Agriculture-2

Fast food outlets use large amounts of paper, plastic, and energy for packagingmost of which is not recycled. The package sometimes cost as much as 50% of the total bill.

Grocery stores usually give customers a choice of paper or plastic packaging. But for the most part, they are also thrown out with the garbage.

Home freezers and refrigerators are in most homes today. Although most people like the "frost-free" type, we are learning that these appliances may require over 60% more energy to operate.

Home gardening is becoming more prevalent today because of higher food prices and the desire for foods raised without dangerous chemicals. The excess fruit and vegetables raised at home are being processed for the freezer or made into jellies, jams, preserves, pickles and other canned goods. Although nutritious, dried fruit and vegetables are not extensively prepared at home.

Some environmental problems associated with the food industry are:

  • Food additives and preservatives such as sodium nitrate and artificial colorings and flavorings are being examined as health hazards.
  • Workers involved directly with plastic packaging of food have been found to have acquired "meat-wrapper's lung".
  • It is suspected that plastic bottles have substances which migrate into the food contained and may cause health problems.
  • Many have suggested that Florida needs a bottle bill which would encourage the recycling of glass containers. This would help with the litter problem as well as conserve our valuable resources.

In recent years, Florida has instituted an Advance Disposal Fee (ADF) for containers one quart or larger in size. This fee is assessed against containers of specific composition for which there is not adequate recycling.

Much of the family’s food was grown at home. Every child did his share in helping with the production of crops.

In the home, cottage cheese making was one of the homemaking skills learned by the girls.

Churning, or the making of butter, was a much used skill before oleomargarine and the supermarket.