Author Archives: Jessica Garcia Vargas

Greenmarket Blog – Jessica Garcia

As I decided to visit the greenmarket during the fall at Union Square in NYC, I had made some simple observations on the different cultures and backgrounds around me. Additionally, the way people would make conversation with the farmer was intriguing because when you go to a simple supermarket you just pick and go about your day but instead you get to talk and even find out different ways to cook your product or vegetables. The greenmarkets can be found anywhere depending on the area that you are in, most can be found during the morning or afternoon but will be gone by the evening. Greenmarkets are beneficial to low-income families because they have the liberty to ask questions go to another market is one doesn’t meet their expectations. As I kept walking around and having to pass by people, I stopped at a stand checked out Wheatgrass, it’s something I’m not used to seeing at the supermarket or really looked out for, I usually eat Cilantro. As I observed wheatgrass some more, it is simply just fresh sprouted leaves from the wheat plants. They come in either cut or still in the soil to continue growing them. They are naturally beneficial for one’s health, either if you’re sick, trying to lose weight, or to be remain healthy overall. You can eat them but will mostly taste better in your drinks, smoothies, juices. Even sometimes substitute as a meal because it can remove appetite to some. Wheatgrass in even used as a primary ingredient in a global brand called, “BLOOM”. Which demonstrates how impactful wheatgrass is to many people.

Meat Blog

After reading the article “The Way of All Flesh” written by Ted Conover, I discovered the truth on the process of how a cow will turn into food. Conover gives us a step by step as to what a cow must go through and how it gets evaluated by health inspectors to be USDA approved (with a stamp) or else it will not be allowed to leave the slaughterhouse and delivered. One main factor is that inspectors must be aware that everything is done perfect to prevent food borne illnesses. For example, an inspector can stop the whole line/function if there is an issue that must be called, which for every minute that the line is stopped it costs about “$10,000”. One thing I learnt while reading this article was how much precisions had to be included when cutting open and dissembling a cow; especially when it came to cutting open the cow’s heart. What surprised me was how even if a liver is not able for human consumption it can however be okay for cat consumption which had me at a “woah”. I am not huge on beef and don’t consume it as much but now I will most likely not eat beef again simply especially when I read the dismemberment part and the way he described in detail on how the cow looked.

Based on the article, “That Dinner Tab has soared. Here are the reasons…” by New York Times. After the pandemic inflation had a huge impact on everything, which included restaurants, retail stores, grocery stores, etc. Even regular utilizes that are within the restaurant industry, the prices had skyrocketed up and stayed there, if anything they are just going to keep going up. All the prices that skyrocket came in a domino effect as explained in the article, since there is a shortage of workers, then there’s even fewer workers in the industry behind that one and so on. The same way everything went up, so did the food prices, drastically if I may add, a dish that may have been on the menu before the pandemic may have been in the single digits are now in the double digits. Which I totally stand by, in my opinion, I think all the changes and prices have been justified. I think that because if you don’t raise your prices up either, there is no way you could stay open, you’re basically getting no profit out of it and if that’s the case then you will eventually have to close up your business. Although, I do suggest to make sure that whatever you are charging your customers is worth it.Â