Le Féroce d’Avocat

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Le Féroce d’Avocat is a traditional dish in Martinique which translates directly to mean “fierce avocado”. It is made from avocado, lime juice, cassava flour (known as ‘manioc’), chillies mixed with spinach leaves and salt fish. It is considered “fierce” for the spices that are added to the dish. This was a dish traditionally eaten by plantation workers for breakfast, and is now widely eaten as an appetizer. (Rabikowska 2015)

Martinican cuisine is a mixture of African, French, Caribbean and South Asian traditions. From the spices, meats, fruits and vegetables, Martinican food is a diverse mixture of all these cultures.  These different traditions have been fused and integrated into the culture of Martinique after colonization by Europeans. I had specifically chose this food because it is something which I can eat in Martinique. Most traditional meals in Martinique either include fish or meat. Not only is this dish halal, it sounds like something which would be interesting to try once I get to Martinique. Most of the time I am afraid to try new things because of cultural differences in foods; however, this dish seems like something which I can try which is not to drastic a change from things I would usually eat. I am not the biggest fan of avocados, but I love it as guacamole. I am excited to try this dish when in Martinique.

Socio-economic and Environmental Dimensions

When looking through dishes to write about, I had noticed that most of the dishes had fish as one of the main ingredients. Le Féroce d’Avocat also includes fish, more specifically salt fish. Fishing is a strong aspect of Martinican culture. Not only because Martinique is an island, but also because it is an ingredient for other cultural foods. While fishing is a big part of Martinican life, the fish which are caught are mostly for local consumption as it is easily accessible to the Martinicans. The agriculture industry is a big part of the Martinican economy, more specifically the production of sugarcane and bananas. Unlike the agriculture industry, the fishing industry does not impact the Martinican economy in the same way. It is not a good which is exported, but it is a delicacy widely distributed to the the locals of the island because of how easy it is to obtain as Martinique is an island.

Fish is something which is readily available to those in Martinique, however in order for the seafood to be edible and healthy the water/ocean must be taken care of. If the food source is harmed, then the consumers, those who eat that food, are harmed indirectly. For example, the pesticide situation in 2013. While the pesticide was used for the banana crops, not only was it harming the soil, it was also contaminating the sea, which is the source for all seafood. THe pollution of the soil and the sea was hurting everyone, especially the poor people in the country. Many farmers still sold these contaminated products, however those who depended on the fishing to earn money for their families were unable to do anything because the the fish is non consumable due to the chemicals. However, when the people were demonstrating, the officials in the government took a long time to propose a solution. (Valo 2013)

This goes to show that there is so much more to foods and the food process than we care to think. While the foods that we eat are a part of our environment and our culture, there are also economical factors, political factors, etc.

Pledge

I pledge that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment.

Mahzuza Rahaman

Sources

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