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 Food: design to deliveryThe food industry is one of the largest in our country and for good reason. Eating isn’t optional. Only 150 years ago, if you wanted to eat it, you had to grow it yourself. It takes a lot of people with a lot of different talents to make our food as readily available as it is today. |
Growers and research scientists
| Farmers and other growers have been selectively saving seed and cross-pollinating plants for many years to improve the quality of plant strains and to create new breeds with the best properties of two different plants. Research scientists use the same principles but with more sophisticated tools to create new plant varieties that have better nutritional properties. They also find ways to stabilize nutrients so less of them are lost in processing and transportation. |
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Food scientists
| Food scientists strive to create food products that provide the nourishment our bodies need. Some of their efforts focus on minimizing the loss of inherent nutrients during processing and transportation. Other efforts focus on adding in nutrients that are not inherent to a particular food, or decreasing the levels of less desirable contents, such as the amount of trans-fatty acids in sandwich cookies. |
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Food scientists
Any food supply has it’s inherent dangers. All foods naturally contain bacteria that can eventually cause decomposition. Additionally, some foods can harbor dangerous organisms, such as E. coli and Salmonella. Food scientists work to understand the nature of these threats as well as ways of minimizing them. Some techniques are developed for safer food processing, while others involve public education campaigns, such as for the safe handling of raw meats and fish. |
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Food marketers
Food marketers get the word out about new food products and improvements to existing products. They conduct market research to learn what’s important to each consumer group, and then create targeted messages and ad campaigns that reach out to a specific group. Ads for a new snack food for teens might focus on great taste or portability. While ads for a new snack food for dieters might focus on low-fat content or ability to satisfy cravings. |
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Managers
Ever wonder how a new food product line gets created? Managers at food companies look at consumer trends and work to create products that meet underlying needs and desires. For example, many consumers have begun switching to low-carb diets and many food companies have been quick to respond with low-carb products. Food managers decide what products will be created and which markets they will be sold in. |
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Economists
Economists monitor many factors to identify shifts and trends in the food supply industries. They analyze information about farms, such as the number of farms, average farm size, etc. They also analyze information about food processing companies, food wholesalers and distributors, food retailers such as supermarkets, restaurants, and fast-food chains, as well as trends among consumers. Once a trend is identified, economists strive to identify the factors that are creating the shift, the impacts of the shift, and possible mechanisms for supporting or minimizing a given direction. |
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Farmers, greenhouse and nursery managers
Though the vast majority of our food is grown outdoors in fields, an increasing percentage is grown in the controlled environments of greenhouses. Farmers and greenhouse and nursery managers strive to grow healthy plants in a way that is sustainable for our greater eco-system. They experiment to find better techniques that minimize the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Some use IPM (integrated pest management) techniques, while others opt for organic methods. |
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Farmers, greenhouse and nursery managers
Like anything plant-based, seeds have a limited lifespan. Preserving heirloom plant varieties requires continually growing the plants so new seeds are generated and the genetic line is not lost. Farmers and nursery managers grow heirloom plants to sustain their lineage. Recently, heirloom varieties have become popular with consumers because of their relatively novel flavors. This interest is helping growers offset the costs. |
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Animal breeders and ranchers
Animal breeders mate animals for reproduction, while ranchers raise herds of animals and sell by-products, such as milk, wool, and meat. They work in the field to find techniques of raising healthier animals in humane environments with less reliance on pharmaceuticals. Many breeders and ranchers sell animal manure to farmers for use as a natural fertilizer. |
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