What is Food Production?
Food is something that both animals and humans consume for survival. It is essentially derived from various plants and animals but before consumption, by humans, they are processed. Thus, food production is the process of transforming raw ingredients into edible food products. These converted food products can either be used for home cooking directly or by the food processing industries. The process of food production can be segregated into a number of stages and each of them is very important. In the food processing industry, the process starts with primary steps of cleaning, segregation, etc., and ends when the food is packed and marketed.
How is Food Produced?
Most of the products that we consume are sourced from plants and animals. The products consist of grains, cereals, pulses, honey, milk, fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, honey, and many more. We, humans, are very much dependent on plants and animals for our existence. They provide us with a variety of food products that are used in our day-to-day life consumption. The plants and animals as a whole are responsible for the supply of nearly 90 % of the global energy.
Types of Food Production
Food production can be categorized into different types and some of them have been listed below:
Cultivating
Harvesting
Crop management
Preserving
Fermenting
Crop production
Pickling
Cooking at restaurants
Production of drinks
Broiling
Grilling
Baking
Stewing
Braising
Methods of Food Production
There are several forms of food production that are used today. However, while some of them can be practiced by the cooks at home, others need specialized industrial equipment. Food production and food processing though interrelated are two different terms. But they often overlap each other and a process can be used for both processing and producing. Food processing particularly refers to the processes used for changing the raw materials into finished edible products. Food production on the other hand refers to processes for making the food ready to eat. So, it can be said that cooking is a term generally used for food production. Food production also incorporates in itself the steps that are involved in preparing a meal from the grocery products. Some methods of food production are mentioned below.
Slicing
Cutting and chopping
Marinating
Boiling
Broiling
Fermenting
Curing
Emulsifying
Frying
Grilling
Steaming
Mixing
Grinding
Introduction to the Hospitality Industry
The hospitality industry is responsible for providing services, typically services related to food and accommodation in hotels, resorts, theme parks, etc. Organizations like restaurants and hotels are considered as hospitality units and include various divisions like cleaning, cooking, management, etc.
The hospitality industry is not limited to only food production and accommodation. The individuals related to this industry and profession need to be well–educated. The function of food production is not limited to cooking and serving food. It is much more than that and they have to be innovative while building a strong image and managing the customers.
The defining feature of the hospitality industry is its complete and utmost focus on customer satisfaction. Though this is common to all the other industries, this particular industry relies completely on the customer’s satisfaction. The businesses associated with the hospitality industry are generally providers of luxury services. Not many businesses in this industry are found to be providing basic services to their customers.
The industry is growing at a fast pace and has a lot of potential for the future. One of the most significant contributors in the hospitality industry is the food and beverages industry. The food and beverage industry is comprised of establishments that prepare meals, snacks, and beverages ready for immediate consumption.
Introduction to Kitchen
Kitchens are rooms in a house or in commercial establishments being utilized for cooking and/or preparation of food. Places like hotels, restaurants, cafes, etc. have commercial kitchens which are larger than the kitchens we see in our houses. The commercial kitchens are better–equipped and professional in outlook as compared to residential kitchens. The person who is in – charge of managing the entire kitchen, cooking and the staff called the chef. There are various units that are involved in the preparation and cooking of food in such kitchens. These units are involved with the selection of raw materials to waste disposal of the kitchen. Generally, commercial kitchens are subject to public health laws. It is very important to keep in mind that, while preparing and cooking food all the instructions regarding safety and personal hygiene are followed. But these norms should not be restricted to the commercial kitchen only. Rather they should be followed in every kitchen as health and hygiene are very important aspects related to the food we eat.
Summary
Food is important for the survival of both animals and humans.
The process of converting raw ingredients into edible food is called food production.
The process of food production can be segregated into different stages like cleaning, sorting, etc.
Nearly all the food that we consume is received from plants and animals.
Examples of food products sourced from plants and animals are grains, cereals, fruits and vegetables, honey, egg, milk, meat, etc.
Cultivating, crop production and management, harvesting, fermenting, baking, stewing, braising, grilling are all types of food production.
Slicing, cutting, marinating, boiling, broiling, frying, mixing, grinding are the methods of food production.
