Food Provenance: Food Source and Supply

Sources of Food

Identify the origin of a wide variety of ingredients both locally and globally, including plant-based (fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, seeds etc.) and animal-based (meat, poultry, fish, dairy etc.).
Understand the term ‘food miles’ – the distance food travels from where it is grown or raised to where it is ultimately purchased or consumed.
Appreciate the impact of seasonality on the availability, quality and price of food. This changes with seasons and climate fluctuations.

Become familiar with the typical paths that foodstuffs take on their journey from the farm to the fork, including growing, rearing, fishing, harvesting, processing, transporting, retailing and consuming.
Recognise the role of different stakeholders in the food supply chain, including farmers, processers, retailers and consumers.
Identify how technology impacts the food chain: methods such as hydroponics and aquaponics for crop growing, GPS use for precision farming, refrigeration for food transport and storage, and e-commerce for food purchasing.

Distinguish between primary food processing (cleaning, grading, packaging etc.) and secondary food processing (baking, frying, fermenting etc.).
Identify various food preservation methods such as canning, freezing, drying and pickling, along with the reasons why they’re used.
Understand the purpose of food additives in processed food (e.g., to extend shelf life, to enhance flavour).

Appreciate the environmental impact of our food choices including carbon footprint and wastage.
Consider the benefits of organic farming and sustainable fishing practices.
Understand the importance of dietary choices for sustainability, such as choosing locally-sourced foods, seasonal foods, plant-based foods and foods with reduced packaging.

Learn to interpret food labels for information about ingredients, nutrition, allergens, origin, date marking, storage instructions and cooking instructions.
Understand the principles of the various food safety laws intended to protect consumers – for instance, rules regarding hygiene in food businesses and accurate food labelling.