WINTHROP UNIVERSITY
2014-2015 HMXP FACULTY COMMON BOOK RESOURCE
WHERE AM I EATING BY KELSEY TIMMERMAN
Background
Kelsey Timmerman earned a BA in anthropology from Miami University in 2001. He has authored two
books, Where am I Eating (2012) and Where am I Wearing (2013). Where am I Eating was Winthrop’s
common book in 2012. Timmerman also contributes articles to several news sources including Christian
Science Monitor, Conde Nast, Financial Times, NPR, and Huffington Post. He lives in Muncie, Indiana with
his wife and two children.
A link to some of Timmerman’s articles:
http://www.csmonitor.com/About/Staff/Kelsey-Timmerman
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelsey-timmerman/
An interview with Timmerman about writing:
http://www.midwestwriters.org/2014/05/real-stories-into-real-career/
Themes and Discussion Questions
Globalization
Food imports from China to the U.S. have risen 400% in the last decade, though the number of
inspectors has only increased by 33%. Apple farming is decreasing in Michigan because of climate
change. Are Americans lucky to be able to still have relatively cheap apples and apple juice thanks to
globalization? Does it matter that China uses pesticides that have been banned in the U.S. for three
decades on its apple crops?
It is estimated that by 2050 75 percent of the world’s population will live in an urban area. How will
population shifts and global warming impact farming and food consumption? Today it is more true than
ever that what happens in a village in Nicaragua/China/Ivory Coast reverberates everywhere. Find three
examples in Where am I Eating of situations in other places that have impacted our lives in the United
States. What events your life may impact people in the countries in Timmerman’s book?
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On page 75 Timmerman notes “We tell them that a free market is the way to prosperity even though it
wasn’t our way to prosperity.” It is true that the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the
United States all espouse this principle. Can you think of reasons it may be hard for developing
countries to succeed under this principle? How would Milton Freedman respond to your argument?
Reading Connections: “The Relation Between Economic Freedom and Political Freedom” (Friedman),
“An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit” (Quinn), “Environmentalism: A Global History” (Guha), “Allegory
of the Cave” (Plato).
Economic and Political Freedom
Think about Zhang Jie’s Love Must not be Forgotten and the apple farmers in Where am I Eating. How
has the Chinese government improved the lives of Chinese people today (see for example page 220)? Do
the middle class have a similar life to our middle class in the U.S.? How did Timmerman describe the
lives of urban and rural dwellers differently? What problems still exist in China today? Could globalized
food trade impact these problems? In “The Relation Between Economic Freedom and Political Freedom”
Milton Friedman states that political freedom comes with the development of market mechanisms
(page 59 of the HMXP Reader). Has this been the case for China?
Reading Connections: “The Relation Between Economic Freedom and Political Freedom” (Friedman),
“Love Must Not be Forgotten” (Jie), “The Alienation of Labor” (Marx).
Materialism/Consumption
In chapter four Timmerman discusses how the Arhuacan Indians feel connected to their land and the
decisions that they make about their community and their food. Do you feel connected to your food?
Where/how do you make decisions about your community and yourself? Do you think decisions to buy
things as cheaply as possible have impacted our connection to community and land? On page 238
Timmerman states, “I realized that every bite of food is an act of conformity or rebellion. Every bit of
food is a political statement.” Do you agree? What do your food choices say about your political views?
Reading connections: “Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion,” John Stuart Mill, “How did our Kids
Get So Caught Up in Consumerism? Brian Swimme, “Ingroup and Outgroup,” David Myers, “White
Privilege, Male Privilege” (McIntosh).
Activity:
Approximately 70 percent of processed foods in the US contain Genetically Modified Organisms. There
are no requirements in the US to label food as such. Research the impacts of GMO’s on the land and
people. Do you consume GMOs? How often? Keep a list of all the food you eat for three days and
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analyze which foods may contain GMOs (you will need to do a little research to figure out which foods
likely contain GMOs).
