Would you believe this? One out of every ten pounds of apples grown in the United States comes from New York State. Indeed, New York is the one of the largest producers of apples in the country, second only to Washington State. On average, New York farmers produce over one billion pounds of apples annually∗. That’s enough to give every person who lives in New York City an apple every day of the year!
As impressive as this number sounds, New York used to produce even more apples than it does today. The record high year for apple
production was 1896, when New York farmers harvested an astounding 54 million bushels or approximately 2.6 billion pounds. In contrast, the record low for apple production was a scant 2 million bushels or
approximately 100 million pounds in 1945. Despite the occasional vagaries of agriculture, apples continue to be a mainstay of New York farm production and remain one of America’s favorite fruits. Have you had your apple today?
Activities
• Preparing for the search
• Developing your search
• Searching for specific food system data
• Food for Thought Journal
Going Further Background
∗ Average annual production of apples in New York State was 1,083 million pounds during the last decade, 1991-2000 (New York Agricultural Statistics Service, 2001).
Activity 1: Preparing for the search
Summary
To hunt for information about your community's food system you will need to use many resources. This activity is intended to help you find those resources. In order to orient you to the process of information gathering, there are specific basic facts you should start off with. The search for this information will help give you the basic picture of different aspects of your food system
Materials
• Photocopies of Food System Fact Hunt worksheet
• Pens/pencils
• Telephone directory, telephone, or access to the Internet on a computer
Before class
Prepare photocopies as needed
Class itself
• Fill out the Part 1 of the worksheet. It contains basic
information you will need, including population data, the type and number of food system-related businesses in your
community and the amount of food production that occurs.
Name of team/group Name of individuals
Directions: There are two parts to this activity. Use the resources
provided to search for the facts about food systems for the first part. For the second part, fill in the questions you have developed and the
information you discover regarding those questions. Make sure always to include the year the data is from. Good luck, search away!
If you are doing this project at the “commencement level,” estimate your answers in the left-hand margin before you research the material.
Compare the results after the research is done and record variations and reasons for the differences in your journal.
If you are doing this project in a group, such as a class setting, divide into 3 sections and have each group take one section (For example: one group take the US data, one group take the state data and one group collect the county data). Compare results using overhead transparencies or posters.
Part 1
My State is:
My County is:
My Town/City is:
United States Data
Source: govinfo.library.orst.edu/stateis.html
The population of the United States is _______________________________
Source: www.ers.usda.gov/epubs/other/usfact/US.HTM Total Percentage employed in farm or farm-related jobs:
Total Percentage employed in food production only:
Percentage of total land area used for farmland:
Most farms in the US are (circle):
Family Owned Partnerships Corporation Other
The average age of farmers in the US is:
Source: www.usda.gov/nass/aggraphs/graphics.htm
The number of farms in the US in 1910:
The number of farms in the US in 1995:
The number of US farm workers Increased / Decreased from 1910 to 1995. (Circle one)
In 1910, farm workers earned _________ per hour.
In 1995, farm workers earned _________ per hour.
In 1910, there were _________ million farm workers in the US.
In 1995, there were _________ million farm workers in the US.
State Data
Source: govinfo.library.orst.edul
The population of my state is _____________________________
Source: www.ers.usda.gov/epubs/other/usfact/
Total Percentage employed in farm or farm-related jobs:
Total Percentage employed in food production only:
Percentage of total land area used for farmland:
Most farms in my state are (circle):
Family Owned Partnerships Corporation Other
The average age of farmers in my state is:
Top 5 Commodities produced in my state:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Top 5 Commodities exported from my state:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
County Data
Source: govinfo.library.orst.edu
The population of my county is ___________________________
The number of farms in my county:
The number of farms with milk cows:
The number of farms with beef cows:
The major crops produced on farms in my county are:
The major crops / commodities exported from my state are:
Guiding questions about the research might include one of these:
What is happening to the number of farms in your county (local), state (regional) or our country (global)?
What is happening to the ownership of these farms?
Is it important to know the commodities produces and exported by your state? Why?
Part 2
Group Research Topic:
Website: _______________________________________________________________
Facts:
Website: _______________________________________________________________
Facts:
Website:
________________________________________________________________
Facts:
Website:
________________________________________________________________
Facts:
Activity 2: Developing your search
Summary
In order for you to direct your search further, you need topics that will engage your interest and lead to further study.
This activity aims to help you find those topics and narrow your choices down to a few manageable possibilities.
Materials
• Your Lesson 3, Section 1 Food for Thought Journal entry
• Paper and pens/pencils
Before Class
If this is activity is being used with a group, it will help if the leader searches for the information prior to the lesson. This will help in
directing students in a way that is maximizes the use of class time.
Review Background information as needed.
