Farm To Table Talk

For the good of the climate let’s just stop driving cars. That sounds ridiculous when you can obtain more efficient cars or hybrids, plug-ins and EV’s . Why shouldn’t the same logic apply for the critics of beef consumption? It turns out that some cows are the Teslas and others are gas guzzlers. Just like efficient climate friendly cars there are climate friendly cows producing more milk and/or meat per unit of Green House Gases than the inefficient models. Just make the right choices in transportation and in what you eat. You don’t have to give up cars and you don’t have to give up beef, but you should encourage the car makers and the ranchers who are taking the right steps. This is logical if you think about it but it still isn’t sinking in so Farm To Table Talk is bringing back this conversation with Dr. Frank Mitloener the Director the Clear Center at UC Davis. He explains that most of the arable land in the world cannot be used to produce crops but can be used for forages and grazing. Four stomached ruminants like elk, deer, bison, cattle, goats and sheep are masters of conversion.

Mother Earth is under the weather, but don’t take her “pulse” just yet. In the common usage “pulse” is a vital sign, however another usage is a vital food. Food shortages, impacted by soaring gas prices and inflation, are affecting people in need and their ability to access staple foods. Food banks are busier than ever before. In this environment pulses such as beans, lentils and peas sustainably fill an important need for affordable nutrition. Tony Roelofs, the Vice President of the Pulse Division of Columbia Grain International explains how thousands of farms in the nation’s ‘pulse’ belt are stepping up to produce supplies for the new Balanced Bushel for programs for expanded Section 32 programs. www.columbiagrain.com

Wendell Berry’s writings favorably compare the ways of Amish farming to the high stress modern conventional farming by “the English”. In surprising ways Amish farms offer regenerative leadership that are a modern contrast in a horse and buggy society. Through his own Modern Frontier Farm and an Amish Cooperative, Adam Rick finds that Amish farms are especially well-suited to these times when consumers want to know how their food is grown. As the average age of American farmers is pushing in to six decades plus, more young Amish farmers are stepping up to grow their business in ways that meet the future head on. Adam Rick shares his journey and what he is learning on social media, Clubhouse app and Farm To Table Talk. www. Amodernfrontier.com

Festivals celebrate our favorite foods and since bacon is a favorite for many it deserves a delicious festival. Across the country, chefs, consumers and farmers have come together in celebration of bacon in events known as BaconFests. In the acclaimed Farm to Fork Capitol, Sacramento California, Farm to Table Talk joins the Bacon Fest festivities in conversation with talented and enthusiastic chefs, including: Patrick Mulvaney, Mulvaney’s B&L; Dennis Sydnor, Renegade Dining, Bucky Bray, Canon; Brian Guido, Baconfest founder; Chris Barnum-Dann, Localis; Gregory Desmargles, Urban Roots Brewery and Smokehouse; Ravine Patel, Hyatt Centric Sacramento; Lauren Petri and Ryan Visker, Nixtaco; Elena Winks, Franquette; and Scott Williams, Moksa Brewing Company. The winner of the 11th Guido Cup for top entry went to Juan and Kristin Barajas, Woodland’s Savory Cafe.

Food can have a positive impact on the land and our communities. “But our planet is in danger and it’s time for us to think even bigger.” These words of wisdom are surprisingly to be found on a climate smart Kernza Grain cereal by Cascadian Farm. Thanks to the research and development at the Land Institute in Salina Kansas, the deep rooted, soil healthy perennial grain will store more carbon, prevent soil erosion and preserve clean water. Plus it makes nutritious tasty cereal and soon other food products. Tim Crews is the Chief Scientist at the Land Institute and a believer in what perennial plants like Kernza can offer the planet. www.landinstitute.org  

The health of land and the health of bodies are connected. Or as Kate Kavanaugh explains it\’s about mind, body and soil. Kate is a butcher, a farmer, a newly podcast host and more — all existing within the regenerative ag space. As a butcher, she founded Western Daughters Butcher shop in Denver featuring local grass fed beef, pork and chicken from local regenerative farms. As a farmer, she raises low-PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) pork and poultry (chicken, duck, and goose) focusing on feed and frequent rotation to optimize omega-3 content for the meat it becomes. As a podcast host the focus is on the interconnected themes of Mind, Body, and Soil. www.groundwork.com

