Local+Food+Culture

= __Local Food Culture__ =

= __Introduction__ = ====Globalization is rapidly changing the world and how people interact with one another. It is affecting everything from communication to government, technology to fashion, and business to food. The food industry becoming a globally interdependent market, as well as technology advancements achieving instantaneous communication, has made the welding of once very distinct cultures innevitable. What was once a world of seperate nations subscribing to seperate customs has evolved into a more mutual global culture. Sushi, once purely an asian cuisine, can now be enjoyed by those in America, McDonald's has reached cities in Thailand, and the French can dine on some Pad Thai. Globalization is causing us to head toward an entirely new food culture; a global one. Though met with debate, this thorough interaction among nations is a benevolence that is creating global unity through an understanding and appreciation of foreign cultures.==== = __Overarching Question__ = How does globalization affect the local food cultures of countries all over the world? What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a more mutual food culture, and how would that affect international relationships? Do you think it is possible for the government to control the extremity of mixing cultures, and if so, should they?

= __Focus Areas__ = =__**Advantages of Globalization on Local Food Culture**__ = [] A look at globalization through sushi [] [] [] = __**Disadvantages of Globalization on Local Food Culture**__ = > How our food is a combination of different food cultures but at a faster convenience.
 * 1) How has globalization changed local food cultures over the years?
 * 2) What is the affect of globalization on the food cultures of developed nations compared to undeveloped nations?
 * 3) What does the expansion of the sushi market lend to globalization and what cultures are directly affected? How?
 * 4) McDonald's adapts their restaurants to the culture of each area it spreads to. Do you think the global spread of the McDonalds chain is still hurting cultural identities?
 * People from every culture get to experience how people eat and live across the globe.
 * This common experience allows people to be internationally united over food, therefore minimizing international tension.
 * Exchanging goods between nations allows food cultures within a country to flourish and develop through the use of imports.
 * Puts local food culture at risk of dying out because of a more dominant global culture.
 * It could eliminate the diversity of local food cultures.
 * Local food culture would have less value because it would no longer be a delicacy
 * []

Globalization is changing the food cultures of around the world to create an appreciated unified food culture. Over the years globalization has intentionally and unintentionally impacted every stretch of human life, food being a major component. Before the world's nations become so dependent on each the foods of other cultures was kept somewhat of a mystery, something that could only truly be experienced in the culture's origin. In current times there is no need to book a flight and travel to an exotic location to experience one of the most important aspects of culture that is the food. It is possible to just get in your car and drive to your nearest restaurant or even walk there. The experience is immediate and being so readily available can create an appreciation for cultures once ambiguous and feared. Granted there is still mystery to some of the traditions and rituals among food culture today especially involving the developed nations regarding undeveloped nations practices. However it can be agreed that food of more developed nations has reached even the poorest undeveloped countries. McDonald's is the **world's largest** fast food chain restaurant and is based in the United States, yet can be enjoyed everywhere from Saudi Arabia to Australia to Thailand. McDonald's understands the importance of culture and even adapts much of their restaurants themes and menu options to be more acceptable to whatever region that particular store is present. In India where much of the clientele does not eat beef, McDonald's has added the aloo tikki burger which contains no meat but is a patty of instead potatoes and peas and flavored with Indian spices. The aloo tikki burger is now one of Indian McDonald’s best-selling products along with the McVeggie and the McChicken. Many critics are under the impression that McDonald's stroms right into a country and immediately sets up shop, destroying the culture and identity of the local people and coercing them to only eat their food. However the first Indian McDonald's chain was open in 1996 and was very slow to catch the eye of consumers; since then McDonald's has only grown by 210 units. McDonald's needed to create a brand in India that was understood, the golden arches (McDonald's famous signature) had no meaning and there needed to be an emphasis on the fact that McDonald's was even a restuarant. McDonald's plans to expand it's stores in the future but by extremely slow standards. So while the American fast food culture can be enjoyed in India the rich culture of India is a major influence in the experience. Sushi which recently became more popular and more accessible has a dramatic linkage to globalization. An article written by Walter F. Carroll depicts the influence of the sushi industry in the world with a quote from Bestor, " A 500-pound tuna is caught off the coast of New England or Spain, flown thousands of miles to Tokyo, sold for tens of thousands of dollars to Japanese buyers...and shipped to chefs in New York and Hong Kong? That's the manic logic of global sushi." Enjoying sushi, a staple to the Japanese diet, was not long ago extremely uncommon yet today is part of many of the world's daily meal choice. Even with the converging cultures, not all identity is lost and there is just more to be enjoyed.
 * Global Food Culture through McDonald's and Sushi:**

The world is becoming more unified through globalization. However, we must ask ourselves if this is a good thing. There are many things that have been affected by globalization. One of the most important impacts of globalization has been on local food culture. Globalization has made it very convenient for people to have traditional food from any region in the world. At the same time there are many negative repercussions of this unification. For instance, food and ingredients that may have been unique and delicacies will now be common and lose their value. Local food has always been unique to the people that make it. When everyone is making that food it is no longer unique. Some businesses are also at risk because of globalization. The access that globalization has created has lowered the prices to a point where businesses that rely on local food will not be able to survive. Another downside of globalization is industrialization of local food. Food will be mass produced by machines because we have the technology to do that. This seems like a convenient and easy option, but both the food and the culture will suffer because of it. The people that once did these themselves will be replaced by machines. Not only will jobs be lost but culture will be too. Local food culture is highly representative of the culture of the people that make it. The culture is going to be eliminated if the effect of globalization escalates.