Consuming Quote by Barbara Kingsolver
““I’m beginning at least to notice when I’m consuming the United Nations of edible plants and animals all in one seating. (Or the WTO, is more like it.) On a winter’s day not long ago I was served a sumptuous meal like this, finished off with a dessert of raspberries. Because they only grow in temperate zones, not the tropics, these would have come from somewhere deep in the Southern Hemisphere. I was amazed that such small, eminently bruisable fruits could survive a zillion-mile trip looking so good (I myself look pretty wrecked after a mere red-eye from California), and I mumbled some reserved awe over that fact. I think my hostess was amused by my country-mouse naïveté. “This is New York,” she assured me. “We can get anything we want, any day of the year.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Unbearable Lightness of Global Food Chains, 2015
The quote marvels at how globally sourced food travels vast distances yet arrives fresh, highlighting modern supply chains and consumer ignorance of origins.
In simple terms: Food travels far, arriving fresh, showing global supply chains.
Key Takeaway
Recognize where your food comes from.
Themes
globalization
food
culture
awareness
Mood
curious
reflective
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- restaurant dining
- grocery shopping
- travel planning
- environmental education
Key Concepts
supply chain
food miles
consumer perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How does knowing food origins change your choices?
- What responsibilities do consumers have?
A Different Perspective
The quote glosses over environmental impacts of long-distance food transport.
![“There are about 50 or 60 recommendations [in "Win"] for how to communicate, not just the words themselves. All of them had to be tested. And in this short amount of time, it's just very time-consuming and very stressful to ensure that you get it right.” quote by Frank Luntz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/add/frank-luntz-4874_amount_there-are-about-50-or-60-recommendations_60026.jpg)