The hospitality industry is responsible for providing services, typically services related to food and accommodation in hotels, resorts, theme parks, etc.
The most significant feature of the hospital industry is its focus on customer satisfaction which is the foundation of this industry.
The food and beverages industry is one of the most vital sectors of the hospitality industry.
Kitchens are the rooms assigned for the process of preparation and cooking of food.
To know more about food production, get the best assistance from the top subject matter experts of Vedantu. You can also book a one-on-one session with a qualified teacher to find out more about biology and food production in particular.
FAQs on Food Production
1. What is Food Production?
Food production, in simple terms, is the process of taking raw ingredients and converting them into edible food fit for human consumption. There are very few things that naturally exist in a form that is edible for humans, so we often take raw ingredients and process them in a way that will provide edible food.
Some things like fruits or vegetables that are found in the wild can often be plucked and eaten as it is. In fact, many tribes around the world sustain themselves on wild fruit and vegetables. However, in the present day and age, it isn't easy to simply find fruits and vegetables in the wild, so humans have developed farms and orchards, which have become part of the food production process.
Other kinds of food production include the collection of raw ingredients produced by animals or insects, like honey, milk, and eggs, or even hunting or raising livestock in places where meat is consumed.
In the modern world, food production has become a much more involved process with the advent of packaged food.
2. What are some methods of Food Production?
"Methods of food production" refers to the various methods of preparing food for human consumption. These range from simple processes to complicated ones that require industrial-grade machinery to achieve.
Some simple processes include cutting, slicing, frying, boiling, marinating, mixing, etc. These methods are often used in every household kitchen to make food. Many of these methods are also combined in different ways to make edible food. For example, bread is made by grinding wheat into a fine powder, mixing it with other ingredients to make a dough, kneading that dough and shaping it to form the bread, and then baking it. After baking, it is sliced to form bread slices and either used or sold. Depending on the person using it, they might even include more steps before consuming it, such as roasting or grilling it.
Industrial production of food often involves the same processes on a much larger scale, so the machinery needed is also consequently larger.
3. What are the types of Food Production?
The "types" of food production refer to the different ways in which we achieve the goal of creating edible food. There are some overlaps with food production methods.
Some of the types of food production include harvesting, cultivating, hunting, cooking, baking, broiling, etc. Some of these can be used alone, but most are used in some type of combination to achieve edible results. This largely depends on the kind of food used and the preparation for it.
For example, fresh fruits and vegetables can sometimes be harvested and consumed immediately, like apples, oranges, carrots, etc. Some vegetables need to be cooked before they can be eaten, like potatoes and cauliflower. Depending on the preparation, even fresh fruits and vegetables may be further processed, like candied apples, or pickled onions.
In other types of food, sometimes there has to be some kind of processing done before the food can be eaten, as the raw ingredients can be dangerous to humans. This is most commonly seen with meat. Raw meat carries many dangerous bacteria that could seriously harm humans who eat it, so the meat is almost always cooked thoroughly before consumption. Even cuisines with raw meat like sushi involve some amount of cleaning and preparation to prevent any harmful effects.
4. What are the Stages of Food Production?
In any kind of preparation to make food fit for human consumption, there is a step-by-step process. In today's modern society, we no longer rely on growing and cultivating our own food. Instead, there is a global industry that is designed to produce and then deliver food to you for consumption. The steps involved in this are also known as the stages of food production.
In a global market, there are four main stages of food production. These are:
Production: This is the stage in which the ingredients are sourced and turned into edible food.
Packaging and Processing: This is when the food is further processed to last longer and then packaged to be shipped to the consumer.
Distribution and Retailing: This is when the food is either delivered directly to the consumer or more commonly, is delivered to a retailer who will in turn sell it to the consumer.
Consumption and Disposal of Waste: This is the final stage when the food is consumed and any excess waste in the form of inedible bits of the food or packaging is discarded.
5. Where can I find more information about Food Production?
You can go through the Vedantu website and app for more information on Food Production. This page already has a lot of information about the meaning, types, and methods of food production. However, should you need more material, you can click here for more notes on food processing which is a similar concept. All of the downloadable resources available on Vedantu are completely free to download providing you have a Vedantu account.