Possible paper questions: Do you think that our drive for more food, more quickly and cheaply has
created our dependence on GMO crops? GMO crops are mostly banned in the European Union and in
other developed countries. Should the U.S. government expand its power and require labeling of GMO
foods? Should the government ban or test GMO foods more extensively? Here is a link to a new article
in favor of GMOs: http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2013/11/04/scientific-evidence-doesntshow-gmos-are-harmful.
Advertisement
It seems that Starbuck’s C.A.F.E standards create working conditions not very different from farms
without C.A.F.E. standards. Despite this, marketing has led Starbucks coffee consumers to feel good
about the working conditions of Starbucks coffee bean farmers. Why do consumers continue to believe
in the C.A.F.E. standards despite evidence otherwise? How has western popularity of fairness standards
hurt farmers?
“How did our kids get so caught up in consumerism?” (Swimme), “Why do we Need a Public Affairs
Mission?” (Bellah), “The Compelling Tangle of Energy and American Society” (Sovacool and Brown), “An
Adventure of the Mind and Spirit” Quinn.
Alienation/Exploitation/Fair Trade
Slavery
There are approximately 160,000 forced adult laborers in the Ivory Coast. 10,000 children in western
Africa are also forced into labor. Do you think eating only Fair Trade Certified chocolate would help or
hurt people in the Ivory Coast? Now that you know about the problems surrounding cocoa bean farming
in Africa will this impact your consumption of chocolate? How would Emerson respond to arguments for
better working conditions (see page 89 of the HMXP Reader)?
Reading connections: “Self-Reliance” (Emerson), “Patriotism and Cosmpolitanism” (Nussbaum),
“Alienation of Labor” (Marx), “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” (LeGuin).
For an article on slavery around the world today (including 60,000 in the US):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/10/17/this-map-shows-where-theworlds-30-million-slaves-live-there-are-60000-in-the-u-s
Working conditions
Bananeros are exposed to extremely difficult conditions from the moment they leave for work until they
get home. This includes their transportation to and from work, the risk of snakebites, the possibility of
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dismemberment and more. Do the large banana conglomerates owe the workers a safer working
environment? Do US corporations have a moral obligation offer the same working conditions to foreign
workers as US workers? Why or why not? Has our demand for cheap and plentiful bananas impacted the
everyday lives of banana workers?
In “Lobster: A Product of Nicarague” we learn that Sysco and Red Lobster buy most of the Nicaraguan
lobsters. Should they bear any responsibility for the lobster divers’ working conditions? What options
are there for young Nicaraguans other than lobsters and cocaine (white lobster)? Do you think that the
workers would like to have safer working conditions even if it means catching less lobster and earning
less money? Is there any way for one to make responsible seafood purchases? What may be the
outcome of those decisions?
Reading connections: “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” “Self-Reliance” (Emerson), “Patriotism
and Cosmpolitanism” (Nussbaum), “Alienation of Labor” (Marx).
Company Store
Dole Foods owns the local grocery store where banana workers buy their groceries. Dole subtracts what
is owed from worker’s paychecks. Since Reconstruction some American companies have had similar
arrangements --even today in smaller towns with one large employer. There has been much bad press
(and negative songs, such as Johnny Cash’s “Sixteen Tons”) in the United States about company stores.
Owners say if they did not bring supplies to the population no one would. Is there a problem with the
company store concept? If so, what is it? How should employers re-tool the concept (if at all)?
Climate Change and Education
“Coffee: Product of Columbia:” how is climate changing the way that coffee is produced today? Because
of climate change some farms are moving from Central America to other areas of the world, including
Vietnam. Coffee is the biggest employer in some Latin American countries and climate change is not
only an issue for farmers, but also the entire population. Is there anything Latin American countries
could do to improve the situation in their countries? Could they use the example of the government in
China helping apple farmers? Is it fair to ask them to reduce greenhouse gasses (think Guha)? Does
Timmerman see a connection between education and environmentalism?
