“Please don’t send these pictures to India”, my friend Ben said (his real name!)
I agreed we would keep them between us. We were being flippant, but the point Ben was making was the huge difference in how we produce food in western countries like Australia compared to many poorer regions around the world such as India where many of his family originates from.
Unlike these poorer countries where manual labour brings the connection of food to land much closer, the chasm between our food and where it comes from has become so great. For the majority of us, we really have absolutely no idea the source of our food or how it is produced.
I once visited a herb and spice farm in my travels overseas. I always thought spices came in these little jars… I never really gave it much thought. So, it was a total eye opener to discover the unimaginable array of plants that are the source of so many of these “everyday” spices.
But then again, sure I know that bread comes from flour, and flour comes from wheat. But when you spend most of your life simply pulling food off the supermarket shelf into our shopping basket, we really have become so detached from its source.
That’s why its been a complete eye opener being involved in this year’s grain harvest. To have the opportunity to appreciate the extraordinary process and effort that goes into bringing food such as a simple loaf of bread onto our kitchen tables. The technology, the massive machinery, but more so the commitment and dedication of farmers like the Bertola family down here in the south coast wheat growing area near Esperance in Western Australia. The risks they take trusting the cost of what they sow will not be destroyed by adverse weather. The daily farming decisions, the machinery operations and processes and in particular the long hours, day after day, year after year.
But what makes this even more extraordinary, harvesting is just one process in producing that loaf of bread. There’s another huge amount of effort the farmer goes into seeding the crops. Then there’s the flour milling, the baking and then the distribution and retailing.
Perhaps those in poorer countries have a significant advantage over us. They appreciate where their daily food comes from. In the meantime, I don’t think I could ever take for granted the food I take off the supermarket shelf in the same way again. Here’s a brief insight (with my added take on the job!)…
For the full interview with Paul, where he also talks about the rapid growth of the Esperance region and the influence wealthy Americans land owners such as Art Linkletter had in the area at the time….
8 comments On Behind the Supermarket Shelf
Yes Chris, we are so lucky in this country, keep travelling safe.
Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Warm regards, Nilda
Yes Nilda we are indeed a very lucky country. There’s really not much we need to want for. Christmas best wishes to you and yiur family
Hi Christopher, I don’t know why you used my real name. Did I not tell you that I am travelling incognito. Now the Police will be on to me. Thanks a lot buddy. Have a great day Chris. Ben
It’s ok Ben (your real name), I won’t tell them… 🙂
A very interesting story Chris. We owe our farmers a lot for all of the hard work they do.
That’s a slick operation. Well organised and highly priductive
Thanks Aaron, yes it’s been a huge eye opener for me since the days I grew up in a farming community.
Food production is definitely a topic on both ends of the scale. Western countries with huge tracts of farmland & financial resources, has to utilise technology to be efficient. Our farmers today has to be savvy with technology to operate machinery, tie up with CSRIO to sow new varietals of seedlings to manage crops. Even weather forecasts can be timed in. On the other hand, farmers in India often are small landowners with limited financial resources & decisions are based on traditional methods & experience. Government doesn’t offer much support. Doesn’t matter where, rich or poor consumers barely think about food production when one can easily take it off the shelf whilst the other is too poor to only think of day to day survival. Big corporations like Monsanto will think of how to reap profits while marginalising others.
I think the biggest missing issue as farming continues to get more efficient and productive is the incredible and sad amount of food we waste. Thirty five percent is one figure I heard. (I did my bit this morning though… I cut a piece of mold of the corner of my wrap so I could make lunch! … I mean, I didn’t have much choice, the closest supermarket is a three hour return trip!!
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