  Sheep may be today’s most popular animal for a new breed of sustainable farmers and ranchers with new consumers who are discovering a taste for lamb, raised right. To meet this opportunity lamb processor Superior Farms and sheep producers from six states have launched a state-of-the-art sheep facility, in Nephi, Utah. Superior Farms CEO, Rick Stott explains that the venture will converge the farming methods of traditional lamb production with advanced sheep industry technologies, production practices and genetics, resulting in a more consistent and sustainable lamb production model that will benefit the entire American lamb industry, from farm to table. www.superiorfarms.com

Seeds are the source of all food. Will seeds save us? The FAO reports that only nine crop species now account for the majority of the world’s food supply. There has been a 90% decrease in plant breeding diversity since the early 1900’s. Farmers are not able to save seeds for future planting that are protected by intellectual property laws and 4 corporations control 70% of the current $90+ billion seed system. As Co-Founder of Seed Linked, Dylan Bruce thinks of that future, focusing on no-till vegetable production, seed breeding and seed production for organic and reduced-tillage systems. Global food security begins and ends with seeds. www.seedlinked.com

Worthwhile endeavors that are to protect and regenerate the Earth, must be \”Earthwhile\”. Nestled in the heart of California\’s San Benito County among sweeping oak-studded hillsides, Paicines Ranch is habitat for a diversity of wildlife including animals, birds, insects, trees, plants, grasses, springs, rivers, and more. Ranch owner,Sally Callhoun says their mission is to work with the dynamic natural world at the ranch to regenerate the health of the ecosystem from the soil up while growing delicious, nourishing food for their community: 100% grassfed beef, lamb, pork, and turkeys. They also host a variety of weddings, corporate events and workshops. This earthwhile endeavor becoming a place where people convene and ecosystems are regenerated. www.paicinesranch.com

Regenerative agriculture can significantly curb climate change, but only if it’s coupled with racial and land justice. UC Santa Barbara professor and writer Liz Carlisle\’s book, Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming explores how we got here and how we heal the earth and the food system. Along the way she shares the stories of female farmers of color who are reviving ancestral methods of growing food, reclaiming their communities’ relationship to land, and tackling climate change. Truly implementing regenerative ag will require reckoning with agricultural history and dismantling power structures that discriminate against farmers of color. ·

A food system revolution is under way that begins with farming better. From his Blue Dasher Farm in South Dakota and the non-profit Ecdysis Foundation, Jonathan Lundgren professes that \”we can grow food and conserve biodiversity and environmental health\” by making innovative practices scalable and transferable to as many farms as possible . Nothing less than a paradigm shift is anticipated as soon as farmers are ready to farm in nature’s image. www.ecdysis.bio.hub www.bluedasher.farm  

Caroline and Jesse McDougall work everyday to build abundance, diversity, and resilience on their farm in rural southern Shaftbury Vermont. Studio Hill Farm transitioned from conventional chemical management to organic holistic management in 2012. To rehabilitate 250+ acres of degraded land, they raise sheep, pigs and poultry on pasture and use regenerative management to foster healthy, biologically-active soils—something they’ve mastered to become a Savory Influencer Hub. In order to help pay the bills and ensure that their family farm thrives for generations to come, they have added partnership in a meat processing plant, including tanning capabilities and agri-tourism as an auxiliary source of income. They have accessed the capitol needed for expansion through a partnership with Steward—a private commercial lender offering business loans to regenerative farms and ranches. studiohill.farm

Almost 50 years ago the Agriculture Council of America started National Ag Day. Since then across America, agriculture has been recognized and celebrated on a day or all week in March of every year. It is based on the belief that everyone should:understand how food and fiber products are produced; appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products; value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy; and acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.In this episode of Farm to Table Talk we’re at Farm Day on the steps of the Capitol building in Sacramento, California where government officials, FFA, Farm organizations and the public are gathering to listen and join in conversations about agriculture in California., where many are still surprised to learn that this state of 40 million people ranks # 1 in Agriculture. Most of the Fruits and Vegetables grown in the US come from California, including over 99 % of figs, almonds, garlic, artichoke, honeydew, sweet rice, plums, raisins, walnuts, peaches, olives, nectarines, pistachios, clover, kiwis, onions, flowers, apricots and pomegranates. However the story is more than the food produced, it’s also the \’culture\’ in agriculture. As he stepped from the Capitol stage at Ag Day, CA Senator Jim Patterson explains to us and the live audience from around the world on Clubhouse why that matters.

