Food is a fundamental part of life for practically every living organism. There is an incredibly complex journey that each piece of food takes before it reaches our tables. This article will lead us on a journey from farm to fork as we explore a few of the many stages that take place as food makes its way from field to plate.
Preproduction
It all starts with pre-production, that is the processes that are done before food production begins. It includes things such as field planning, soil management, plant nutrition and crop protection from disease. These processes are very important in order to ensure that the plants coming from the farm are in their best condition to produce the most amount of food.
Harvesting
After pre-production is complete, the next stage is harvesting. This is the physical process of gathering the crop from the field. This process can be done by hand or with the help of machines depending on the crop. For example, fruits are usually harvested by hand while grains are harvested with machinery.
Post-harvest
Once the food is harvested, it must be moved to the post-harvest facility where the food is sorted, cleaned and processed. Here, the food must still meet certain quality standards and any food that does not meet these standards is discarded.
Transportation and Storage
After post-harvest, the food must be transported to its destination. This is done by truck, train, ship or other type of transportation depending on the product. During transit, the food must be stored properly in order to ensure its freshness and quality. The food is usually moved in refrigerated containers in order to maintain an optimal environment.
Distribution
Once the food has arrived at its destination, it must be distributed to the various retail outlets. This is usually done by wholesalers who purchase large amounts of food from theproducing factory and then sell it to the retailers. Retailers may include supermarkets, restaurants, and other places.
Preparation
Once the food is at the retail site, it is ready for its final stage; preparation. Some food is prepared at the retail site such as ready-made meals or cut fruits and vegetables. For other food, preparation is done in the home; for example, bread and meats need to be cooked before being ready for consumption.
Consumption
Food has now made its final journey from farm to fork; it is now ready for consumption. Different people may prepare the same food in different ways and in different environments. For example, a steak may be grilled to perfection in a restaurant or cooked in a pan in the home. The important thing is that the food is consumed and enjoyed.
Food is an essential part of our lives and it is important to understand the journey it takes to get to our tables. From farm to fork, there are a number of intricate processes that take place before food is ready to be consumed. Through this article we have explored a few of the steps that are taken to get food from the field to our plates.
