๐Ÿ” Cash Crop Research Guide: Finding Valid Sources

Unit 10: Kai, Culture and Climate โ€” Surviving Scarcity
Learn how to find reliable sources and validate information for your cash crop poster.

โœ… What Makes a Source Reliable?

Reliable Sources Include:

  • Government websites: FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), World Bank, Statistics NZ
  • Academic sources: University research, peer-reviewed articles
  • Reputable organizations: Fair Trade, Oxfam, World Food Programme, NIWA
  • News sources: BBC, RNZ, reputable news sites (check the date!)
  • Trade organizations: Industry associations, commodity trading boards
โš ๏ธ Be Careful With:
  • Wikipedia (use it to find other sources, but don't cite it directly)
  • Personal blogs or opinion pieces (unless clearly labeled as opinion)
  • Sources without dates or author names
  • Sources that seem biased or trying to sell something

๐Ÿ”Ž Where to Find Information for Each Section

Section A: Geography & Production

Search terms to try:

  • "[crop name] origin" or "[crop name] history"
  • "[crop name] production countries" or "[crop name] where grown"
  • "[crop name] climate requirements" or "[crop name] growing conditions"
  • "[crop name] processing" or "[crop name] harvest to export"
Good sources: FAO, National Geographic, BBC Country Profiles, Encyclopedia Britannica

Section B: Economics & Trade

Search terms to try:

  • "[crop name] global market value" or "[crop name] billion dollars"
  • "[crop name] supply chain" or "[crop name] from farm to table"
  • "[crop name] companies" or "[crop name] corporations" or "[crop name] monopoly"
  • "[crop name] price" or "[crop name] scarcity" or "[crop name] food security"
Good sources: World Bank, FAO Trade Statistics, Fair Trade organizations, Oxfam reports, commodity trading websites

Section C: Aotearoa Link

Search terms to try:

  • "[crop name] New Zealand" or "[crop name] NZ"
  • "[crop name] Whittaker's" or "[crop name] NZ company" (if applicable)
  • "New Zealand [crop name] import" or "NZ [crop name] trade"
  • "Kiwifruit export" or "Mฤnuka honey export" (for comparison)
Good sources: Statistics NZ, NZ company websites, Ministry for Primary Industries, Trade Me or supermarket websites (for products)

๐Ÿ“ How to Evaluate a Source

Before using a source, ask yourself:

  1. Who wrote it? Is it a government, university, or reputable organization?
  2. When was it written? Is the information recent? (For statistics, try to find data from the last 5 years)
  3. Why was it written? Is it trying to inform, or is it trying to sell something or persuade you?
  4. Can I verify it? Can you find the same information in another source?

๐Ÿ’ก Research Tips

  • Start simple: Begin with basic searches like "Where does coffee come from?"
  • Use multiple sources: Try to find 2-3 different sources that say the same thing
  • Take notes: Write down where you found each piece of information
  • Check dates: Make sure your statistics are recent (within the last 5 years if possible)
  • Ask for help: If you're stuck, ask your teacher or librarian

๐Ÿ“Š Understanding Large Numbers

When you find statistics like "$20 billion," here's how to read them:

Number How to Read It Example
1,000 One thousand 1,000 kg of coffee
1,000,000 One million $1 million
1,000,000,000 One billion $20 billion global market

Practice: If the global coffee market is worth $20 billion, and there are 8 billion people in the world, how much is that per person? (Answer: $2.50 per person)

๐Ÿ’ก Remember: Good research takes time. Don't just use the first website you find. Check multiple sources to make sure your information is accurate!