Year of Plenty

Tue., Sept. 22, 2009

The Story of the Industrialization of Food In One Handy Chart

Workforce chart from flare, data visualization for the web. (flare.prefuse.org/apps/job_voyager)

This chart is fascinating in so many different ways. It takes the reported occupations of the U.S. labor force between 1850 and the year 2000, and brings the data to life through this image. I love the image because it clearly shows the dramatic changes in the way food is produced. We've gone from over 50% of the U.S. workforce involved as farmers or farm laborers in 1850 to just a little over 1% in the year 2000. Go here for the full-sized interactive chart.

Posted Sept. 22, 2009, 12:33 p.m.

The Year of Plenty blog was created by Craig Goodwin in the winter of 2008 to chronicle the experiences of his family as they sought to consume everything local, used, homegrown or homemade. That journey was a wonderful introduction to people and movements in the Spokane area who are seeking the welfare of the community through local foods, farmers markets, community gardens, sustainable transportation, and more fulfilling and just patterns of consumption. In 2009 and beyond the blog will continue to report on these relationships and practices, all through the eyes of a family with young children. Craig manages the Millwood Farmers' Market, is a Master Food Preserver and Pastor at Millwood Presbyterian Church. Craig can be reached at goody2230@gmail.com