Frequently Asked Questions

A Little Q and A

Q) How is the search supposed to work?
A) Type in what you want to know more about, for example, “Coralee’s Carrot Cake”.  FoodRoute will show you possible locations where you may have purchased “Coralee’s Carrot Cake” based on your location.  Pick a location, for example, “Coralee’s Creative Cakes”.  FoodRoute will generate a list of ingredients based on the product and location.  Choose an ingredient you are curious about, for example, “Flour”.  “Coralee’s Creative Cakes” gets their “Flour” from “Mickey’s Mill”.  Go to “Mickey’s Mill”.  “Mickey’s Mill” gets their grain from “Fran’s Farm”.  Lastly, use this information to make good decisions.  Like your momma would want you to.

Q) Where is the 'search' bar?
A) We are currently focusing on uploading information, so you have something to search for in the future.  Stay tuned.  It is comin'.

Q) Why FoodRoute?
A) When any one group gives you information, it is in their best interest to provide it in a way that promotes their cause.  This is not to say that whichever cause is not just, right or needed.  I just wanted some facts about food.  So, I thought I would go find them.

Q) This seems like a huge task.  How do you plan on getting everyone on board?
A) Advertising, word of mouth, and because I think it is a good thing to do.  I am still pretty sure that most people want to do the right thing.  We get convinced that things are bad or hard or impossible because we talk about these things that way.  There is a reason we like quotes by Gandhi, Einstein, and Helen Keller (hint: we like the ‘right’ thing).  I also think it will just take a bit of effort for each of us.  Oh, and it is free.

Q) Why can’t I find what I am eating?
A) As we are getting started, there are going to be lots of holes in the links along the foodchain.  With all wiki-type databases, our information will get stronger and more precise the larger our user group.  If something is not listed, ask the producer to share their information.  

Q) Won’t this expose business trade secrets?
A) All and any information provided is voluntary.  We don’t want any information that you as a business owner want to protect.  We understand that you need to protect your business, so that you can stay in business.  It certainly would not be in our best interest for anyone's business to suffer because of FoodRoute.  If anything, we expect businesses who list at FoodRoute to gain a more positive connection with their customers.  Customer confidence will increase.  Closer food communities will be able to grow.

Q) What are you currently working on in the development?
A) Uploading shop owener, farmer and vendor information.  We are focused on figuring out the right questions to ask, and the right way to ask those questions.  We are planning on developing many different ways to display this information once we get a nice solid data set.  That is right, I just said data set.

Q) Do you love me?
A) Yes, I do.

Q) I love FoodRoute.  How can I help?
A) If there is something specific you would like to do, email Coralee.  If you just want to pitch in, check out our donations page.  Thank you for the love.  Feels good.