Where Am I Eating? “The Starbucks Experience” by Kelsey Timmerman The author indicates a routine to begin their day: “On most mornings, I drink Starbucks Colombian roast. ” (20) Indication of how Starbucks markets its specific Colombian roast; (20) The description of the coffee entices consumer to feel reassured about product (20) Author wants to confirm the narrative of the Colombian location to follow up: “[…] I wanted to visit this magnificent land of sheer slopes and treasured cherries myself. I wanted to meet the people who grow my coffee (20)
A background of the Timmerman family and farm background is provided to show previous generation’s connection to importance of food (21) Yet the author contrasts about his own personal connection to food: “Food is so inconvenient. […] what’s fun about food? ” (21) Author describes a fixation of food’s labeling instead of the actual food itself. (21) Kelsey Timmerman describes previous experience of investigating origins of other products. (22) There was a specific definition of U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Country of Origin Labeling Law (22) U. S.
Department of Agriculture’s Country of Origin Labeling Law: requires “Country of Origin Labeling is a labeling law that requires food retailers to notify their customers with information regarding the source of certain foods. ” (22) Author provides new discoveries of foods origins that came to light after the passing of the law pervious described. (22) The author mentions an interesting statistic: “we know that the average food item travels 1,300 miles from the field to our plate. ” (23) During the author traveling, he compares Colombia to being nearly twice of Texas (25)
Author describes the unfair distribution of sale between Starbucks and Colombians: “About one cent of a fancy mocha at Starbucks makes its way back to the coffee farmers in Colombia. ” (25) Farming has decreased with less than 1 percent of American citizens choosing to farm (26) There are only approximately 1 billion farmers on earth while close to 2/3 of them live in poverty (27) The author provides a rhetoric question for the reader: “Why, how, and by whom is dinner being outsourced? What does this mean for farmers in my hometown in Indiana and farmers around the world? 27)
An ethical dilemma is described by the author with the description of how mankind, especially Americans, that maims, enslaves, and can kill other humans (28) A definition of Purchase Guarantee is provided (29) Purchase Guarantee: it means “how the Federation will buy any farmers’ coffee at a published price at any given time. ” (29) Coffee beans are grown on coffee trees (30) The purpose of this reading is to allow for the reader to see how much work is involved in the growth and distribution of coffee beans (30) Where Am I Eating?
The Grande Gringo Picks Coffee” by Kelsey Timmerman There is a definition of Cuy (36) Cuy: it is “guinea pig” in Spanish (36) The author compares the acting of picking coffee beans to his children: “I gently tear away the plastic holding in the roots and soil and place the plan into the ground. I then cover it up in a way that makes me miss putting my kids to bed. ” (39) A statistic is stated that over half of Colombian towns grow coffee; (39) While the average age of a Colombian coffee farmer is approximated at 55 years old (41)
A quote describing the faith that families have for faith in their crops: “There just seems to be something miraculous about putting a plant in the ground in a place like this and having faith that it will survive and thrive, and will, in turn, allow Felipe and his family to survive and thrive. ” (45) An insertion about how vital coffee is to some farmer’s lifes: “Their work is coffee and their lives are each other. ” (45) The purpose of this chapter to help readers understand how vital the success of growing coffee trees is for the survival of individuals and their family as a whole (45)
Where Am I Eating? “The Cup of Excellence” by Kelsey Timmerman The Colombian minimum working age law protects someone younger than the age of 8 working on a form (48) A beneficio costs around $5,000, which is a device that helps break down coffee beans more efficiently (49) A mentioning of a Starbuck’s program is only utilized to silence activists: “But critics questions whether Starbucks C. A. F. E. Practices is simply clever marketing whose only goal is to hush activists. ” (52)
When Kelsey Timmerman asks how to describe the growers of consumer’s coffee: “Kelsey, please tell people that I come from a country where we work hard to give them the best quality of coffee we can give. We are honest. Tell them I have my health and my son and my family. I thank God I have all that I need. ” (55) An statistic involving how the average American eats out around 5 times, 4. 8 exactly, per week in the United stated shows how much America consumes food wise (57) A definition of The Sustainable Quality program is given (58)
Sustainable Quality program: it is a “public-private partnership between Nepresso, the Federation, and the Rainforest Alliance. ” Certifications required for farmers range from: “[…] 4C, C. A. F. E. Practices, Rainforest Alliance, Natura Foundation, AAA, UTZ, commercio justo. ” (59) A man that the author interviewed describes the real secret behind Starbucks Colombian roast: “This is top secret. To get a particular taste for each country we have to mix the coffee. It isn’t 100 percent Colombian. ” (60)
Rhetorical question is presented to the reader: “But what does it look like when a third-party, not-for-profit certification agency puts farmers first? ” (60) Where Am I Eating? “The Heart of the World” by Kelsey Timmerman There is a definition of Mamus (63) Mamus: it is “the spiritual leaders of the Arhuaco. ” (63) A mentioning of how important weaving is to the culture of the Archuacans (63) There are many defintions of Ethnic chauvinism (65) Ethnic chauvinism: it is when “The Archuaco call non-Indians their younger sisters and brothers. ” (65)
An Arhuacan indian describes about how outsider visitors always want to buy things but never give anything back, take photos but never let the Indians see it, and lastly how the Indians never see the outside visitors again (66) Instead of a soccer ball, children were kicking around a plastic water bottle for recreation (68) An interesting fact about Americans: “The ecological footprint of an average American is 23. 6 acres. ” (70) There is a definition of Proposition 37 (70) Proposition 37: it is “a law that would require GMO labeling on all foods containing GMO ingredients. 70)
This allows consumers to see where their genetically modified food is from (70) A mentioning of how the local growers want more innovations in infrastructure: “The campesinos want to grow and grow and use the profits to improve roads to make getting the coffee to market easier. ” (78) Where Am I Eating? “Solo Man” by Kelsey Timmerman Africans can look for work which can deemed insufficient, yet big pay for them: “Solo, who is only 20, has worked at his farm for four months. He came here from another cocoa farm in Ivory Coast.