Country music legends and livestock on a farm in East Tennessee surprisingly have something in common. Aliceson and Barry Bales own a family farm in East Tennessee where they raise grass fed and finished beef, pastured pork and chicken and their CEO (Chief Egg Officer) son has a pastured egg operation. Aliceson has published a cook book and Barry is a long time musician with Alison Krauss and Union Station (along with a few other folks) and a songwriter. How do you top winning 15 Grammies as well as other awards with CMAs, ACMs and IBMAs., including song of the year at the ACMs for “Nobody to Blame” (co-wrote with Chris Stapleton and Ronnie Bowman) By farming with your family in Greene County Tennessee. www.balesfarmstn.com  

Local Butcher Shops are coming back as more consumers want to experience the craft, knowledge and quality assurance of old. The new version of an old tradition provides local, humanely treated, pasture raised beef, lamb, pork and poultry. Expert butchers not only know how to cut meat, they can answer questions on production practices, menu ideas and cooking instructions. One of the leaders in this butcher shop movement is Eric Veldman Miller and his Butcher Shop in East Sacramento, \”V Miller Meats.\” vmillermeats.com

Food insecurity is a reality for 16% of the public and 32% are waiting for their next pay check before they can buy food. Trends like this matter and are now being discovered by the Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability at Purdue University. The Head of the Center and Head of the Purdue Ag Econ. Department, Dr. Jayson Lusk believes that to be successful in the food business you must understand your consumer segment and what it is that they are caring about. To fill that need Purdue has launched a monthly Sustainable Food Purchasing Index. What matters in your segment? www.purdue.ag/cfdas

The most hated chore on most farms is paperwork. From her family farm in Nebraska Peggy Meyer thought there had to be a better way, so she created an app to help farmers manage their paperwork more efficiently. She felt the pains of time management and record keeping and wanted to build something to help! Somehow between raising 6 kids and farming, she created \”Field Pocket\”. Peggy believed she could make it App \’N and farms across the MidWest are glad she did. The app is called Field Pocket.

When we think of pasture sounds, it\’s moo, baaa, or whinnies. So why not quacks, clucks and honks.? Well poultry in the pasture is the gateway to farming since the aspiring farmers can start with just a few acres, as did Jeff Siewicki in South Carolina. He had to figure out how to start with low investment and no experience but with passion to spare. Ducks have become the poultry preference in his pasture . With a profitable pasture poultry base he now shares how to farm without buying land, without a tractor, without piling up debt and with getting Chefs to feature his duck. www.instagram.com/farmerjeffs https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMbDQeaks1AGr6zZRpQ_fPQ https://farmingtribe.com/tabletalk

Some are concerned about whether or not the foods they buy contain GMO, genetically modified organisms, or what USDA refers to as Bioengineered. As a result of a 2016 Bill passed by Congress and signed into Law by President Obama, USDA regulations have just gone in to effect that specifies that foods that are bioengineered or contain bioengineered ingredients must disclose that information to consumers with text, symbol, QR code or telephone. Greg Jaffe, the Project Director for Center for Science in the Public Interest shares the the history, major components of the requirement and first impressions of in-store implementation. https://cspinet.org/news/blog/whos-labeling-what-examining-how-companies-are-disclosing-bioengineered-ingredients

Technology in smart phones and watches help people identify current and emerging issues that Doctors can address. Do animals deserve any less? Rapidly improving technology helps ranchers, farmers and their veterinarians know everything they need to about an animal\’s current condition and anticipate problems that are likely to occur. Beyond monitoring, DNA technology allows all of the information a chef or an end consumer may want to know about the history of their dinner. Dr. Paulo Loureiro, is Lead for Global Marketing at Allflex Livestock Intelligence for Merck Animal Health. He explains the ramifications of these developments including the implications of healthier animals to the Climate.

