The Changing Face of Food-Research Paper

 This research paper fulfills the Global Learning College Competency and is a requirement of the course.

• All students are required to submit this research paper into the College Assessment Area accessed via the student’s college ePortfolio under “Global Learning- written”.
• Failure to submit will automatically result in a grade of F for the course.

 

Objectives of the research paper: Students will explore the changing food culture in the United States (US), New York State (NYS), New York City (NYC) and abroad by:

1. Exploring the impact of large business on agriculture.
2. Exploring the impact of advertising on the US food voice/culture.
3. Exploring the origins, and philosophy of the Slow Food Movement and its impact in the US.
4. Exploring the Farm to Table Initiative in NYS/NYC.
5. Exploring food insecurity in the NYS/NYC.

 

IMPORTANT: Students must RESEARCH the following topics by answering the prompts below. The final research paper must include:

• Facts/ data/ information to support the statements made in the paper.
• The sources of the facts/ data/ information used in the paper
• The sources within the body of the paper and at the end on the Reference page.
• The paper should be approximately 6 to 8 pages

 

1. Explore the influence of big business on agriculture.
   1. Monsanto Corporation is a major Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) seed supplier in the world. Explain the controversy (pros and cons) that surrounds the GMO seeds produced by Monsanto. Explain Monsanto’s monopoly on the sale of seeds to farmers in US and abroad, and it’s impact on farmers. (3/4 page)
   2. Identify the regulatory agency and explain the legal requirements that must be followed for a farm to produce organic foods. (½ page)
   3. Discuss what is meant by heirloom foods. Explain why farmers stopped producing heirloom foods? Why are heirloom foods regaining popularity? (½ page)
   4. Do you support the business practices of Monsanto or the practices of farmers growing organic and heirloom foods? Explain your answer. (½ page)

 

2. Explore the major food companies in shaping the food voice/culture of the US:
   1. Choose one of the following companies: Kraft, Smithfield Farms, or General Mills and discuss the history (name of the founder, location of the company, how the company expanded, and year originated) ( ½ page)
   2. Answer the prompts below for your chosen food company: General Mills; Smithfield Farms; or Kraft Foods (1 ½ pages) (Answer in complete sentences)

• Two major foods sold
• The target audience for each food identified above
• Explain how foods are regulated and processed at the company you selected
• Compare this process to the regulations of the USDA for organic food production

 

3. Provide an overview of the Slow Food Movement:
   1. The Slow Food Movement began in Italy. What year did it begin and who started it? What were the Italian people protesting? What did the people eat during the protest to show their dissatisfaction with what was happening? (½ page)
   2. The Concept of Conviviality is the basic philosophy of the Slow Food Movement. Explain what is meant by the Concept of Conviviality? (½ page)
   3. Provide data to demonstrate the popularity of the Slow Food Movement in the world, the US, and NY? (½ page)   

 

4. Provide an overview of the Farm to Table initiative:
   1. Governor Cuomo held a summit in 2014 to discuss the many Farm to Table initiatives in NYS to support farmers and the access of healthy food by consumers. Explain the components of the following programs: (1 ½ pages)(Answer in complete sentences)
      • Taste New York.
      • FreshConnect, Fresh Food Box
      • Farm to Institutions in NYS (FINYS)
      • GrowNYC
   2. Explain how the Farm to Table initiatives complement the objectives of the Slow Food Movement. (½ page)

 

5. Provide an overview of food insecurity in the NYC:
   1. Explain what is meant by the following terms: food insecurity, food bank, and food desert.

(½ page)

1. Explain the basic principle of the Supplemental Food and Nutrition Program (SNAP) also known as Food Stamps. How many people participate in SNAP in NYC? How many SNAP participants in NYC are estimated to be children 18 years old and younger? ( ½ page)
2. Single Stop is a program available at LaGuardia Community College: Explain the basic services of Single Stop. Specifically explain the resources that Single Stop provides to the college community regarding food security? (½ page)

 

6. Reflection: After completing this paper, what topic did you find the most interesting? Explain as if you were writing it to a classmate? What impact did this topic have on your food voice or on the way you see food? (1 page)

 

Project Mechanics:

1. References:
   1. The Internet:
      • Most of the information for this report is accessible on the Internet. Information must be from well accepted and respected online sources. Much of the information can be located at the United States and New York State government websites. Look for the tag “.org” or “.gov” at the end of the web address.
   2. Scholarly articles:
      • Look for information in professional peer reviewed journals.
      • Use at least one source/reference from a peer reviewed professional journal.
   3. Citations:
      • Within the paper: All the references must be properly cited within the body of the paper using the APA format.
      • At the end of the paper: All references used to write the paper must be presented on a separate reference page at the end of the paper using the APA
      • For guidance on how to present the citations within the body and the reference page, see the web pages: lagcc.cuny.edu/library/apa.htm or https://owl.english.purdue.edu/
      • The College library holds workshops toward the end of each semester on how to properly cite student work.

1. The Paper:

1. The paper must be typed: 12 font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, 1” margins, and presented neatly.
2. Use complete sentences for all of your answers. Grammar, spelling and neatness count toward your final grade.
3. The page length for each topic is a guide. The total length of the paper should be approximately 8 pages long.

1. Submitting the paper:

1. There are two (2) draft submissions due on the dates identified.
2. The final paper must be submitted
   • In digital format through “Safe Assign” in Blackboard by the due date. A 30% match is acceptable on the paper.
   • As a hard copy to the instructor on the due date.
3. Digital Deposits:
   • All students must deposit the paper in the college assessment area: Global Learning –written.
   • All Food and Nutrition majors must ALSO upload this paper in digital format in their ePortfolio.

1. Academic Integrity:

1. “This class will be conducted in compliance with LaGuardia Community College’s academic integrity policy.”Information about the academic integrity policies and procedures can be found at laguardia.edu/asc/Home/
2. All information presented in this project must be written IN THE STUDENT’S OWN If material for the project is taken directly from a source, it must be in quotations, and the source properly cited. The number and length of quotes must be kept to a minimum for this paper.