//At the very top of the file outside this current class, but inside the overall class, is set 	
private String food;

//then here is the code:

		// Player asks what supplies he needs, and a random choice of what he wants is made.
		npc.add(ConversationStates.QUEST_OFFERED,
				"supplies",
				null,
				ConversationStates.QUEST_OFFERED,
				 null,
			        new SpeakerNPC.ChatAction() {
				        @Override
				        public void fire(Player player, String text, SpeakerNPC npc) {
				        	food = Rand.rand(FOOD_LIST);
				    		npc.say("If you could get me " + REQUIRED_FOOD + " pieces of " + food + ", I'd be in your debt. Will you help me?");
				        }
			        });
		/* Player agrees to collect the food asked for. his quest slot gets set with it 
		 *so that later when he returns and says the food name, Alrak can check if that 
		 *was the food type he was asked to bring. */
		npc.add(ConversationStates.QUEST_OFFERED,
				ConversationPhrases.YES_MESSAGES,
				null,
				ConversationStates.ATTENDING,
				"Thank you! I hope it doesn't take too long to collect. Don't forget to say '" + food + "' when you have it.",
				new SpeakerNPC.ChatAction() {
					@Override
					public void fire(Player player, String text, SpeakerNPC engine) {
						player.setQuest(QUEST_SLOT, food);
						player.addKarma(5.0);
					}
				});