Regenerative? Organic? Real Organic? Non GMO? Sustainable? Biodynamic? Consumers understandably get confused by the terms when they just want to buy the best food for themselves and their families. \”Best\” can mean everything from climate to nutrition but always includes taste. On his \”Save Our Soil\” (SOS) farm in Australia, Mark Rathbone is a firm believer in Biodynamic and his customers believe he is right especially when they taste what he grows on his farm about 3 hours north of Melbourne. Mark shares his passion and purpose with other farmers around the world and with all of us who want to eat the best and save our soils. www.saveoursoil.com.au

President Biden has launched a well-funded action plan for a \”Fairer, More Competitive and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain. Jenny Lester Moffitt, the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs says that the new program will effect the entire meat supply chain from farm to table by: expansion of independent processing capacity; jump starting independent processing projects; strengthening finacing systems; and backing private lenders that back these new or expanding independent meat processors. Country of origin is also a part of the venture. www.usda.gov/meat

There have been major, well-documented problems with child labor overseas in production of various food imports. These foods make their way into the US market–another reason consumers want to know who produced their food. Anne Ross with Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services emphasizes that it isn\’t fair for ethical farmers to have to compete with those who are using forced labor for profit. It\’s even worse that these practices are a direct impact on the liberty of people in addition to the devastating impact on the livelihoods of all the ethical farmers. People often confuse \”human trafficking\” with \”human smuggling.\” but trafficking happens even when no borders are crossed. Unscrupulous recruiters have lured workers with false promises, only to coerce them to work by withholding immigration documents, threatening deportation, withholding pay, or creating a debt that can never be repaid by any amount of work. Consumers can engage in market place activism by knowing their farmer and knowing how to find information about supply chains. There are resources consumers can use to find out more about where their food came from.

Bacon crisis? Or not? Since Californians voted to require more space for pigs, chickens and veal calves, consumers have started to worry about what it will mean for the price and availability of bacon. The effects will not only be felt in California but nationwide for pig farmers, meat packers, food distributors, restaurants, supermarkets and consumers. UC Davis AG Economists, Daniel Sumner and Rich Sexton have studied the situation and identified what to expect when consumers in one state want production practices followed that are not required in other states. Professor Sumner explains that the regulations dictate minimum space just for breeding sows. Fresh pork (not processed) ultimately sold in California can only be from California compliant pens that provide 24 square feet of space per sow instead of the industry standard 20 square feet–requiring farmers to build more space (higher cost) or cut production (lower income). That in turn will have a ripple effect through every state with likely implications to future production standards of other food products. ( But there will be bacon.) https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/568762-californias-animal-welfare-law-caused-hysteria-on-both-sides-here

“To make a living is not to make a killing. It’s to have enough.” says Wendell Berry in many ways, in scores of books over the years. As we consider the future of the world we need to reflect on the counsel of Wendell Berry who reminds us that the world will take care of us if we take care of it; knowing and loving it. If there was a poet laureate for agriculture, it should be Wendell Berry. A few years ago the renowned Bill Moyers was successful in interviewing Wendell and he agreed we could share that conversation as a Farm To Table Talk podcast. As a capstone to a challenging year and a message that inspires us for another New Year, we once again bring back this conversation of Wendell Berry and Bill Moyers that originally aired on October 4, 2014 as a production of the Schumann Media Center and Mannes production. www.BerryCenter.org. The people who produced the original show are acknowledged here. Produced & Directed by ELENA MANNES; Editor DONNA MARINO; Director of Photography PETER NELSON; Art Direction DALE ROBBINS; Sound ROGER PHENIX; Coordinating Producer KRISTIN LOVEJOY; Associate Producers JESSICA BARI, RENIQUA ALLEN; Additional Camera JAY McCAIN, CHIP SWETNAM; Lighting Director DAN CUNNINGHAM; Grips MIKE DICKMAN, JAMES WISE; Make-up TAMARA LEE; Data Management LUKE STALEY; Production Assistant DAVID ZACHERY; Assistant Editor SCOTT GREENHAW. Special Thanks: MARY BERRY. TANYA BERRY, BONNIE CECIL, DWIGHT COTTON, ADOLFO DORING, TONY MORENO, LEAH BAYENS, CONNIE KAYS, MICHAEL KELEM, AMANDA ZACKEM Footage and Stills: Appalachian Voices, AP Images, Wendell Berry Family, Shay Boyd, Dan Carraco, Center for Ecoliteracy, Ben Evans, Getty Images, ilovemountains.org, James Baker Hall Archive, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Guy Mendes, Oleg Ignatovich/Pond5, Twistah/Pond5, Kbuntu/Shutterstock, Spotmatik/Shutterstock, Suliman Razvan/Shutterstock, Suwit Gaewsee/Shutterstock, Chad A. Stevens, Wallace Global FundMusic: Courtesy of APM Music:, Abandoned Ruin, Josh Clark, Leon Hunt, Anthill A, Kurt Hummel, Ballad of Willie – Underscore, Ken Anderson, Rebecca Ruth Hall, Ein Takt Für Gitarre, Shih, Gaya-gaya, Hwa Chae Kyung, Completely Calm C, Klaus Stuehlen, Jesse James, Richard Gilks, Unknown, Madonna’s March, Susi Gott, Pianissimo, Bob Bradley, Matthew Sanchez, Quiet Garden, Pascal Bournet, Silent Movements A, John Epping, Jeff Newmann, Skydancer A, Klaus Stuehlen, Skydancer B, Klaus Stuehlen Senior Executive Producer JUDY DOCTOROFF O’NEILL Production Executives KAREN KIMBALL, YUKA NISHINO. A production of the Schumann Media Center, Inc. and Mannes Productions, Inc.© 2013      

