March 10th, 2022

Five-star rating

Batch complete!

Tip: $10

Though the grocery store was crowded the shelves were stocked making for a swift batch delivery.

March 13th, 2022:

Substitution request for Stock Cold Brew Coffee to switch with Chameleon Organic, Handcrafted, Cold-Brew, Super Concentrate, Black Coffee

Four-star rating

Batch Complete

Tip: $5.40

April 2nd, 2022:

Substitution request for “Primal kitchen mustard” to switch with

Substitution request for Vital Farms Pasture Raised Large Grade A Eggs” to switch with “Cage Free Brown Eggs”

All other items fulfilled

Batch complete!

Tip: $4.11

I sat in my car in the middle of my Spring semester in between classes, and in between jobs. It was a hot summer in the south, and I was cranky that finding for substitutions and of course waiting for the client’s “go ahead” ate up more time than I thought. This was a slow day, not a bad one. However, my substitutions earned me a 4-star review instead of the 5’s that I was used to.

“Tip: $4.11” The minimum. I frowned.

May 19th, 2023

Processing refund for “Dave’s Killer Sourdough bread”

Substitution request for “Arnold Oatnut Bread – 24oz”
Processing refund for “Arnold Oatnut Bread – 24oz”
Message to client: Good afternoon, ma’am would like a picture of the bread shelf? There is a limited in-store selection today.

Processing refund for “Crackers”

Processing refund for “Eggs”

Processing refund for “Oatmeal”

Processing refund for “Tyson’s Chicken tenders”

Batch complete!

The app almost seems passive aggressive when it says, “Batch Complete” and I find myself rolling my eyes. It was almost a convention of “proxy shoppers” crowded around the bread aisle. I was surprised by how diverse the bunch was, many of them were far older than me. One old man stuck to me, he had white hair and was walking with a cane. He leaned on his grocery cart heavily and had his eyes clued to the top shelf. “Same brand different flavor. Meh!”. He hobbled away; I wonder how long it takes for him to drop off a large grocery haul on someone’s porch. I grew concerned at the thought of him delivering to an apartment on the second floor.

Today I received no tip, but the lady was nice and was ready to receive what food I could salvage from Kroger. There have been notable shortages of staples like bread, coffee, chicken, and eggs. I find myself blaming the stores for not restocking, but I’m starting to see news reports of contamination and food recalls.

Jan 12th, 2023

Processing refund for “Eggs”

Processing refund for “chicken”

Processing refund for “Carton egg whites”

Processing refund for “Similac Baby formula”

Processing refund… for (5 more items)

Batch complete!

The list went on. I was only able to complete this batch 1/3 of a way through. I didn’t expect a tip, I just felt bad that the store was bare. I drove to the north side of town towards a small studio apartment with a freshly swept porch. The delivery instructions told me not to ring the doorbell. As I sat the bags down onto her “Merry Christmas” welcome mat, I heard the customer’s baby crying. I felt guilty, there were no substitutes for the formula in the store.

After my delivery, my social media feed coincidentally flooded with news reports of parents trying to order formula from Canada because there are shortages in US stores.

I didn’t want a tip, I just wondered how this baby was going to eat.

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Last active Jan 12th, 2023.

 
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Exegesis: Climate Change and the Food System
 
One of the most inconvenient potential effects of climate change is how the environmental shifts affect crops domestically and globally. This domino effects into many issues, one of which is a limited selection at grocery stores. The potential foods that run the risk of being harder to obtain due to price or unavailability are spices, corn, and soybeans which make up most ingredients in consumers’ everyday purchases. This past year alone stores and consumers have endured recalls, then price surges on eggs, and more alarmingly baby formula. People incorrectly assume that climate change or “global warming” is a once occurring dramatic heatwave. A more accurate description of climate change is extreme, unpredictable, and prolonged weather patterns. These polarizing temperatures mean that farmers must now deal with drastic warm and cold fronts ultimately leading to partial crop yields. Meanwhile, consumers and “proxy-shoppers” are picking over near bare shelves and dealing with more frequent recalls for contaminated products. Though the temperature is on the uptick, there are certain actions that people can take to manage the symptoms of climate change. These solutions include keeping corporations in check regarding their emissions, advocating for FDA funding, and scrutinizing policies that allow lobbying in the food industry. If this issue is not resolved, stock up pantries and become more self-reliant as grocery prices may begin to increase more than what is currently being witnessed.