Future Now
The IFTF Blog
Finally! A non-medical health-related iPhone app has struck my fancy!
Lately, it seems like I have been blogging a lot about iPhone or smartphone applications in the medical space (see here and here, for example). Today, however, I came across an app that evokes memories of our work on Foodscapes.** It's called Locavore, and it is targeted at people who try to purchase and consume only locally grown foods.
Locavore uses cell phone triangulation or GPS (depending on which iPhone model you have) to automatically detect where you are. It then lists what’s “Currently in season” and what’s “Coming in season soon” near you. Each food item has a small pie chart next to it that indicates how much longer the food is in season or when it’s coming into season. Information about food availability is pulled from the National Resources Defence Council.
The "Markets" icon allows you to tap into a list of all farmers' markets in your local area, courtesy of Local Harvest. The listings include in-app web pages for each market. The “Food” screen lists all 234 foods in Locavore’s database. It pulls up a map of the US and breaks down where the food grows, where it’s in season and when it will be in season. The “States” tab does provides similar information broken down by state.
While I don't consider myself a locavore, I do appreciate fresh fruit and vegetables in season, and I do like to know where my food is coming from (even if I'm disappointed that it is from Chile). Too bad I don't have an iPhone!
** The 2007 Health Horizons Studio Project, The Future of Foodscapes, mapped the trends and drivers that will configure the global food landscape over the next decade. For more information, please contact Dawn Alva, Business Development Manager.