With climate change what is the future of agriculture? The author of The Dreamt Land, Mark Arax draws from his chronicles of California over the past three decades to consider where we\’ve been and where we\’re headed to address the future of agriculture in a time of climate change. No writer has devoted more pages to the story of California agriculture—small farmers and big farmers, conventional farmers and organic farmers, the migrants who work the crops—than Arax. A “culture of extraction” has leveled valleys and drained rivers and lakes. In defiance of drought, flood, wildfire and earthquake Agriculture has been invented and reinvented and it needs it again. The Dreamt Land is one of the best books ever written about farming and ranching in the West.    

  Because ‘we are what we eat,’ the Native American food sovereignty movement is working to revitalize and perpetuate traditional food systems in order to promote good physical, cultural and spiritual health for Indigenous peoples. This is being done through the promotion of seed sovereignty and the reclamation and rematriation of Native heirloom seeds; through the work of Native chefs seeking to reclaim and define Indigenous cuisine; and in fighting for a clean environment in which to nurture these foods. Elizabeth Hoover, discusses nationwide Native American food and seed sovereignty efforts, and the inspiring community based projects and organizations that are changing the way the nation thinks about food. Elizabeth Hoover is a professor of Environmental Science, Policy and management at UC Berkeley.    

Small holder farmer provide over 80 to 90 % of food production in Africa. However much more food is needed and farmers need to earn more money to lift them and their families beyond subsistence, just getting by. Larta Institute has introduced Farm to Table Talk to OCP a Moroccan based global plant nutrition company serving farmers on five continents. The potential for African farmers to improve their livelihood, food availability and eventually export is huge. Dr. Donald Madukwe, the Head of Agronomy Services & Farmer Centric Projects for OCP Africa and Akintunde Akinwande who has Business Development and Innovation responsibilities explain how this goal may be realized and the unique demands driving digital Agronomy in Africa. ocpafrica.com Agshowcase.com    

Successful agriculture requires a continuous supply of new ideas and technology for farmers of all types to meet the demands of global and local markets, profitably. Over 100,000 from the farm to table global supply chain are once again making their way to the Central Valley of California to experience the World\’s largest outdoor farm show, the World Ag Expo. Marketing Manager, Jennifer Fawkes, shares the what is to be found and learned from over 1,000 exhibits, food tents, seminars and more; including the \”Top-10 New Products\” 2020. https://www.worldagexpo.com/attendees/top-10-new-products/  

  \”Green Washing\” is a better recognized term than \”Humane Washing\” but it\’s the same idea of claiming to be as good as your customers want to hear. Exaggerations or plain mistruths take liberty with the true facts of the matter. Farm Forward is one organization that is watching and calling out retailers and others in the food chains that they believe are making animal welfare claims that cannot be substantiated. Ben Goldsmith is the Co-founder and Chief Strategist of Farm Forward and organization that openly calls for the end of \”factory farms\” to be ultimately replaced with more equitable, sustainable and humane practices. www.farmforward.com

