The Food Industry: An economical beast so large, we can't fully track it's impact on the economy.

Given it's size and demand in the global market, is there a deeper reason that food is such a huge deal to people?

Of course there is.

Food has driven decisions in society from where people settle, to what kind of foods they choose to grow. Flavor, aroma, and presentation - these things are all the driving force behind the food industry. 

The most sought after foods these days requires more and more work to prepare. Even basic sandwich recipes require a monumental amount of work to make available on a day to day basis.

When Did The Food Industry Change Everything?

From the start of civilization.