As consumers we often have more power than as voters and citizens over issues we care about in our food system. Our country is full of progressive victories that came from responsible and intentional consumerism. Responsible consumerism has given poor migrant farm workers the power to negotiate human rights with powerful multinational corporations. Responsible consumerism can encourage companies to meet environmental, worker and health standards. And unintentional consumerism can also encourage companies to avoid these same standards. What we chose to buy at our grocery stores, markets and restaurants shapes what our food system looks like at all levels. This class will focus on food products and companies to promote and to avoid and how to make huge changes in our country, not by marching in the streets, lobbying politicians or changing your lifestyle, but just by choosing different products to buy and not buy.