Readings: “Environmentalism: A Global History” (Guha), “Simple in Means, Rich in Ends” (Bodian), “The
Compelling Tangle of Energy and Society” (Sovacool and Brown).
The Sacred
How may the U.S. Slow Food Movement be seen as a faith? Has it impacted the way that we view food?
Readings: “Simple in Means, Rich in Ends” (Bodian), “What Faith Is” (Tillich).
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Writing Prompt ideas
1) Prince Perigord of France (1754-1839) said that the ideal cup of coffee is “black as the devil, hot
as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love.” Can coffee be “sweet as love” when it is farmed in
subpar conditions with little assurance of worker safety or fairness of living standards? The
concept of utilitarianism states that actions are right if they benefit the majority (John Stuart
Mill). Does this make the worker’s conditions acceptable? How can consumers enjoy food or
beverage with the knowledge that it likely came from people working in inhumane conditions?
Must we live like the citizens of Omelas in LeGuin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”?
How would Emerson respond to all of this?
Write a thesis driven essay arguing for the position of one of the following authors on the
situation of the workers: Bandura, Mill, Emerson, Marx. Offer counter-arguments and deeper
analysis with one or two other texts, for example Where am I Eating, Bill of Rights, “The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” “The Ones who Walk Away from Omelas,” “Why do We
Need a Public Affairs Mission?” or some of those mentioned above.
2) According to the 2012 International Monetary Fund “World Economic Outlook” report, Ivory
Coast is expected to be the 17th fastest growing economy in the world in the next five years,
Ghana is 16th, China is ninth (http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2012/02/index.htm).
According to Milton Friedman and other economists today, capitalist systems require growth to
thrive. Countries need to increase production and industry to grow and therefore improve
people’s standard of living. Unfortunately this may also create pollution, which in turn may lead
to climate change. In “Environmentalism a Global History” Ramachandra Guha points out that
the developed and the developing world see rules to limit climate change in very different ways.
Developing countries saw the initiation of climate standards as “the emergence of a new
imperialism, of new conditionalities and new obstacles to the alleviation of poverty (247).” How
does climate change impact people in Where am I Eating? What do you think is more important
to them: climate change or growth?
Does economic improvement of the lives of many people trump additional damage to the
environment? Developed countries enjoy high standards of living and emit some of the highest
levels of greenhouse gasses and other pollutants. Is it fair to ask developing countries to reduce
their emissions? In a thesis driven essay choose a section of Where am I Eating and discuss the
impact of economic growth and a changing climate. Make an argument for or against more
stringent environmental standards. Offer counter-arguments and deeper analysis using one or
two other texts from the HMXP Reader.
3)
What is the question at issue in Where am I Eating? How does Kelsey Timmerman resolve it?
How would you describe Kelsey Timmerman’s worldview? Which 2-3 authors from the HMXP
Reader best represent Timmerman’s world view? Explain.
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Fall Common Book Speakers
September 30: Food Matters: Community, Class and Cost.
Dr Simone Camel, Instructor, Department of Human Nutrition
September 29-October 3: Food Matters: Vote with your Fork.
Thompson Dining Hall offers education and common book events
October 23: Food Matters: Ethics and Economics.
Dr Laura Ullrich, Associate Professor of Economics
Tentative: November 13: Food Matters: Chemistry and Consumption.
Dr Nick Grossoehme, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Dr Janice Chism, Professor of Biology and
Anthropology
Please note: Kelsey Timmerman will be visiting in the spring. More details to follow soon.
Resources:
Timmerman’s photo stream in Flickr. You can pull photos for your lecture:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kelseytimmerman/sets/
http://whereamiwearing.com/curriculum/
http://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/gift-guides/article/interview-with-kelsey-timmermanauthor-of-where-am-i-eating
Further Interest
For students interested in more classes related to Where am I Eating:
Environmental Sciences and Studies: http://www.winthrop.edu/ENVS/
Department of Human Nutrition: http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/nutrition/
Peace, Justice and Conflict Resolution program: http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/peace/
International Studies: http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/international/
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