  Food is changing. How will we eat? That’s the question posed in the Farm To Table Talk Clubhouse room to Troy Hooper a multi- business entrepreneur in the hospitality space with a consulting practice to build and scale emerging brands. Troy and Rodger Wasson are joined live in the Clubhouse room by a large group of members. Joining the conversation “on stage” are Chef Dr. Mike, a cardiologist, professional chef and author; Regenerative Livestock Manager, Ben Glassen; farming entrepreneur Cindy Beuchert, Sara Calvosa, Indigenous Californian, Karuk Tribe food writer, author and others. Ideas can be farmed! The seeds of ideas can be planted, cultivated, harvested, distributed and consumed. For ideas about growing, marketing and consuming food, Idea Farming consultancy was created– helping organizations tell their stories and grow their brands And for conversations about ideas that will matter there is the Farm To Table Talk podcast. Hear about new ideas at www.farmtotabletalk.com. For help with authentic stories and strategic counsel go to www.idea-farming.com Join the drop in audio version of Farm to Table Talk on Clubhouse.

Nothing less than the future of the world is the focus of the gathering in Glasgow Scotland, known as COP 26. The California Secretary of Agriculture, Karen Ross was there to share the progress and goals of agriculture in California and from there talks with Farm To Table Talk host, Rodger Wasson.  

Beth Hoffman was living the good life: she had a successful career as a journalist and professor, a comfortable home in San Francisco, and plenty of close friends and family. Yet in her late 40s, she and her husband decided to leave the big city and move to his family ranch in Iowa—all for the dream of becoming a farmer, to put into practice everything she had learned over decades of reporting on food and agriculture. There was just one problem: money.Half of America\’s two million farms made less than $300 in 2019. Between rising land costs, ever-more expensive equipment, the growing uncertainty of the climate, and few options for health care, farming today is a risky business. For many, simply staying afloat is a constant struggle. Beth Hoffman shares the story of the struggles faced by farmers and paths to a more just and sustainable food system, that starts on the farm. https://island press.org/books/bet-farm  

The Chefs’ Manifesto is a chef-led project that brings together 1000+ chefs from around the world to help deliver a sustainable food system. As chefs bridge the gap between farm and fork, the Chefs’ Manifesto empowers chefs with a framework tied to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This framework consists of simple, practical actions chefs can take and are grouped in key areas. Paul Newnham, the Global Coordinator for Chef\’s Manifesto, sees Chefs as the Conduit between food producers and eaters with a powerful role to play in accomplishing worldwide sustainable development. www.chefsmanifesto.com

COVID disruptions again showed that instead of dependence on a few global meat conglomerates, States and Provinces need more small-scale slaughter and cut-and-wrap facilities — creating skilled jobs throughout rural communities. The Biden Administration\’s commitment to increase fairness in livestock and poultry markets, and USDA’s new short-term funding for local meat processing, are a start. Coupling those with systemic solutions proposed in Congress and Legislatures will create Meat Processing Inspection programs “equal to” USDA inspection. Michael Dimock and Roots of Change are working to unleash more market opportunities for small- and mid-scale meat producers, increase local meat supply chain resilience, protect workers and aid rural communities. www.rootsofchange.org Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article254243278.html#storylink=cpy  

In our ideal world the best farming finds its way to the best restaurants. One of those journeys leads to Allora in Sacramento where the best things in life belong together, food and wine. Allora is the dream of a sommelier and a chef; husband and wife. Two partners who love Sacramento and are infatuated with Italy. Featuring over 250 wines, fresh pasta made daily, and a commitment to sustainable seafood, Allora is the best of where they are from, of what they have experienced, and what is yet to come. Chef and Partner Dneb Williams describes Allora as a wine-centric gathering place that celebrates modern Italian food and the Sacramento areas bounty. Chef Dneb share the journey to source sustainable, artisanal food and wine locally and in Italy. www. allorasacramento.com

\”Experience is everything,\” says Gigi Berardi, Ph.D., author of Food Wise: A Whole Systems Guide to Sustainable and Delicious Food Choices, “We all eat, but we make different choices about what to eat and how.” Improving how we make these choices can mean the difference between continued frustration with what we put in our bodies and a more healthful, meaningful relationship with food and nourishment. Food “Wise” stands for: whole, informed, sustainable and experienced-based thinking. She invites readers to think holistically about how we can procure and produce incredible meals, and draw deep nourishment from the foods we prepare and consume. In addition to being a food resilience professor at Huxley College in Bellingham Washington, the author is a sheep farmer, cheese maker and a slow food movement proponent. https://wp.wwu.edu/gigiberardi/  

