Non-fiction: Where Does Your Food Come From? Where Does Your Food Come From? By Kathiann M. Kowalski Local VS. Long-Distance Does It Matter? Before you know it, spring will be on the way and more fresh fruits and veggies will be in stores. But what about the fresh fruits and vegetables we see in the stores right now? Where do those foods come from? Locally grown foods are a great choice when they re available, but are they really always better? Why Buy Local? Taste is the reason Ohio teen Allie M. says she prefers locally grown peaches to ones that might travel more than a thousand miles to the supermarket. They have to pick them so unripe to ship them, so they don t spoil, says Allie. They re not as good as they would be if you went to the farmers market during peak season and bought fresh peaches. When fruits and vegetables taste better, you ll probably eat them more often. That s good, because the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables. While there s no clear definition of what s local, most shoppers agree that produce grown nearby is fresher than foods that travel long distances. Local foods can be more nutritious too. The longer it takes for a food to go from the field to your plate, the more it may deteriorate in terms of nutrient content, explains Mary Lee Chin, a registered dietitian at Nutrition Edge Communications in Denver. But a lot of it depends on many different factors. Soil conditions, fertilization practices, irrigation methods, and the specific plant varieties can all affect nutrient content. Handling is really critical, adds Chin. That includes everything that happens from harvest until foods reach your home. When fruits and vegetables are at peak ripeness and handled properly, the results can be both delicious and nutritious. But bruised, wilted, or overripe produce loses both appeal and nutrient value. Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission. 1
Non-fiction: Where Does Your Food Come From? Buying local foods also lets shoppers support the local economy. That builds feelings of community. You know who grows your food, says Allie. Local farmers markets may spotlight produce that an area is famous for, such as Michigan cherries or Georgia peaches. You might also discover varieties not usually carried by supermarkets, such as some heirloom tomatoes or fresh herbs. Some vendors sell only organic foods. Organic produce usually isn t more nutritious than other fruits and vegetables. To receive official certification, farms follow specific guidelines, such as not using certain pesticides or fertilizers. (Some farms don t go through the certification process but still may produce food according to organic practices.) Energy usage is another environmental issue. Local foods travel a shorter distance to market, so less fuel is required to deliver the food. However, notes Chin, the type of transportation matters. For a 100-mile trip, for instance, a typical pickup truck uses more than 10 times the fuel per pound carried than a full semitrailer. Farming practices, water usage, and other factors affect foods environmental impact too. Variety Is the Spice of Life Not all our favorite foods can come from local farms. Allie loves bananas, but they don t grow in Ohio. And forget about finding fresh Ohio-grown melons, strawberries, or peaches during winter. In my opinion, it s not possible to have the lifestyle we enjoy and rely only on locally grown foods, says Trevor Suslow, an agricultural scientist at the University of California, Davis. In order to enjoy a year-round supply of healthful, nutritious, good-tasting, enjoyable diverse foods, they are being grown, harvested, and then shipped tens of thousands of miles. Refrigerated storage and transport make it possible. Don t rule out frozen, canned, or dried fruits and vegetables. Many companies run processing plants close to farms for cost and efficiency reasons. Other benefits are more obvious to the consumer. Not only are the nutrients of fresh fruits preserved, says Chin, but sensory qualities of appearance, smell, and taste remain too. A jar of applesauce serves many people and delivers almost the same health benefits per serving as fresh apples that s something to consider when money is tight. Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission. 2
Non-fiction: Where Does Your Food Come From? The Bottom Line While local foods aren t always better than long-distance ones, one thing is clear: Research has shown that people who eat the highest amount of fruits and vegetables simply have healthier diets, says Chin. You can get those health benefits no matter how they re produced. Food safety is also an issue regardless of where foods come from. Recent government recalls involved a wide range of foods, including fresh strawberries, organic spinach, packaged salads, papayas, bean burgers, cheese, and herring. Contaminated food can look and smell and taste completely normal, warns Dr. Karen Neil at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of illness may not appear for days. To protect yourself, always follow safe food handling and storage practices. After all, no matter where your food starts out, it ends up with you. Follow That Food! More than two weeks can pass before food from the field finally finds its way to your home. Consider how lettuce might get from a California farm to a Boston supermarket. From the field to a nearby cooling facility (1 2 days) Onto a truck to a packaging and distribution center (1 2 days) Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission. 3
Non-fiction: Where Does Your Food Come From? Packaging or processing (1 2 days) Onto a truck to go across the country (5 7 days) To a regional distribution center (1 2 days) To another truck for delivery to a local supermarket (1 day) On the supermarket shelves until purchase (1 4 days) Cook It Safe! Frozen food may spend days traveling so you can quickly nuke it when you re ready. But be sure you re doing it safely. Diane Van of the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers these tips for safe microwaving: 4 Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission.
