lives and the impacts of some big business on what we eat.
The book looks into the charitable benefits of Starbucks for Colombian coffee farmers, the lobster industry in Central America, bananas in Costa Rica, chocolate in Africa, apple juice from China...
Look forward to meeting this author next Monday at our Author at JCPL series at White River Branch.
May 3, 2024
I give this a four star because not for the writing, but for the information I had never thought of (the lobster and chocolate chapters in particular are making me rethink eating them/ being more conscious of fair trade).
The writer is from Muncie, Indiana, but grew up in Greenville, Ohio, and he's pretty passionate about small farms, etc., and while I've read other books on seed crisis/food issues, this one was unique through visiting actually harvesters/cultures that provide coffee, bananas, lobster, chocolate, and apples (who knew China was taking over in the apple business? I'm probably never buying apple juice again, to be honest. Ha!).
The writer is from Muncie, Indiana, but grew up in Greenville, Ohio, and he's pretty passionate about small farms, etc., and while I've read other books on seed crisis/food issues, this one was unique through visiting actually harvesters/cultures that provide coffee, bananas, lobster, chocolate, and apples (who knew China was taking over in the apple business? I'm probably never buying apple juice again, to be honest. Ha!).
March 12, 2019
This was a really easy read and really opened my eyes to where my food really comes from and more importantly WHO my food comes from. Reading this reinforced that I want to focus on living more sustainably and intentionally. Timmerman is an excellent writer— if you are looking for a book that feels like a friendly conversation about how to make this world a better place, I highly recommend!
November 4, 2017
A bit depressing at times, but I guess that's the whole idea. We must realize how our food choices impact, not only the environment, but also the farmers involved in growing our foods. Ultimately a wake-up call to become fair-trade and sustainably aware.
May 27, 2019
However heartbreaking many of them may have been the facts and stories of people's lives that Kelsey wrote about in here are absolutely fascinating and I can't wait to read his previous book and I'm happily awaiting his next release!
July 6, 2019
Lucy read this for her college English class. Interesting but hard to follow what he was saying because he jumped all over the place and left out important details. I was confused often, but I got the point.
October 23, 2022
Had to read this for a class. Somewhat interesting to hear about what goes on behind the scenes of where we get our food from, but wouldn’t recommend.
November 17, 2023
An interesting read on food and a side of consumerism and market research that you may not have thought about before….
August 25, 2024
Surprise hit for me
January 31, 2016
Kelsey Timmerman's books are making a big splash in college freshman seminars. Yay! By asking the simple questions, "Where Am I Wearing?" and "Where Am I Eating?" he models old-fashioned curiosity and questioning for students, for all of us, who walk through life as consumer-drones. Then he investigates, traveling with a one weapon, a frisbee. He visits factories, farms, families and homes of workers. His approach to investigative is non-threatening and unbiased. He integrates stories from his own life to make points about the realities he discovers. He hooks the reader with his easy style and proceeds to make profound points about where our stuff comes from.
In this particular book, Where Am I Eating: An Adventure Through the Global Food Economy," Timmermans explores the sources of our coffee, bananas, cocoa, lobster, and apple juice. The apple juice saga is the most interesting, so I thought. He hangs with Indian River apple producers and apple juice makers in Luddington, Michigan where is vacations with his family. Then he hops over to Xian, China to check out the world's top apple juice concentrate production area. That is the source of concentrate for the Indiana River's off-brands. Like apples in a box, the author stacks layers and layers of inquiry that stimulate thought and discussion. With Farmer Feng, he studies apple growing Chinese apple growing techniques. He interviews the farmer about the history as well as the future of his farm. He even visits Farmer Feng's daughter and son-in-law in the big city to see how the farmer's offspring have benefited from his business. He tries to visit the factory that sells concentrate to big chains, including McDonald's, Coke and Minute Maid. In the end, he draws parallels among his own father in Iowa, the apple farmer of China, and banana harvesters, coffee laborers and growers, and cocoa workers in West Africa. This guy Kelsey Timmerman can tell a good story and inspire discussion as well as action. He teaches people to question.
