Where Our Food Really Comes From

As consumers in the 21st century, we have more power than we realize. See how suppliers approach and make use of personal data in today's consumer-driven economy. Then, turn your attention to how you can help eliminate food waste and tackle food insecurity, by being more deliberate about what you eat.

And what about the retailer, where most people buy their food? Explore three different types of retail strategies, zeroing in on how each cultivates customer loyalty and encourages purchases. Dissect the anatomy of a supermarket from shelf slots to two-for-one deals. And finish by surveying the manufacturing process.

Dive into what food service consists of, focusing on what makes commercial and noncommercial food service establishments tick, by looking at fancy fine dining restaurants; supermarket hot food bars; fast food; and even high-volume, public-school cafeterias.

Whether we cook much at home or not, we can learn a lot from chefs and how they approach food from the procurement of ingredients to dinner service. See what it really takes to manage a commercial kitchen and discover how chefs craft and prepare tasty but also practical menus.

Start by examining the history of farming from the Morrill Act onward, before looking at the economics of growing and distributing food. What does it take? How does the average farmer fit into the process? And what happens if the supply chain doesn't-or can't-reach everybody?