Non-fiction: Where Does Your Food Come From? Know whether to use the microwave or the conventional oven. Not all frozen foods can be cooked safely in the microwave. Know your microwave wattage before microwaving food. Lowerwattage ovens need more cooking time. Read and follow cooking instructions. That includes waiting the full standing time listed on a package after the item comes out of the oven to ensure it s done cooking. Always use a food thermometer to ensure a safe internal temperature. Grill marks or browning may make food appear cooked before it really is. Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission. 5
Questions: Where Does Your Food Come From Name: Date: 1. According to the passage, approximately how many buildings and vehicles would lettuce have to go through on the trip between a California farm and a Boston supermarket? A three buildings and three trucks B seven buildings and three trucks C four buildings and five trucks D three buildings and five trucks 2. Which of the following is an argument presented against buying local fruits and vegetables? A Local foods travel a shorter distance to market. B Local farmers may spotlight a produce that an area is famous for. C Local produce is fresher than foods that travel long distances. D Local farms cannot produce all of our favorite foods all year. 3. Which of the following actions would help a person avoid getting sick from contaminated produce? A washing produce before eating B smelling produce before eating to make sure it is safe C cooking produce until it feels hot to the touch D eating only food from a local farmer that the person knows 4. The longer it takes for a food to go from the field to your plate, the more it may deteriorate in terms of nutrient content, explains Mary Lee Chin. As used in the sentence, deteriorate most nearly means A to improve B to recover C to get worse D to adjust 5. This passage deals primarily with A the local vs. long-distance food debate B the ways to keep your food safe C the length of time it takes to get lettuce from the farm D the best procedure for using the microwave 1
Questions: Where Does Your Food Come From 6. What are three benefits that the passage gives for buying local fruits and vegetables? 7. Why might buying local be easier in some places than others? 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Handling produce is critical bruised, wilted, or overripe produce loses both appeal and nutrient value. A therefore B because C so D obviously 9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. At farmers markets, a person might discover unusual varieties of fruits and vegetables not carried by supermarkets because local farmers may specialize in certain varieties. Who? a person What? Where? Why? 2
Questions: Where Does Your Food Come From Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below to complete questions 10a, 10b, and 11. Vocabulary Word: efficiency (ef fi cien cy): the ability to do something well without wasting energy. 10a. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word efficiency. 1. The teacher was pleased with the improved efficiency in his class since his students stopped chatting and got right to solving math problems. 2. The family was excited to increase the energy efficiency in their home by getting a new refrigerator that used less power. 3. Because no more improvements could be made to the car, the car maker reported to the public, This car is at maximum efficiency! 4. There was great efficiency in how the bird soared from place to place with only a few graceful flaps of its wings. 5. Completing an assignment correctly in half the time would be an example of efficiency. 10b. Which object has better transportation efficiency? 11. How can computers increase efficiency for mathematicians when they are working on difficult math calculations? 3
Teacher Guide & Answers: Where Does Your Food Come From Teacher Guide & Answers Passage Reading Level: Lexile 1060 Featured Text Structure: Argumentative the writer presents evidence for both sides of an argument Passage Summary: Where Does Your Food Come From? focuses on the debate about whether people should buy local food. Benefits of buying local are provided, but the author also points out that in order to eat diverse foods, buying long-distance food may be necessary. The passage ends with information about how long-distance food gets to the supermarket and tips for safely cooking food. 1. According to the passage, approximately how many buildings and vehicles would lettuce have to go through on the trip between a California farm and a Boston supermarket? A three buildings and three trucks B seven buildings and three trucks C four buildings and five trucks D three buildings and five trucks 2. Which of the following is an argument presented against buying local fruits and vegetables? A Local foods travel a shorter distance to market. B Local farmers may spotlight a produce that an area is famous for. C Local produce is fresher than foods that travel long distances. D