In this particular book, Where Am I Eating: An Adventure Through the Global Food Economy," Timmermans explores the sources of our coffee, bananas, cocoa, lobster, and apple juice. The apple juice saga is the most interesting, so I thought. He hangs with Indian River apple producers and apple juice makers in Luddington, Michigan where is vacations with his family. Then he hops over to Xian, China to check out the world's top apple juice concentrate production area. That is the source of concentrate for the Indiana River's off-brands. Like apples in a box, the author stacks layers and layers of inquiry that stimulate thought and discussion. With Farmer Feng, he studies apple growing Chinese apple growing techniques. He interviews the farmer about the history as well as the future of his farm. He even visits Farmer Feng's daughter and son-in-law in the big city to see how the farmer's offspring have benefited from his business. He tries to visit the factory that sells concentrate to big chains, including McDonald's, Coke and Minute Maid. In the end, he draws parallels among his own father in Iowa, the apple farmer of China, and banana harvesters, coffee laborers and growers, and cocoa workers in West Africa. This guy Kelsey Timmerman can tell a good story and inspire discussion as well as action. He teaches people to question.
August 18, 2016
Timmerman illustrates the global nature of the US food industry by traveling to a variety of counties to see where are food comes from and who produces and harvests our food.
Coffee from Columbia. Chocolate from the Ivory Coast. Bananas from Costa Rica. These three chapters highlight the poor living and working conditions behind these US staples. Timmerman is a witness to child laborers and forced laborers (in essence, slavery).
Lobsters from Nicaragua. This chapter illustrates how diving is dangerous and the rate of disability high--with no medical benefits provided. Buying from food companies who mistreat their workers makes me complicate. Now if I order lobster, I will visualize young men in wheelchairs or grave markers for very young people who died so that I can have a luxurious meal. No, thank you.
And apple juice from several countries--combined in the same bottle/box of juice. This chapter points out that American apple growers are having trouble making a profit, yet China is selling a lot of apples.
I don't know if I will buy apple juice again unless the origins are more transparent. China has a bad reputation for contaminated foods and polluted environment. The US uses dehydrated apple concentrate in the mix with apples from the US and other countries. What pesticides may we be ingesting?
In his concluding chapters, Timmerman asks Big Picture questions and provides resources. For example, he explains the meaning behind emerging food labels that aim to explain the economic, environmental and political processes behind the foods. He encourages people to buy organic and fair trade foods and to do more to shop locally.
If we follow his admonitions, we (middle class) Americans can spend a little more on our food (going from 15% of our monthly budget to 20%?). We might have to cut back on some of our luxuries in other areas of our life, but we will do more to bring better working and living conditions to others.
Coffee from Columbia. Chocolate from the Ivory Coast. Bananas from Costa Rica. These three chapters highlight the poor living and working conditions behind these US staples. Timmerman is a witness to child laborers and forced laborers (in essence, slavery).
Lobsters from Nicaragua. This chapter illustrates how diving is dangerous and the rate of disability high--with no medical benefits provided. Buying from food companies who mistreat their workers makes me complicate. Now if I order lobster, I will visualize young men in wheelchairs or grave markers for very young people who died so that I can have a luxurious meal. No, thank you.
And apple juice from several countries--combined in the same bottle/box of juice. This chapter points out that American apple growers are having trouble making a profit, yet China is selling a lot of apples.
I don't know if I will buy apple juice again unless the origins are more transparent. China has a bad reputation for contaminated foods and polluted environment. The US uses dehydrated apple concentrate in the mix with apples from the US and other countries. What pesticides may we be ingesting?
In his concluding chapters, Timmerman asks Big Picture questions and provides resources. For example, he explains the meaning behind emerging food labels that aim to explain the economic, environmental and political processes behind the foods. He encourages people to buy organic and fair trade foods and to do more to shop locally.
If we follow his admonitions, we (middle class) Americans can spend a little more on our food (going from 15% of our monthly budget to 20%?). We might have to cut back on some of our luxuries in other areas of our life, but we will do more to bring better working and living conditions to others.
July 26, 2016
This is the book that our library has chosen for our One Book One Community this year. I wasn't thrilled with this pick and wasn't sure I even wanted to read it but overall, although it's somewhat upsetting to read, I'm glad I read it. The book just makes you much more aware of where some of your food comes from and the conditions under which some people labor to get that food to our tables. Luckily, with one exception, I am not a consumer of these products (for the most part). The author did some intense research on farming conditions for growers of coffee, bananas, apples and cocoa beans and for the divers that harvest lobsters. The information presented brings to light the substandard living conditions that most of these farmers live under (with the exception of some of the apple growers) and the dangerous situations that can occur--especially with the lobster divers. The difference between what the produce farmers get paid as opposed to what big business makes when supplying our groceries is embarrassing. This is certainly an eye opening read. I am now really looking forward to hearing Mr. Timmerman speak in October.