He was lured to that farm after a woman arrived in his village in Ghana and promised him an opportunity to make $300 for a year’s worth of work. ” An statistic that shows what Africans looking work can turn into: “The international Labour Organization estimates that there are 20. 9 million slaves in the world, tw-thirds of whom work in construction and agriculture. ” (83) An interesting rheotic question is presented to the reader in the terms of if the author should help Solo gain his freedom or regret not helping? (85) The way meals are prepared by Solo is described (94)
The author asks what Americans shoud known about Ivoirians: “I want people to know that we aren’t paid well and we are suffering. ” (98) Where Am I Eating? “Slavery and Freedom” by Kelsey Timmerman A noteworthy quote involving the way of life in the Ivory Coast: “According to a study on forced adult labor conducted by the government of the Ivory Coast, 1 percent of adults reported an “obligation to work”; 3. 5 percent said they were victims of physical or verbal abuse […]” (108) The author provides a rhetoric question for the reader: “What and how much can one person do? ” (109)
While a standard Hershey’s milk chocolate bar has near 5 grams of cocoa in it, a worker only earns around $0. 003 per Hershey’s bar sold (112) There are 2 main ideas on how Ivory Coast workers do not get paid their due amount; (113) The middlemen take advantage and the government taxes their exports of cocoa (113) A solution for the next generation of cocoa farmers from the perspective of a cocoa farmer: “If we expect him to have a chance and not struggle as hard as his father an his grandfather and his great grandfather, we need to start valuing this generation of cocoa farmers as we value the fruits of their labor. 117)
Another rhetoric question is asked by the author: “Indentured servitude, forced labor, or slavery? Is there a difference? Does it matter? ” (124) Where Am I Eating? “Is It Peace” by Kelsey Timmerman A question I shared with the author: “I hoped Michel and his film would enlighten me as to why people choose to come to Ivory Coast for $300 per year or less and on the impact their leaving has on their families. ” (128) The author notices signs on malnutrition including patches of hair missing with discolored hair with no pigment in it (129)
The farmers say they don’t produce enough food and they have to go buy from the market, which are ironic (130) Perspective on slavery: “I think it is a kind of slavery and an opportunity” (132) Discussion on the lethalness of Malaria for farmers (134) Where Am I Eating? “The Banana Worker’s Commute” by Kelsey Timmerman All the workers are equipped with a machete (138) There is a definition for bananero (138) Bananero: it is a “banana worker” (138) Juan, a worker for Dole, wanted it to rain for that day’s work so the author could get the full experience of a typical workday (139)
International etiquette: “He offered his wrist. In some countries’, this is considered a polite way to greet someone if your hands are dirty or if you are sick. ” (140) When a worker is asked what the best part of his job was, he responded by being able to finically support his family (141) Costa Rica is at the forefront of antivenom research and antivenom production (142) A powerful statement: “Forever indebted to Dole. ” (146) A comparison between United States: ”Juan is the sole income earner for his family, earning about $435 per month.
Back home, people make car payments bigger than that. ” (147) Where Am I Eating? “Banana Worker for the Day” by Kelsey Timmerman The average American eats an approximated 27 pounds of banana in 365 days (148) Description of the technique of cutting down bananas (152) Definition of Banana Republic (154) Banana Republic: it is “any country that relies heavily on one export crop tjat the government and private institutions work to exploit. ” (154) $600,000 was the offer given by Guatemala for land that was valued at $16,000,000 by America; (155)
Guatemala became a U. S. blockade (155) A banana worker wants a generational change: “[…] we’ll have to work in the fields because we didn’t study. I don’t want her to have a hard life like that. ” (156) Rhetorical question provided: “What is the goal of agriculture? Is it to produce food? Or is it to produce money? ” (161) 1,200 different varieties of bananas in Belgium (164) Biodiversity in plantation is discussed in depth (165) Where Am I Eating? “Banana Worker for the Day” by Kelsey Timmerman
The first quote involving the banana plantation: “No photos…no problem,” (170) Bananas require over 8 pounds of water per pound of banana (171) Modern day banana worker wage: “The banana workers don’t have money like they used to. ” (173) Implication of how the banana worker, who is a father, works hard to send his children to study at school (174) Harmful chemicals on workers: […], but by sending a letter to Dow stating that failure to send more Nemagon and Fumazone would be a breach of contract.
Dole continued to use the chemicals for three years after Dow instructed them to discontinue using them. ” (175) Lawsuit against banana companies: “In 1993, workers from Costa Rice, EL Salvador, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Indonesia filed suit against Standard fruit, Shell, Dow, Del Monte, Chiquita, and Occidental. ” (176) Harmful chemicals vs. benefits: “Yet Juan still looks back on the days when he was having pesticides sprayed over his head and didn’t have to wear any protective gear, as the glory days. ” (177)
Children’s schools and festivals were paid for, while workers earned higher average wages during the glory days referred to in the previous quote (177) There is a definition for solidarismo (177) Solidarismo: it is “a system based on mutual respect where each side recognizes it needs the other. ” (177) The final quote about a banana worker’s life perspective: “He told him tht he is missing out on opportunities outside of their town, that life here is too difficult. I wonder if Juan regrets staying. But Juan runs and laughs like he’s not missing a thing. ” (182)