Local farms cannot produce all of our favorite foods all year. 3. Which of the following actions would help a person avoid getting sick from contaminated produce? A washing produce before eating B smelling produce before eating to make sure it is safe C cooking produce until it feels hot to the touch D eating only food from a local farmer that the person knows 4. The longer it takes for a food to go from the field to your plate, the more it may deteriorate in terms of nutrient content, explains Mary Lee Chin. As used in the sentence, deteriorate most nearly means A to improve B to recover C to get worse D to adjust 5. This passage deals primarily with A the local vs. long-distance food debate B the ways to keep your food safe C the length of time it takes to get lettuce from the farm D the best procedure for using the microwave 6. What are three benefits that the passage gives for buying local fruits and vegetables? Suggested answer: According to the passage, local food is often fresher, which affects the taste. Furthermore, if handled properly, food that travels a smaller distance the higher the nutrient content. Thirdly, buying local foods supports the local economy and community. [paragraphs 2, 5, 6, 7] 1
Teacher Guide & Answers: Where Does Your Food Come From 7. Why might buying local be easier in some places than others? Suggested answer: Places that have warmer climates may have more farms and different types of fruits and vegetables available to the area throughout the year. Other places that have cold winters won t have access to local fruit and vegetables during that time. [paragraphs 11, 12] 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Handling produce is critical bruised, wilted, or overripe produce loses both appeal and nutrient value. A therefore B because C so D obviously 9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. At farmers markets, a person might discover unusual varieties of fruits and vegetables not carried by supermarkets because local farmers may specialize in certain varieties. Who? a person What? might discover unusual varieties of fruits and vegetables not carried by supermarkets Where? at farmers markets Why? local farmers may specialize in certain varieties To the Teacher: ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the whole class out loud using the four steps listed below. Vocabulary Word: efficiency (ef fi cien cy): the ability to do something well without wasting energy. Step 1: Introduce the word a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (ef fi cien cy) b. Teacher says: This word is efficiency. What is the word? [All students reply together out loud: efficiency. ] Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition a. Teacher says: The word efficiency describes being able to do something well without wasting energy. b. Teacher says: In the passage, many companies run processing plants close to farms for cost and efficiency reasons. If the plant is close to the farm, then the produce can get there more quickly, without wasting energy. c. Teacher says: What is the word? [All students reply together out loud: efficiency. ] 2
Teacher Guide & Answers: Where Does Your Food Come From Step 3: Practice the word Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the first sentence out loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to the vocabulary word prompt students to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish reading the sentence out loud to your students. Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below to complete questions 10a, 10b, and 11. Vocabulary Word: efficiency (ef fi cien cy): the ability to do something well without wasting energy. 10a. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word efficiency. 1. The teacher was pleased with the improved efficiency in his class since his students stopped chatting and got right to solving math problems. 2. The family was excited to increase the energy efficiency in their home by getting a new refrigerator that used less power. 3. Because no more improvements could be made to the car, the car maker reported to the public, This car is at maximum efficiency! 4. There was great efficiency in how the bird soared from place to place with only a few graceful flaps of its wings. 5. Completing an assignment correctly in half the time would be an example of efficiency. Step 4: Check for student understanding To the Teacher: This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an independent practice. 10b. Which object has better transportation efficiency? 11. How can computers increase efficiency for mathematicians when they are working on difficult math calculations? Suggested answer: They can improve the rate of work for the mathematicians because they instantly provide correct answers to equations that would otherwise take a longer time to solve. Thus, the scientists are able to get more done in a shorter period of time. Suggested Additional Vocabulary: deteriorate, vendors, diverse, obvious, contaminated 3