AP Human Geography

Unit 5: Agricultural Geography

AG Field Study and Gaining Ground Analysis

You must complete each of the following sections of the field study and text analysis. Your field study and analysis must be typed, using 10-12 point font.

Section I: The Bad

Visit your local grocery store. Find 3 perishable items (fruits, vegetables, meats). Please do not analyze organic items for this section.

For each of your three items, please take a picture, print the picture and include it in your responses to the following questions.

  1. Where was this item grown or raised? (Be specific-refer to label or inquire with manager)
  2. Climate type/soil type (description)
  3. Is this the dominant crop or item raised in this region? If not, what is?
  4. Identify the pesticides, fertilizers or preservatives used in the growth and preservation of this product. Provide evidence of the harmful nature or results of using these pesticides, fertilizers or preservatives (if applicable).
  5. What major corporation is responsible for the growth, packaging, distribution and sale of this product?
  6. Provide evidence, through the use of a map, the location of where the crop or product is grown or raised, then indicate the location of the packaging site or distribution center, then indicate the location of your grocery store. The purpose of the map is the show the mileage by which your food travels. Please measure distances using applicable interstates or highways used to transport food.
  7. Using one of the perishable items researched, discuss what you feel is the most significant factor related to the process of “production to consumption?”
  • From Farm to Distributor
  • From Distributor to Market
  • From Market to Consumer

Section II: The Proof

Visit the websites below to find the required information that follows.

Provide the following lists with proof

Top 10 U.S. States for Agricultural output

Top 10 U.S. States in production of poultry production

Top 10 U.S. States for beef production

Top 10 U.S. States for pork production

Top 10 Ag Commodities in Georgia

Top 10 U.S. States for organic farms and organic food sales

Now respond to the following questions. (You are encouraged to use references from Gaining Ground to answer)

  1. Provide reasons why the list for agricultural output and organic farms might be different.
  2. Why don’t many U.S. states currently have many organic farms?
  3. How would having more organic farms change infrastructures in a given area? (consider amount of land used, population)?

Section III: The Text

As you respond to each of the following questions from Gaining Ground, you must use the text in your response, citing specific references using MLA format. This will serve as proof in your response.

  1. Using the text, provide evidence of what defines a “factory farm?” What evidence do we have of the author’s disdain for the corporate/factory farm?
  1. Why did the author, Forrest Pritchard, decide to get into farming in the first place?
  1. Provide 5 instances throughout the text in which farming was made difficult by Forrest by the “system”? You may also reference an article written by Forrest Pritchard from the Huffington Post.
  1. Using references from the text, describe Smith Meadows Farm. (You may draw a layout of the farm to respond to this question if you wish).
  1. What agricultural products were grown or raised on Smith Meadows Farm? (Provide references from the text)
  1. a. Create a map indicating the location of Smith Meadows Farm and the proximity to ALL farmer’s markets attended by Forrest or representatives of Smith Meadows.
  1. Explain why Forrest chose to attend certain farmer’s markets and not others.
  1. Provide a detailed character analysis of 3 individuals found within the text. You may not use Forrest Pritchard in your analysis.

Suggestions include: Travis, Gordon Hazard, Luigi Contin, Albert, Nancy, Betsy, Forrest’s Dad, Harold Schoen, Donny the Butcher

  1. Describe the influence that Joel Salatin had on Forrest Pritchard.
  1. Differentiate between the terms local and organic. Explain how the author views each term.

Section IV: The Field

You must now visit one of the following places to compare their practices to those used by Forrest Pritchard. You may visit a local farm, farmer’s market (Marietta Square on Saturdays 9AM-1PM), Whole Foods, Sprouts, Harry’s or Nature’s Market to complete the following:

Find a farmer, a stand at a farmer’s market or an item found at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Harry’s or Nature’s Market and find out about the practices of that farm.

  1. Are their practices similar to those practiced by Forrest Pritchard? Explain
  2. What problems has the farm/farmer experienced over time?

Compare those mentioned by the farmer to those faced by Forrest.

  1. Ask the farmer why they chose to grow or raise what they do?
  2. Ask the farmer what can be done to change our food system and provide Americans and Georgians with better quality food?
  3. It is suggested that you purchase an item from the farmer to use as an ingredient for…

Section V: The Food (Thanksgiving APHG Style)

You are required to bring in a dish that either you prepare or someone else prepares for our consumption. The item that you bring must either be an item that you researched in Section I of the field study or that you purchased from a farmer in Section IV of the field study. Your dish must feed 15 people and may not be pre-packaged (box or bag). If you bring in something cold, you must have a way to keep it cold throughout the day or if you bring in something hot, you must have a way to keep it so during the day. If you prefer to have the dish delivered to school hot and fresh or cold, you may have the item delivered at on the day of our Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 10).

Due Dates: Section V ONLY-Due Thursday, Nov. 10

Sections I-IV-Due Monday, Nov. 14

The above project/field study and text review counts as a major project for Unit 5. You should make sure to complete your own work. Any plagiarism or copying of any sort will not be tolerated and will result in you receiving a zero for your efforts, or better yet, lack thereof.