In October members of the Geography Club were faced with a global taste bud challenge. This event, which took place over two lunchtimes, proved to be a great deal of fun and also raised some important geographical questions about the food we eat:
Where does the food we eat come from? – Source countries Our changing tastes and diet – We now expect to find out-of-season foods in our supermarkets all year, e.g. strawberries at Christmas. How far has the food we eat travelled? This is linked to the issue of food miles. How much of the food we eat comes from local farms? Buying locally produced food cuts down on fossil fuels used for transportation.
| Pumpkin Seeds | Austria (Packed in Italy) |
| Sunflower Seeds | USA – available from Europe |
| Pine Nuts | China – can be grown in Europe |
| Brazil Nuts | Bolivia |
| Dates | Israel |
| Blueberries | Argentina |
| Physalis | Brazil |
| Pomegranate | Spain |
| Carambola | Malaysia |
| Mango | Senegal |
| Figs | Turkey |
| Lime | Mexico |
| Dragon Fruit | Israel |
| Papaya | Brazil |
| Granadilla | Colombia |
| Vanilla Pod – Fair trade | Comoros Islands, off the coast of Mozambique |
| Cinnamon sticks – Fair trade | Sri Lanka |
| Coriander Seeds | India |
| Black Peppercorns | South-West India |
| Red Chillies | Kashmir |
Information about four of the most exotic fruits we tasted
Dragon FruitThe pitaya, also known as dragon fruit, is the fruit of several cactus species. Native to Mexico and Central and South America, these cacti are also cultivated in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia. They are also found in Taiwan and Israel. The pitaya only flowers at night, they are large white flowers that are often called Moonflower or Queen of the Night.
Web link: Wikipedia
CarambolaThe carambola is a species of tree native to Sri Lanka, India and Molucca and is popular throughout Southeast Asia. Its fruit, is more popularly known as star fruit. When cut across it shows a 5-pointed (sometimes 6-pointed or 7-pointed) star shape, hence the name, "star fruit."
Web link: Wikipedia
GranadillaThe sweet granadilla is native to the Andes Mountains between Bolivia and Venezuela. It grows as far south as northern Argentina and as far north as Mexico and in the tropical mountains of Africa and Australia.
Web link: Wikipedia
PapayaThe papaya, also known as pawpaw is the fruit of the tree Carica papaya. Originally from southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America, the papaya is now cultivated in most tropical countries. It is usually eaten raw, without the skin or seeds. The unripe green fruit of papaya can be eaten cooked usually in curries, salads and stews.
Web link: Wikipedia
What are the issues surrounding our food supply?
Food is an essential part of our daily lives and in the UK perhaps it is something we take for granted. The UK diet has been transformed since the Second World War; the most popular meal is now Chicken Tikka Masala! However, issues surrounding the sources of our food, over packaging of food items, and the supply of out-of-season food, are increasingly in the news headlines. Many environmentalists now believe that food travels unnecessarily within the UK and from distant parts of the globe (often referred to as ‘Food Miles’); relying heavily upon fossil fuels, creating pollution, increasing the need for packaging and preservation, and often reducing freshness and nutritional content.
SUSTAIN, the Alliance for Better Food and Farming (sustainweb.org) have suggested a number of steps to reduce food air miles and help create sustainable food economies:
When buying food that can be grown in the region, i.e. Europe, you could follow a hierarchy of purchasing priorities; Buy locally produced food (which should therefore be seasonal) Buy nationally Buy from the region When buying food that cannot be grown in the region, such as tea, coffee, bananas, mangoes or chocolate, buy fair trade products where these are available. Try to buy locally produced, seasonal fresh produce when available, from small, local shops and markets, and request that produce be stocked from farms in the surrounding area. This can be ensured by purchasing food at farmers’ markets, or from community supported agriculture schemes and, in many instances, box schemes. Ask retailers and supermarkets how food products have been imported and avoid those products that have involved airfreight distribution. Ask them to stock more produce in your local supermarket from farms in your area.
Source: Grown-up Green
BBC Food Matters Web Site – ‘Food Miles’
Quotes taken from an article written by Hattie Ellis: Agriculture and food now account for nearly 30 per cent of goods transported on our roads. Food travels further these days partly because the centralised systems of supermarkets have taken over from local and regional markets. Ninety-five per cent of the fruit and half of the vegetables in the UK are imported! The amount of food being flown into the UK doubled in the 1990s and is predicted to rise further each year. Each year, the average UK adult travels about 135 miles by car to shop for food. Some British fish is now sent to China (where labour costs are much lower) for processing, and then sent back to the UK to be sold. The concept of food miles also includes waste, which must be transported from your home to a landfill site. The average household throws away more than three kilograms of food and 14 kilograms of food packaging per week. Buying food with as little packaging as possible and composting waste can also make a difference. Buying organic food can also help. Organic farming cuts down on the fossil fuels used to manufacture and transport the chemicals used in mainstream agriculture. A typical basket of 26 imported organic foods may have travelled the distance of six times around the equator.For further information see: bbc.co.uk