WHERE WE ARE

The book Fast Food Nation and the movies The Future of Food and Supersize Me have done much to raise awareness about imperfections in our food supply chain among citizens. Combined with food safety issues including mad cow disease and recent problems with produce and prepared foods, more and more people are stopping to think about what they are actually eating and drinking. But the trends are still mixed. Sixty percent of Americans are overweight, for example, and childhood obesity is at an all time high. On the other hand, it gets easier and more affordable each season to find organic products through farmers markets or even Wal-Mart, and significant changes are being made in public policy on issues such as trans-fat, water quality, and nutritional reporting.

WHERE WE ARE GOING

Consumers are beginning to look for certification by organizations like the Rainforest Alliance, which insures that coffee is produced in an agriculturally and socially responsible way. Fair Trade certification and USDA Organic certification, among other initiatives, are putting the spotlight on the way food is produced. Better choices at the check-out counter will expedite the adoption of better farming practices.