August 8, 2014
Kelsey Timmerman's WHERE AM I EATING is the sophomore effort that follows his earlier WHERE AM I WEARING. Both books are excellent windows into the nature of work and the plight of workers in the Third World as well as revelations regarding Timmerman's evolving social conscience. But these descriptors do poor justice to this self-styled touron's accounts of his travels. Timmerman gets to know the food workers and farmers who inhabit his adventures; he encounters slaves, attempts, unsuccessfully, to undertake the arduous demands required of banana laborers and tracks down the source of America's apple juice. Timmerman's secret is that he pairs his expanding social conscience with humor and humility. WHERE AM I EATING takes the reader to Michigan and China, to be coffee farms of Columbia and the cocoa fields of West Africa. And these are the stories of globalization as told first-hand from the trenches where the food laborers labor.
August 3, 2015
This book was well written. It challenged me to think outside of my comfort zone, to see the world around me with more curiosity. It helped me see that we are being curious in all the wrong areas. We need to ask more about where our food comes from and how those people are treated rather than how much money with it cost me. Sometimes the cost is well worth the product and the impact it makes. I had to read this book for a class. I thought it would be boring, because I usually read fiction books, but I found that learning about the hardships of people around the world is a real eyeopener and the pages just flew by. I challenge all of those who read this review to slow down and take your time reading this book, go to the websites he mentions and fully immerse yourself, it will be so much better that way.
November 1, 2016
Truthfully, a 3.5 star. I enjoyed this book and found it fairly engaging. That said, I've read a LOT of books along this same vein and I'm not sure this one had anything to draw me in like crazy. Our food system is corrupt and messy, and we're way too far removed from it. I already knew that, and it's true that I learned about some specific ways our food system is corrupt and messy, but the story is still essentially the same as so many other books of this sort. And of course there's no easy fix for all of this corrupt messiness, so besides the usual answers of buying locally and knowing where your food comes from and just taking care in general in regards to food, you finish a book like this feeling a little frustrated and powerless. Still enjoyed it and found it a worthwhile read.
December 19, 2017
You may think you know where your food comes from...
You may think you know but until you embrace the stories of the people who actually produce the food, you don't really know. Kelsey does a great job of sharing the stories of who produces our food, not just where. And that may be the most important thing of all.
You may think you know but until you embrace the stories of the people who actually produce the food, you don't really know. Kelsey does a great job of sharing the stories of who produces our food, not just where. And that may be the most important thing of all.
July 5, 2013
In Kelsey's second book he explores the Geography of food. He reveals a dangerous and purposely veiled food commodity chain where those at the bottom are likely to be in poverty, could possibly be in slavery or perhaps are risking their lives to acquire our most-desired delicacies like Lobster. This should make us all think about the effects of our choices as consumers on people around the world whose survival depends on a job in agriculture.
August 10, 2013
Really interesting journey(s) into where our food is sourced from in today's global food economy. Unsettling finds about how our "food chain" works...from harvesting coffee beans in Columbia to drinking it at a Starbucks, cocoa beans from the Ivory Coast, bananas from Costa Rica, etc. It's big business on one end, very personal (often tragic) on the other. Eye-opening research that I'm glad I read and will act on with my purchases/sourcing of food going forward.
August 20, 2016
Read this book for an Anthropology class about food. It was informative and I learned a lot about where the food I eat comes from but it was also enjoyable to read. My professor actually arranged a video call with Timmerman so our class could talk with him about his experiences and writing the book! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about where food comes from and how it's produced, it's a great read!
January 19, 2016
This is a very thought-provoking and sometimes disturbing book. I rated it 5 because I enjoy Kelsey Timmerman's writing style, which balances conversational prose with relevant research. I appreciate his sense of adventure to have the courage to travel thousands of miles to meet the people who grow his food.
September 7, 2016
It was a much more informal look at the global food economy than I thought it would be. The author chose just a few items to inform us about where some foods come from and the human toll that their production involves.(coffee, chocolate, bananas, rock lobster, and apple juice)
I'll read labels and buy products more carefully after reading this.
I'll read labels and buy products more carefully after reading this.
October 16, 2013
This is a fascinating journey by the author to the original countries where our most common foods are grown and under what conditions. Chocolate! Bananas! Coffee! You will think about each one differently. A well-researched, but not preachy, look at what is going on.
December 4, 2013
Nothing shocking here at the end of the day, which is a sadder statement about readers' potential apathy-in-the-face-of-awareness than Timmerman's research and writing, which are relatable and sincere. Worth a read.
November 19, 2015
We've been reading this throughout the semester in my World Cultures class, and I actually really enjoyed it! While there were some sections that I liked more than others, I thought that it was quite interesting as a whole.
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