We’ve all heard the saying “sharing is caring,” but now it’s being taken to a whole new level. With the explosion of information technology and the magnitude of globalization, it is simultaneously easier than ever and harder than ever to connect with other people.
In the food world, globalization has affected our food preferences, the way we produce, source and consume ingredients, and the way we get our information about food. Many people working in food feel that this has led to the erosion of personal connection and degrading environmental practices, and we’ve risen to the occasion as champions of human connection and the preservation of the environment.
Some critics of food system localization argue that mass production and large scale provide lower costs that help feed the masses, and that “local food” is elitist. However, as David Roberts of Grist points out, information sharing and collaborative consumption are eliminating the middle man, lowering costs, and connecting people through a new sense of trust like never before. The food world is revolutionizing collaborative consumption. By using information technology, we can connect need with goods, services, and information rapidly and effectively.
Urban agriculture is an excellent way of using space that would otherwise lay fallow, through community gardens, programs like Shared Earth, and a public re-evaluation of available space. Organizations like Market Mobile connect small producers with local chefs and restaurants, mimicking traditional economies of scale. Even smart phone apps can help connect consumers with farmer’s markets and act as a reference guide for seasonal produce.
At Chefs Collaborative, we are part of this collaborative revolution. We are cultivating our community to share information and foster a more sustainable food system. The more farmers and chefs we can reach, the more effective we can be in shifting food practices. Help us by drawing in your friends and neighbors and building our membership to build a better food system.
How are you sharing information and resources? Have any apps up your sleeves? Tell us how you’re collaborating to change consumption.