Class Itself
1. In the Lesson 3, Section 1 Food for Thought Journal, you listed questions you had about the food system. For this lesson, you can either use these ideas or develop other ideas for topics of your Discovering the Food System project. Your ideas should reflect what in the food system you would like to know more about. You should find at least one issue related to the food system that you would like to explore further. Examples include: the number of farms in the county where you live, kinds of crops grown, number of supermarkets, farmers’ markets, community gardens, etc.
2. Compile a list of topics to research from your ideas. Pick a topic to research about the food system. You may want to ask others what they think is important to learn more about. Once you have
chosen a key topic to investigate, create a list of specific data and information that would help you understand more about the topic.
Make sure to define the topic well enough that you can search for the information using the resources and websites provided in this lesson.
Activity 3: Searching for specific food system data
Summary
Now that we have started familiarizing ourselves with how to search the World Wide Web or other resources for local statistical data and found some topics of interest to focus on, it is time to start our search for specific food system data.
Materials
• Worksheets from Activity 1
• Photocopies of Background material as appropriate, access to the internet or local phone books
• Pens/pencils
Before Class
Prepare photocopies as needed
Class itself
1. Fill out Part 2 of the worksheet.
Note: If you are using the Internet, there is a large amount of data available about many aspects of the food system. Included in the
Background material for this lesson you will find a list of websites with great food system and agricultural facts that cover a variety of topics.
The websites will provide general data and graphs that summarize much of the pertinent statistical data you want.
If you are using community resources, there are many helpful people working in your community. While searching for information, keep track of people's names and departments in the agencies you call. If you have further questions later on, you can contact those people again. Also, when searching out specific information it may take quite a few phone calls and transfers before you find the right person to speak with. You do not want to accidentally call the same people again and again! If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of calling people you do not know to ask for information, get help from someone else like a parent or teacher or friend. Seeking information over the phone is often a daunting task!
Activity 4: Food for Thought Journal
Summary
As an independent assignment, complete the Food for Thought Journal for Step 1.
Materials
• Photocopies of “Food for Thought Journal”
• Pens/pencils
Before Class
Prepare photocopies as needed
Class itself
In the journal, you will have time to reflect on your newly
completed fact hunt. If you are working as part of a group, use these questions as a way to discuss your results with others in the group or other groups who may be researching different topics. Blending what you have found with what others have found can provide a bigger picture of what is happening in the food system. Finally, through discussion, you can draw some conclusions about the process of gathering the
information.
In discussion, some other questions to consider are:
• What was most difficult to find?
• What information was easy to locate?
• Also, discuss what surprised you about the information you found out.
• Are there fewer farms in your area than you thought?
• Are there more people in your town than you thought?
uestions of the Day:
ost surprising information you discovered in this
¾ Why was it surprising?
¾ Do you think most people in your community know about this
¾ Did your estimation and actual data differ? Why?
¾ If the estimation is close to the actual data, what could this
¾ Why is it important to record the publication date with your
¾ What fact or topic would you like to know more about now that you
¾ Who might you ask to find out more about this topic?
Q
¾ What was the m lesson?
information? Why?
indicate?
research information?
have learned more about food systems?
A wonderful exercise to help us connect with what is going on in our community food system is to hunt for a local newspaper article that
e issue.
Another activity for this lesson is to print out any graphs you found during your fact hunting and write a paragraph explaining the
m.
pertains to some aspect of the food system. Write a paragraph summarizing the article and explain your point of view about th
The businesses mentioned in an article could be a possible lead to an interviewee for Step 2 or a contact in Step 3 of the food system project.
graph and interpreting what it could mean in relation to the food syste
Background
Conducting a search using Internet search engines can take a lot of time and produce little useful data. The websites provided contain links and lists of other websites that will be useful for investigating most aspects of the food system. The websites included in the Resources list have been well researched and will be most helpful for finding specific information.
If this lesson is being done in a setting where the Internet is not accessible, most of the information you are looking for can be gathered by contacting state agencies. Some states in the Northeast have fewer offices that are responsible for monitoring aspects of the food system and state agriculture. It will be most helpful to start your search by
contacting your State Department of Agriculture and the Extension office of your state's Land Grant University. Many of the addresses and phone numbers of the state offices for the Northeast have been included below.
These offices are responsible for the type of data that you will be looking for. These basic contacts will lead to the names and numbers of contacts able to give more specific information.
Web Resources
When searching these websites, look for places to click that say,
"graphics," "state fact sheets," or for maps provided when you scroll down the page. From these basic starting points you will find links to other places to find specific data.
United States Data
http://www.ers.usda.gov/epubs/other/usfact/US.HTM http://www.usda.gov/nass/aggraphs/graphics.htm State Data
http://govinfo.library.orst.edu/stateis.html http://www.ers.usda.gov/epubs/other/usfact/
County Data
http://govinfo.library.orst.edu/ag-stateis.html
Non-Internet State Resources about the Food System
Washington, D.C. 20036 Connecticut
202-462-8800 Cooperative Extension System
University of Connecticut
Department of Agriculture 10301 Baltimore Blvd.
