Alyssa Brody
Wellesley College
Project
From Refrigerator to TV Table: Exploring the Evolving Farm-to-Table System
Japan, Thailand, Italy, Iceland, Chile
The farm-to-table system is often praised for its focus on small-scale, local food production and prioritization of farmers, communities, and the environments’ well being. During my Watson year I will explore how the farm-to-table system manifests itself across nations. I seek to gain insight into which conditions allow this localized food system to thrive, and to discover why in some communities it withstands the threat of rapid urbanization, economic challenges, and a changing global climate, while in others it fails to compete with the expanding factory farm system. I will explore the farm-to-table system by living and volunteering on farms, visiting markets, learning local recipes, interviewing farmers and NGO officials, and sharing family dinners. Through the sharing of skills, stories, and meals I hope to learn how individuals and communities in each country have come to maintain a healthy and happy relationship with their food system, environment, and what is on their plate.