Patterns of food and drink choices across the USA

3.        Canadian Whiskey- communities close to Canada

2. Snacks

1. Pork Rinds- South (more hogs raised)
2. Popcorn & Potato Chips- Northerners (grows corn & potatoes)

4. Cultural backgrounds affect amount & types of alcohol &snack foods consumed

1. Alcohol consumption- relates to  religious backgrounds & income/advertising

1. Baptists & Mormons drink less than other religions
2. Baptists concentrated around  SE & Mormons in Utah- relatively low consumption rates
3. Nevada has high rate- heavy concentration of gambling and other resort activities

2. Snacks

1. Texans- tortilla chips- large # of Hispanic Americans
2. Westerners- multigrain chips- greater concern for nutritional content

5. Geographers can’t explain all regional variations in food preferences
6. Consumption of alcohol &snack foods dependent on high income and national advertising
7. Variations within U.S. much less significant than differences between the U.S. & LDCs in Africa & Asia

2. Wine production

1. Spatial distribution demonstrates the environment plays a role in the distribution of popular as well as folk food customs
2. Wines’ characteristics- unique combination of climate, soil, and other physical characteristics at the place where the grapes are grown
3. Vineyards

1. best in temperate climates of moderately cold, rainy winters & fairly long, hot summers
2. planted on hillsides if possible- maximize exposure to sunlight & to help drainage
3. near lake or river- water can control extremes of temperature
4. best soil- coarse & well drained (not good for other crops)

4. World’s finest wines most frequently identified by place of origin

1. May be labeled w/ region, town, district, or specific estate
2. Wine expert can determine precise origin of a wine just by tasting- unique taste imparted to the grapes by specific soil composition of each estate

5. Wine distribution based principally on cultural values, both historical & temporary

1. Present- wine made in locations that have a tradition of excellence in making it & people who like to drink it & can afford to purchase it
2. Social custom of wine production in much of France & Italy- back to at least the Roman Empire
3. Wine consumption decline after the Fall of Rome (many vineyards destroyed)
4. Monasteries preserved wine-making tradition

6. Vineyards typically owned by private individuals & corporations rather than religious organizations
7. Wine production discouraged in regions dominated by religions other than Christianity

1. Hindus & Muslims- avoid alcohol: limited production in Middle East (other than Israel) & southern Asia

*Distribution of wine production shows that the diffusion of popular customs depends less on the distinctive environment of a location than on the presence of beliefs, institutions, and material traits conductive to accepting those customs