Crystal Singer Foodstuffs: Synthesised, or Imports?

[Kath]

A bit of a galactic-economics vs. fussy eating thread for you today.

The Crystal Singers are the gourmands of their universe, and enjoy a VERY diverse range of different foodstuffs - I think this is Anne's only series with a realistic level of varied diets (unlike Pern where everyone seems to subsist on meatrolls, bubbly pies and barrels of salt fish from Tillek...)


BUT: Are the singers so fussy that they insist on imports, or do all of these different delicacies get synthesised?

And what's the raw ingredients if they are? [Soylent Green? :evil: ]


Thoughts?

[C_ris]

Imports would be massively expensive. But, as they're Crystal Singers... (and IIRC there is a reference to the increase cost in importing Yarran beer after Killa joined.)

[granath]

Some synthesized, a lot of imports and also some stuff grown on-planet.

[Kath]

(and IIRC there is a reference to the increase cost in importing Yarran beer after Killa joined.)

Oh, there is? Now that's interesting!

[Dux]

Imports would be massively expensive. But, as they're Crystal Singers... (and IIRC there is a reference to the increase cost in importing Yarran beer after Killa joined.)

I think that's referring to the increase in demand for it. Clearly Yarran beer is not a synth product.

I imagine many products are imported, but many are grown on the planet as well. If I remember correctly, one of the jobs available for someone who does not make singer is Agronomist - in other words - farmer.

[GinnyStar]

CS1 Yes, about the beer part. Also about be yards above doing other job.
As Pern food.:klah:, :pint:, :wine:, stew, :gather:/hatching Roast whole on spit, wherrys and/or herdbeast, and lots of other great thing to eat.:applause:

[GinnyStar]

CS 1 clams, other fish, beans, and other to.

[Kath]

CS 1 clams, other fish, beans, and other to.

We know there's an established fishing/farming industry on Ballybran - the thread was referring to the more exotic delicacies seen to be on offer, which the Bally...branians? might not necessarily be able to produce au naturel.


Here's another thought - what about all of Killa's exotic decorations for her room? Where did they come from?

[Madrigal]

Importing might be a status thing, even if stuff can be synthesized. I imagine that a lot of singers are snobby enough to go for that.

[granath]

Decorations are easy, singers who care for them buy them off Ballybran and ship them home after a visit or assignment somewhere. Some food is probably imported from other planets, and some planets can use food to barter for crystals and probably do.

[Kath]

I guess Killa's first set of furnishings could have been second-hand, traded back to the stores either because they died or just wanted a change.

[GinnyStar]

The singer who gone off plante would have pick up things, and bring them back. Also there is something about a catalog or something is CS 1.

[Kath]

The singer who gone off plante would have pick up things, and bring them back.

A high and mighty Singer with all the memory capacity of a goldfish doing shopping for other people?

I think not!

[Cheryl]

I agree Kath. The last thing a CS would do while enjoying an off-planet vacation is think about bringing back choice comestibles for her peers to enjoy. If they want the good food, let them spend their own credits to visit the world!

[Brenda]

The closest it would probably come would be that the same ships taking singers back and forth would also be carrying supplies.

[GinnyStar]

What I was trying to say is clothing, nicknack, images.

Maybe, before they got back they could have told someone in the travel department abut some good.

Also there is something about a catalog or something is CS 1. From Stores there, she did go in the red about furnture.

[Kath]

We know what's in the books - what we're speculating on is the most likely eay it gets to Ballybran, if it travels at all and isn't made up on site.

A few nicknacks here and there will hardly be adequate to cater for an entire population - remember, Singers are very much the minority, and no-one else travels!

[Brenda]

And I highly doubt that the singers will be PERSONALLY carrying loads of food around (unless it's that time of Passover...)

[edith]

Would the moon base have a market?
Goodies could be delivered there either in bulk or by order and shuttled down to the surface by pilots or drones.

[GinnyStar]

Contracted ships could, bring in foodstuff, after working out an agreement with the Crystal Singers.

[ShadowReine]

I suspect it's a case of this:

1. They grow a fair amount of food on Ballybran (Rimbol says in CS that he wouldn't mind being a farmer if he doesn't get the full adaptation). Presumably, they grow anything they can themselves. One can also presume that at least some alcoholic beverages are made on Ballybran itself. In addition, the Guild probably has some excellent cooks (enhanced sense of smell plus a few decades practice)...there may even be delicacies that are unique to Ballybran.

2. Some stuff probably is synthesized. If it can be.

3. Certain delicacies come in on supply ships, probably the same ships that carry buyers and applicants. They're probably ordered by Suppliers and are presumably more expensive than homegrown stuff.

So, yeah, it's a combination of stuff. A singer's breakfast toast probably comes from wheat grown on Ballybran. But the glass of Yarran Beer she has with her dinner is an import.

[Cherlyn]

I agree Kath. The last thing a CS would do while enjoying an off-planet vacation is think about bringing back choice comestibles for her peers to enjoy. If they want the good food, let them spend their own credits to visit the world!

Most of the support staff cannot go off planet. Since most worlds would require the crystals supplied by the Singers, a contract set up to bring in supplies of foodstuffs from around the known worlds would be very easy. With the number of worlds represented within the company on Ballybran, there would be enough cooks to supply a varied menu to give everyone a taste of home!
Wouldn't most plants be raised using hydroponics? With the weather, that drives the Crystal Singers off world due to the sound and sensitive support staff to be drugged into a stupor, I would think any animals raised on Ballybran would need special quarters as well - if they weren't affected by the sybiote.

[granath]

I would suspect that they grow plants but would synthesize meat proteins. I would expect that animals would face the same symbiont problem as humans do, and you can't raise an animal in a space suit.