Introduction
In recent years, the global and local foodshed has changed considerably. Even though the fast food markets such as Mc Donald’s inevitably harness the global resources to increase profit margins, many people do not even realize how and why companies and corporations have changed the agribusiness (Kloppenburg, Hendrickson & Stevenson, 1996, p. 8, 11). More importantly, perhaps, Americans have become more dependent upon the cheap foods and snacks so many fast food businesses offer. It is considerably normal for the average American (family) to eat-out at least three times or greater per week; home prepared meals entail of a high preservative, frozen, fridge to table products. Yet, in my household within the last ten years, our eating habits have changed considerably. Partially coauthored by the socioeconomic impacts of rising petroleum prices, by the knowledge of food production and practices in the United States and abroad and by health considerations, my family largely consumes products from Asia, Caribbean, local farmers and our community gardens (p. 5, 8, 9, 11). We also eat foods seasonally, without exception and buy fair trade products whenever possible.
While these consumption patterns might not reflect those of most Americans, and would exemplify what Kloppenburg, Hendrickson & Stevenson (1996) deem alternative producers and eaters; they do not necessarily involve disengagement from the existing food system (p. 8, 9). Rather, they reflect the food system as it has always been. After all, foodstuff has been traded across and among peoples in distant localities since the distant past, thus supplementing and enriching local dishes and food traditions (Time, 2006). Perhaps, this exemplifies the permaculture of the foodshed and the local, community and global networks it builds and sustains (Kloppenburg, Hendrickson & Stevenson, 1996, p. 1-3). Inevitably, consumption and production are interwoven, as are the people, despite social distance.
Analyzing meals and the foodshed In order to clarify how my family is impacted by the local, community and global foodshed, this section will analyze two typical meals and consumption patterns.
Breakfast
Rice porridge (Eight treasures style) * Dates, glutinous rice, cherries, melon seeds, raisins, sweet lotus plumule, flesh of Longan (fruit), corn and goji berries (if available).
Eggs and tomatoes
Steamed buns with vegetables or red bean paste If vegetables, most are local and include cabbage, onions, carrots, sometimes eggplant * Rice flour, water, soy milk or rice milk

Chrysanthemum tea or fair trade coffee * Local honey or sugar in the raw

As evidenced by the preceding breakfast, many items are either imported or transported. Since it is summer, we buy the cherries, corn, melons for seeds, and cabbage, onion, or carrots from the farmer’s market. Additionally, we also plant carrots, cabbage, and tomatoes. Therefore, the tomatoes we use are either homegrown or purchased through the local farmers markets, as are the eggs, which are cage free and organic. The soy milk or rice milk is store bought as is the rice flour or red bean paste. The rice flour is imported from China as is the glutinous rice. The longan fruit, we sometimes purchase dried, but prefer fresh from China or California. The dates are either purchased from California, the Middle East, particularly through our local vegan/health food store. We dry the chrysanthemums or purchase them dried from the Asian market so we can make tea during the summer. We buy fair trade coffee from Guatemala or sometimes at the grocery store because food production is important. Obviously, the breakfast menu explored reveals numerous influences. Although it is overtly Asian in nature, it necessitates several different sources. Yet, the summer menu offers us a level of control over which produce is available from whom. Over the years, we have developed relationships with the farmers at the farmers’ markets and at the local Asian store where we shop. Additionally, our neighbors grow small subsistence gardens with complementary crops. All of these relationships decrease social distance and heighten awareness of food production, but also grant us a certain level of friendship and interchange most people in America do not currently experience (Kloppenburg, Hendrickson & Stevenson, 1996, p. 7).
Perhaps, the best part of buying from the farmers’ markets is the ability to ask questions about pesticides or region in which grown. Through interactions with them, answers to my questions, I’ve learned a lot about farming methods, values and beekeeping. Of course, I’ve also learned a great deal about honey and why eating honey locally is so important, especially for people with allergies. This also contrasts with consumer knowledge and behavior in the global marketplace. After all Kloppenburg, Hendrickson & Stevenson (1996) contend that most persons do not know the socioeconomic impact their consumption patterns yield, the methods of food production they coauthor and/or acceptance of agriculture and its giants (p. 2, 5). Dinner
Eggplant, Onions, Sesame
Potatoes, cooking oil
Tofu, eggs
Rice
Watermelon Dragon fruit juice
Chrysanthemum tea, locally produced honey, raw sugar.

