What's on Your Plate?

Sadie and Safiyah are 11-year-old girls living in Lower Manhattan in New York City who want to learn about where food comes from and how it gets to consumers. Filmmaker Catherine Gund captures their experiences trying to answer these questions in What's on Your Plate?, an informative and engaging documentary. The kids' science teacher talks about how his apple juice from concentrate comes from a variety of countries, while a local farmer explains how hard it is to get New York State apples, among other items, into the city's school lunch programs. The pair visit supermarkets, fast food restaurants, school cafeterias, and farmers markets, talking with food activists, storekeepers, and others along the way, as they learn lessons about food politics, sustainable farming, and the advantages of locally grown food (often available through community supported agriculture programs). At the end, the girls cook a meal from local produce—some of which they helped plant and harvest themselves. Organized into three modules (“School Food,” “Health and Access,” and “Local Food”) that can be viewed separately, DVD extras include a post-screening Q&A, a deleted scene, and a Nona Hendryx music video. A winning, kid-friendly investigation into a complicated subject, this is highly recommended. Aud: I, J, P. (G.A. DeCandido)