My father works for the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and constantly encourages my family to eat healthy, all natural meals. Therefore, he always buys fruits, vegetables and meats from small family run farms. He consistently lectures us on everything such as the benefits of grass-fed cows versus corn fed cows and the mistreatment of animals at factory farms. Growing up, I was always surrounded by food from small family run farms, which influenced me to want to continue this shopping pattern. The social norm in this situation is my father’s influence on my family’s eating habits of small family run farm products. When I was younger, I remember asking him why certain meats were more expensive, and he would explain to me how different small farms and factory farms prepare and house their animals. This influenced me to want to only eat meats and produce from small family run farms.
I understand not everyone is fortunate enough to eat food products of small family run farms, since they can be pricey. In today’s society, a major issue is the increase in amount of industrial agriculture and the decrease in amount of small family run farms. Most people tend to purchase industrial agriculture or factory farms products because they are cheaper and produced in bulk. Although in some ways this can be beneficial, factory farms are notorious for mistreating, spreading bacteria among their animals and polluting the environment. I found it interesting that because factory farms feed their cows corn instead of grass, that more methane is created, which causes greenhouse gasses. Factory farms do not insure if the food being sold is all natural or if the animals were treated in an ethical manner. I believe that if our society creates more small family run farms, instead of increasing the number of factory farms, then people would be able to purchase cheaper food, eat healthier meats and know that animals are being treated properly.
2 thoughts on “Module #6”
Hi Caren,
My name is Cassie and this is the link to my blog post: : http://sites.psu.edu/geog30/2016/02/29/module-6-conform…ietys-food-norms/. Your blog caught my attention because I think it is so interesting that your father works for the FDA. This must give you a lot of inside information on the real nutritional value of foods. Sometimes I wish that my parents shared my beliefs on nutrition and healthy eating so that’s great that your father does. It is a shame that we have to pay so much more money for locally grown, natural foods. If these foods were more accessible I think a lot more people would be willing to eat this way. In my blog post I talked about how people tend to eat unhealthy foods because they are cheaper, which is similar to what you are saying about how it is cheaper to produce non-natural foods in large factories and farms.
Hey Caren. Your blog really caught my attention because I was interested to see that your dad really brought his work home with him to benefit your family and make sure that everyone ate right. Your idea for more small family owned farms is great, but it would be hard to achieve with all of the government regulations today. I feel that this is why big corporations really exceed and can try to take over the market. It is also interesting to see how people in different socioeconomic statuses buy their food and try to look more at price tags than nutritional values.
Hi Caren,
My name is Cassie and this is the link to my blog post: : http://sites.psu.edu/geog30/2016/02/29/module-6-conform…ietys-food-norms/. Your blog caught my attention because I think it is so interesting that your father works for the FDA. This must give you a lot of inside information on the real nutritional value of foods. Sometimes I wish that my parents shared my beliefs on nutrition and healthy eating so that’s great that your father does. It is a shame that we have to pay so much more money for locally grown, natural foods. If these foods were more accessible I think a lot more people would be willing to eat this way. In my blog post I talked about how people tend to eat unhealthy foods because they are cheaper, which is similar to what you are saying about how it is cheaper to produce non-natural foods in large factories and farms.
Hey Caren. Your blog really caught my attention because I was interested to see that your dad really brought his work home with him to benefit your family and make sure that everyone ate right. Your idea for more small family owned farms is great, but it would be hard to achieve with all of the government regulations today. I feel that this is why big corporations really exceed and can try to take over the market. It is also interesting to see how people in different socioeconomic statuses buy their food and try to look more at price tags than nutritional values.
I wrote about the norms of having to eat fish on Christmas Eve as part of my religion. Check it out if you have a chance.
http://sites.psu.edu/geog30/2016/02/29/module-6-social-norms/