Blog Reflections Blog #3

Question #1: Consider your food system... What do you like about it?  What do you dislike?

     This section of the course has been super interesting for me.  For many years now I have eaten organic, and in the past year now have been trying to eat local foods as much as possible.  I did not think of  my food in the concept of a food system before this point, and it has been a great way to further my awareness of what I am eating. 
     There are so many things that I not only like, but love about my food and where it comes from.  I think that it has a real earthy taste, which makes me feel more connected to the land.  I enjoy that I am supporting local farmers and markets instead of supporting large corporations.  I also feel good about taking the environment into consideration when I purchase food that is local and organic.  For me it is fun to be connected to my food and create great tasting dishes from it.
     There are a few dislikes I have regarding my food system.  I often get discouraged by people who see eating organic and local as a fad, or a trend.  For me eating this food is something I am proud of and when people pose a stigma on the product it makes me angry.  Another dislike would be the cost.  I do find that it costs a little bit more then conventional food, but this is something that I am willing to deal with, since I believe the products are worth the price.  One thing that I had not considered prior to the class was the impacts of organic food brought in from other parts of the world.  This is a concern for me because I do not want to create a large impact; it is one of the many reasons that I eat organic food.  Now I will be more conscious about where my organic food is coming from, and try to stay as local as possible.
     Overall, I am really invested and happy to be a part of the food system that I am in.  Like anything, there is always room for improvement, and I am willing to make changes accordingly.  Organic and local products are a great way to indulge and create wonderful food options.

Other Comments

     I was amused by the "Meatrix" video we watched in class.  I felt as though this was a good way to highlight the issues in the farming industry by adding humour.  It was also great to learn about the "Cool Local Food Initiatives" that I can become involved in.  I am already familiar with Fresh Options Organic Delivery (F.O.O.D.)  and learning about some other organizations was awesome.  Another positive thing I took from class was the Fort Whyte Farms.  I was not aware that there were farms there, and it is cool to see it at such a local scale.  Finally, learning about the concept of country food was super interesting.  I enjoyed hearing about my classmates' personal experiences.  The concept of country food seems to stretch so far, and connect with a lot of people.