State Office Building Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
165 Capitol Ave. 301-504-6559
Hartford, CT 06106
203-566-3671 Maine
Cooperative Extension Hartford Food System University of Maine 509 Wethersfield Ave. 5741 Libby Hall
Hartford, CT 06114 Orono, ME 04469-5741
Ph: 203-296-9325 207-581-3188
FAX: 203-296-8326 Contact: Carol C. Giesecke Contact: Mark Winne
Email: [email protected] Department of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Resources
Delaware State House Station 28
Cooperative Extension System Augusta, ME 04333 University of Delaware 207-287-3871
Townsend Hall
Newark, DE 19717 Maine Organic Farmers and
Gardeners Association 302-831-2506
Box 2176 Department of Agriculture
283 Water St.
2320 S. Dupont Highway
Augusta, ME 04338
Cooperative Extension Service University of the District of
Columbia University of Maryland
2120 Symons Hall 901 Newton St. NE
College Park, MD 20742 Washington, DC 20017
301-405-2907 202-576-6993
Department of Agriculture Healthy Harvest Society 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway 1424 16th St. NW #105 Annapolis, MD 21401
410-841-5700 Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food
Maryland Organic Food and
Farming Association P.O. Box 2042
Concord, NH 03302-2042
6201 Harley Road 603-271-2505
Middletown, MD 21769
New Jersey 301-371-4814
Contact: Marty Rice Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Cook College
Massachusetts P.O. Box 231
Cooperative Extension System New Brunswick, NJ 08903 212C Stockbridge Hall 908-932-9306
University of Massachusetts Department of Agriculture
Amherst, MA 01003 CN 330
413-545-4800 Trenton, NJ 08625
609-292-8853 Department of Food and
Agriculture NOFA - New Jersey
100 Cambridge St. 60 S Main St
Boston, MA 02202 PO Box 886
617-727-3000 Pennington, NJ 08534-0886
609-737-6848
411 Sheldon Road Department of Nutritional Sciences
Barre, MA 01005
Ph: 508-355-2853 Thompson Hall, PO Box 231
Contact: Julie Rawson New Brunswick, NJ 08903-1231 Ph: 908-932-9224
Center on Agriculture, Food and
Environment FAX: 908-932-6837
Contact: Michael Hamm Tufts University - School of
Nutrition Email: [email protected]
126 Curtis St. New York
Medford, MA 02155 Cooperative Extension
Ph: 617-627-3223 Roberts Hall
FAX: 617-627-3887 Cornell University Contact: Molly Anderson Ithaca, NY 14853
607-255-2237 New Hampshire
Department of Agriculture and Markets
UNH Cooperative Extension 59 College Road
Rhode Island Just Food - NYC Sustainable
Food System Alliance Cooperative Extension Service University of Rhode Island 307 7th Avenue Ste 1201 Woodward Hall
Kingston, RI 02881 New York, NY 10001
401-792-2474 Ph: 212-645-9880
FAX: 212-645-9881 Rhode Island Division of Agriculture
Contact: Kathy Lawrence
22 Hayes St.
NOFA - New York Providence, RI 02908
P.O. Box 21 401-277-2781
South Butler, NY 13154 Contact: Dan Lawton 315-365-2299
Vermont Farming Alternatives Program
Department of Rural Sociology Extension System
Warren Hall University of Vermont
Cornell University 601 Main St.
Ithaca, NY 14853 Burlington, VT 05401-3439
607-255-9832 802-656-2990
Department of Agriculture, Food, and Markets
Pennsylvania
Cooperative Extension Service 116 State St.
Pennsylvania State University Montpelier, VT 05620-2901 217 Ag Administration Building
802-828-2500
University Park, PA 16802 NOFA - Vermont
814-863-3438 R.R. Box 177
Department of Agriculture Richmond, VT 05477
2301 Cameron St. 802-434-4435
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408 Contact: Enid Wonnacott 717-787-4737
UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Eastern Pennsylvania Organic
Crop Improvement Association University of Vermont 590 Main Street
P.O. Box 158
Port Clinton, PA 19540 Burlington, VT 05405-0059
215-562-5502 Ph: 802-656-0037
Contact: Jodi Snyder FAX: 802-656-8874
Contact: Kate Duesterberg Western Pennsylvania OCIA
West Virginia R.R. 2 Box 116A
Volant, PA 16156 Cooperative Extension Service
412-530-7220 West Virginia University
Contact: Ron Gargasz P.O. Box 6031
Morgantown, WV 26506-1900
Mountain State Organic Growers
and Buyers Association (MSOGBA)
304-293-5691
Department of Agriculture P.O. Box 642
Room 28 Main Unit State Capitol Morgantown, WV 26507
Kanawha Blvd. 304-293-4801
Charleston, WV 25305 Contact: Keith Dix 304-558-2210