Grown in Argentina, Packed in Thailand
The video explains why pears from Argentina are shipped to Thailand for packaging and then to the United States, rather than being grown and processed locally. It's cheaper and more efficient due to "comparative advantage," where countries specialize in what they do best. Argentina excels at pear farming, making their pears high-quality and affordable. Thailand is ideal for packaging because it's near markets that want fruit in syrup and allows pears to ripen during transit. Despite the long journey, shipping is surprisingly environmentally friendly compared to road transport. Overall, this complex supply chain is the most efficient and least damaging way to get exotic fruit to consumers year-round.
Key Vocabulary
Evoking pity or contempt, often implying inadequacy or weakness.
Examples:
- His attempt to fix the leaky faucet was so pathetic that water continued to spray everywhere.
- The team's performance was pathetic, losing by a huge margin.
- She made a pathetic excuse for being late, claiming her alarm clock didn't go off.
Lacking belief in God or a god, or not acknowledging religious principles.
Examples:
- The philosopher was known for his godless views, focusing purely on human reason.
- Some historical regimes were characterized by their godless ideologies, suppressing religious practices.
- The character in the novel was portrayed as a godless renegade, living outside conventional morality.
The impact of something, especially human activity, on the environment.
Examples:
- Reducing our carbon footprint is crucial for the health of the planet.
- The company aimed to minimize its environmental footprint by using sustainable materials.
- Individuals can lessen their ecological footprint by consuming less and recycling more.
Produced or developed in one's own country or area.
Examples:
- The restaurant prided itself on using only homegrown ingredients from local farms.
- The band, despite its international success, remained true to its homegrown musical roots.
- The community celebrated its homegrown talent at the annual arts festival.
In a very bad or unpleasant way; causing horror or disgust.
Examples:
- The experiment went horribly wrong, resulting in a series of unexpected explosions.
- She felt horribly sick after eating the spoiled food.
- The play was horribly reviewed by critics, who called it a disaster.
In a way that results from a coincidence; by chance.
Examples:
- Coincidentally, I ran into my old high school teacher at the same coffee shop.
- The two events occurred coincidentally on the same day, though unrelated.
- He chose the exact same color for his car; coincidentally, it was also her favorite.
To carry or drag (something heavy or bulky) with great effort.
Examples:
- He had to lug his heavy suitcase up three flights of stairs.
- They spent the afternoon lugging bags of cement from the truck to the construction site.
- She watched him lug the oversized box across the room, clearly struggling.
The act of eating a meal, especially dinner.
Examples:
- The restaurant offered a fine dining experience with exquisite cuisine.
- They enjoyed an evening of outdoor dining on the patio.
- The new dining room table could comfortably seat eight people.
A thick, smooth drink made from pureed fruit or vegetables, typically mixed with milk, yogurt, or ice.
Examples:
- She started her day with a healthy green smoothie packed with spinach and banana.
- The cafe specialized in custom smoothies, allowing customers to choose their own ingredients.
- He blended a refreshing berry smoothie after his morning run.
The process by which moisture is carried through plants from roots to small pores on the underside of leaves, where it changes to vapor and is released to the atmosphere; in a broader sense, the movement or transfer of something.
Examples:
- The high rate of transpiration from the forest contributed to the local humidity.
- Understanding plant transpiration is key to efficient irrigation in agriculture.
- The company focused on the efficient transpiration of goods across international borders.
A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings.
Examples:
- The comedian's routine was full of clever puns that made the audience laugh.
- He couldn't resist making a pun about the baker who kneaded more dough.
- Her email subject line was a playful pun, hinting at the content inside.
The activity or business of cutting and styling people's hair.
Examples:
- She enrolled in a course to learn professional hairdressing techniques.
- The salon offered a wide range of hairdressing services, from simple cuts to elaborate updos.
- His passion for hairdressing led him to open his own successful salon.
Not achieving maximum productivity; wasting time or resources.
Examples:
- The old machine was highly inefficient, consuming a lot of power for little output.
- Their communication system was so inefficient that important messages were often delayed.
- The committee realized their current process was inefficient and sought ways to streamline it.
Used as an intensifier, often to express anger, annoyance, or emphasis.
Examples:
- I can't believe this fucking internet connection is so slow.
- He was so frustrated, muttering about the fucking traffic.
- She couldn't find her keys anywhere; they were in some fucking obscure place.
At the midpoint between two points or stages; partially or incompletely.
Examples:
- They stopped halfway up the mountain to admire the view.
- The project is only halfway complete, with much work still to be done.
- He was halfway through his sandwich when the phone rang.
A thick, sweet, sticky liquid, often made from sugar or fruit juice, used as a topping or an ingredient.
Examples:
- She poured maple syrup over her pancakes for breakfast.
- The cough syrup helped to soothe his irritated throat.
- The recipe called for a light corn syrup to bind the ingredients together.
A particular sector of a population, especially in terms of age, gender, income, etc.
Examples:
- The marketing campaign was specifically targeted at the younger demographic.
- Understanding the local demographic is crucial for businesses planning to open in a new area.
- The survey aimed to gather data on the demographic characteristics of the attendees.
The process of cooling something, especially food or drink, to keep it fresh.
Examples:
- Many perishable goods require constant refrigeration during transport.
- The new supermarket installed advanced refrigeration units to reduce energy consumption.
- Lack of proper refrigeration can lead to food spoilage and health risks.
Having undergone a series of mechanical or chemical operations in order to change or preserve it.
Examples:
- Many breakfast cereals are highly processed foods with added sugars.
- The factory processes raw materials into finished products.
- She preferred fresh, unprocessed vegetables over canned or frozen options.
Difficult to understand or comprehend due to complexity or abstractness.
Examples:
- The philosophical text was incredibly dense, requiring careful reading and contemplation.
- He found the technical manual too dense to follow without prior knowledge.
- The professor's lecture on quantum physics was very dense for the introductory class.