More Than an Apple

Within the past few decades, the world has seen a great increase in the international flow of goods and services, thereby implementing a huge shift in the global economy. This process is defined as globalization, with multiple businesses and organizations establishing their international influence, and subsequently changing the environment of all participants, including households, firms, and other businesses. This has resulted in a more interconnected and integrated world, with almost everything we use and share being the direct effects of globalization.

    That being said, although we seem to be aware of this fact, it’s very difficult to actually acknowledge everything in our life to be a result of globalization. With the world developing so quickly, and the participants expected to adapt at the same pace, it’s a lot easier to take all of our experiences and the items we use for granted. Personally, I have gone about my whole life almost ignorant about all the ways in which this highly globalized world has played in any kind of role for me. However, in the past few weeks, I’ve been trying to become a lot more conscious of my surroundings and am shocked to find just how easy the effects of globalization has made my life for me.

    As a university student living away from home, I have had to adjust to many of the changes the standard student life experience has brought upon me. One of those changes includes regular grocery shopping, which is something that I did not really have to worry about before. Nevertheless, just walking around in a grocery store, one could find just how the all the forces of globalization has worked its way into everyday life. All of this had suddenly hit me when I was in the produce section, and realized that the apples that I was placing in my cart were the perfect example. First of all, these apples were more than likely not locally grown – they are more likely products of importation, from fields of workers who are also most likely being tired out and underpaid. Above that, the simple awareness of here these apples come from wouldn’t have been made possible if I hadn’t read about it on the internet or school textbook. Yet, here I am, chucking my apples in my cart, continuing to support practises that I don’t necessarily agree with because of their convenience.