Geography W/ Robby

Introduction This week, I am diving into the geography and environmental impacts of two key ingredients from a recent meal I enjoyed at a Milwaukee pop-up event. The meal included a stuffed sweet potato packed with veggies and a fresh-pressed juice featuring watermelon. Even though it felt like a healthy and local meal, these ingredients have complex global journeys and environmental footprints. Geographic origins of key ingredients Sweet potato: Most sweet potatoes in the U.S. come from North Carolina , which produces around 60% of the national supply according to the NCAGR. Other top producers include California and Mississippi, but North Carolina dominates both in acreage and output. Watermelon: The U.S. is one of the top global producers of watermelon, and Florida, Texas, Georgia, and California are the leading states for commercial watermelon farming. Watermelon consumed in Wisconsin during the summer likely comes from one of these states, particularly Florida or Georgia du...

 The meal I had today was prepared by two Milwaukee locals at a pop up event.  One person prepared fresh pressed juice and the other prepared a sweet potato stuffed with vegetables.  I had two juices one with watermelon, pineapple, and apple juice, the other with beets, sweet potato, apple juice, lemon, and watermelon.  The stuffed sweet potato had many different vegetables including broccoli, squash, carrots, onions, peppers, tomatoes, leeks, and possibly other vegetables that I do not recall.  It was a very healthy, nutritious, and great meal.  Juice will be served regularly this month and the next.  The instagram is in the picture I have posted if anyone is interested.

1) Local Effect That Stood Out One thing I didn’t really consider before watching the video was how plastic bags clog up storm drains in cities like San Francisco. It was surprising to learn that something as small as a plastic bag can actually contribute to flooding. We always talk about plastic pollution in the oceans or harming wildlife, but this made it clear how urban infrastructure can also be impacted. It made the issue feel way more local and real because it’s the kind of thing that can mess with your own neighborhood. 2) A Promising Local Solution The bag ban in San Jose was one of the most effective solutions shown in the video. What made it interesting is that they didn’t just ban plastic bags, they also charged a fee for paper ones. That pushed people to bring reusable bags, which made a big difference. Litter from plastic bags dropped by a lot. I liked how it encouraged people to make small changes in daily behavior that added up. It also showed how local policies can have...