Animal Vegetable Miracle: Food Origins

In the first chapter of Barbara Kingsolver's book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, she writes:
"We don't know beans about beans. Asparagus, potatoes, turkey drumsticks - you name it, we don't have a clue about how the world makes it."
This is an astonishingly abundant truth in America today. Children grow up knowing only that vegetables come from the grocery store, oblivious to the fact that they were grown out of the ground prior to being sold. Even if people do realize that vegetables are grown and farmed, they often have misconceptions as to how the friut or vegetable is grown.
"I'll encounter an editor ... who's nixing the part of my story that refers to pineapples growing out of the ground. She insisted they grew on trees." (Barbara Kingsolver, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle)
People don't know how things are grown simply because they have not been exposed to them, and they don't feel the need to inquire as to how it came to be. A shopper may know what time of year fruits are more expensive than others, but never understand that the reason these prices fluctuate is because the fruits aren't in season and must be imported. These facts of life are accepted, without being understood.
As someone entering the Agricultural Science field, one must understand that many people don't know these things. Those who are aware must make efforts to educate the general public. As people gain more information, they can make better decisions. As agriculturalists, it is up to us to ensure that they are well informed.
How to make this happen?
1. Be educated yourself. You can't very well advocate that everyone should know where their food comes from if you don't know where yours did.
2. Understanding what additives are in store-bought items are also important. Know what you're letting enter your body.
3. Do something about it. Buy locally grown food items, or in groups that allow you to "put your money where your mouth is."
4. If and when you have your own family, educate your children on where food comes from. Ensure that they are not part of the American public without a clue.