This menu, like breakfast includes a number of items imported and bought locally. As in the previous menu, the eggs are cage free and organic, purchased from the famers’ market, as is the eggplant. The onions are from our garden. The rice is from Thailand. The watermelon, a staple in summer is purchased through the grocery store, transported from the Southern states. The Dragon fruit juice is imported from China or Japan, while the tofu is purchased from the local Asian market that purchases the organic soybeans from the farmer’s market.
Benefits and impacts Obviously, there are numerous benefits to the global foodshed, to the ways it connects people and knowledge despite social and geographic distance (Kloppenburg, Hendrickson & Stevenson, 1996, p. 1-3). Through the years it has taught me how food is produced in Asia, in which regions certain fruits and products are grown. It has also promoted learning about the regional temperatures, climates, traditions, etc. Notably, this type of inquiry has also promoted more learning about coffee production and what fair trade means to the workers in the regions. Although many people might argue that such knowledge is not necessary or beneficial it has enriched my life in unanticipated ways (p. 2, 3, 5). Other benefits include learning how to prepare other dishes, how to promote better health and how to meet the needs of people with allergies. Without imported food in the United States, it might be especially difficult to do so. Anyone allergic to wheat or milk inevitably incurs great difficulty finding food in America. More importantly, buying and preparing other ethnic cuisines and dishes also builds community connections within the smaller markets that sell these goods. The people are always so willing to answer questions or offer recipes or suggestions. Moreover, whenever we buy produce from the farmers’ markets, the food is always so fresh and tasty. As the 2006 Time magazine article, “Local-Food Movement: The Lure of the 100-Mile Diet,” contends, there is definitely a primal motive for buying locally grown. As opposed to grocery store merchandise the food is not wrapped in plastic or odorless (2006). Instead, it is tangible, aromatic and even visually imperfect. Yet, buying from the farmer’s markets lessens the social distance between my family and food; it reinforces social networks and our connection with the food and its production, even though we did not grow or harvest it (Kloppenburg, Hendrickson & Stevenson, 1996, p. 5, 8, 9, 11).
Think Globally, Act Locally Although we would love to buy everything we need from local farmers or even grow our own produce in order to limit the use of petroleum products in the agribusiness and produce transportation, it simply is not possible (Time magazine, 2006). Therefore, we do what we can to coauthor global and local change. After all, my neighbors and friends from varying neighborhoods have actively participated within yearly produce exchanges for the last five years. Notably, these exchanges sometimes include recipes and dishes made with garden ingredients. Since we have people from many different national origins, this is particularly enriching. It not only encourages diversity, global understanding and more cultural competence but also promotes more open exchanges of farming techniques, traditional knowledge and recipes. In essence, these small acts can offer large benefits for our world and the global village.
Conclusion
Based upon the preceding passages, my family has already changed many consumption patterns. Although we are what Kloppenburg, Hendrickson & Stevenson (1996) call alternative eaters and producers because we grow many vegetables and fruits in our garden, exchange with neighbors, and buying from farmers’ markets, we also participate within the global exchange of food and spices (p. 8, 9). The latter more accurately represents practices that have endured since time immemorial. Nevertheless, I would love to see my local community also engage in a community garden or promote more exchanges across and among neighboring blocks. It would not only reward the people in the neighborhood economically but also socially. It would promote more careful thought regarding pesticides and lawn care products and benefit the local and global community by extension. In essence, it would manifest the principle of thinking globally while acting locally and bind more people to each other through reciprocity, shared ideals and shared goals.

References
Local Food Movement: The lure of the 100-Mile diet. (2006). Time Magazine, June 11, 2006. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1200783,00.html
Kloppenburg, J. Hendrickson, J. & Stevenson, G.W. (1996). Coming in to the foodshed. Agriculture and Human Values 13:3 (Summer): 33-42. Retrieved from http://www.cias.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/comingin.pdf