The diagram shows the production steps in which food goes through in the US.
Overall, the process is a man-made, linear process that consists of several stages, starting with producing the raw materials and ending with the consumption of the product by the customers.
The food production chain begins with producing and obtaining the primary products from the farms and the sea. The next stage is processing in which the primary products turn into a final product ready for consumption, which will be stored in warehouses before it is distributed to retail stores and restaurants.
After the distribution the product reaches the intermediates which are the retail shops and the restaurants. The next step is preparation. Unlike the restaurants in which the food needs to be prepared by the staff or chefs, the customers at home can prepare it by themselves. Finally, the food is either consumed by home consumers at the dining table or by restaurant consumers being served their meal.
