Feeding Manila in Peace and War, 1850–1945

Book excerpt: Getting food, water, and services to the millions who live in the world's few dozen megacities is one of the twenty-first century's most formidable challenges. This innovative history traces nearly a century in the life of the megacity of Manila to show how it grew and what sustained it. Focusing on the city's key commodities-rice, produce, fish, fowl, meat, milk, flour, coffee-Daniel F. Doeppers explores their complex interconnections, the changing ecology of the surrounding region, and the social fabric that weaves together farmers, merchants, transporters, storekeepers, and door-to-door vendors.