Rewilding can regenerate our relationship with nature/soil, sequester carbon, increase biodiversity, nourish foods and heal our communities. Rewilding is happening in Nelson County, Virginia with 100% grass-fed and finished cattle, heritage & holistically foraged pigs, and 100% grass-fed sheep on the Timshel Wildland –a 400-acre regenerative, process-led, and emergent conservation wildland. The owner, Daniel Firth Griffith, is an author, emergent conservationist and director of the Rabinia Institute, a Savory Institute Hub. wildtimshel.com @timshel  

  World leaders have committed to tackling global hunger, climate change and biodiversity loss at an historic UN Food Systems Summit. More than 150 countries made commitments to transform their food systems, while championing greater participation and equity, especially amongst farmers, women, youth and indigenous groups. What is this global food system and why does it matter? After a full day of hearing Presidents, Prime Ministers and UN officials express their vision, Farm To Table Talk visits with an experienced hand at global diplomacy engaged from farm to table all over the world. Paul Newnham is the Director of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 Advocacy Hub, a secretariat catalyzing, convening, and connecting NGOs, advocacy groups, civil society, the private sector and UN agencies to coordinate global campaigning and advocacy to achieve food systems transformation. The 2021 UN Food System Summit has concluded but the journey continues. https://www.un.org/foodsystemssummit

Everything is changing down on the farm, except for the laws. How do farmers and ranchers keep up while they diversify in to direct to consumer sales, wedding sites, field dinners, local meat processing, pesticide drift, agri-tourism, cottage food, food safety liability, NIMBY neighbors, run off, carbon credits, etc? The trusty local lawyer may not have all the answers. That\’s why Rachel Armstrong created Farm Commons.

Call it what you will, the climate is weird and getting more dangerous. Still reactive blanket prescriptions for changing the world\’s diets must take in to account that over 800,000 people are subsisting on incomes of $2 per day. In these areas the most serious threat is physical and cognitive stunting of up to 30% of the children due to poor diets; however, global regenerative agriculture can reduce Green House Gases and still improve diets with better utilization of nutrient dense animal sourced foods. Dr. Adegbola Adesogan is the Director of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems and the Professor of Ruminant Nutrition at the University of Florida. https://livestocklab.ifas.ufl.edu/. https://foodsystems.ifas.ufl.edu/

The world can draw down all of our Carbon emissions if agriculture fully embraced regenerative agriculture. Soils must be regularly monitored by probing carbon levels because the more that is in the soil the less is in the atmosphere. These themes are promoted by the Chico Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems to reduce greenhouse gasses, restore soil resiliency, increase the sustainability of farms and ranches, and address food and water insecurity. The co founder of the Center, Dr. Tim Tim LaSalle was the first CEO of Rodale Institute, Executive Director of the Allan Savory Center for Holistic Management and researcher/adviser with the Howard Buffett Foundation in Africa on soils and food security for smallholder farmers. Tim is Professor Emeritus of Cal Poly and former President/CEO of the California Ag Leadership Program. https://www.csuchico.edu/regenerativeagriculture/index.shtml

Global regenerative abundance is the goal and holistic management is the way to get there. It\’s an abstract perspective at first, but when coached to this vision by the Savory Institute\’s Global Network Coordinator, Abbey Smith we get the picture. The Savory Institute sets out to regenerate the world\’s grasslands and in that journey regenerates farms, ranches, regions, communities and individuals who are committed to protecting the Earth and its population from predicted climate and food disasters. Abbey Smith explains how Savory Institute\’s work is global in scope, grassroots in execution and holistic.

To cook, farm or eat in a different way requires taking that first step. On Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Ben Glassen has taken first steps in regeneratively raising animals and providing them to consumers who are taking their own first steps, reaping the benefits of regenerative livestock production. Ben\’s approach includes leasing (or borrowing) land, mobile infrastructure and direct marketing. Customers choose to purchase meat raised regeneratively for the health value, ethics of the way the animals are raised, support of local production and the environmental impact. The next first step for Ben will be establishing an abattoir to process locally raised livestock. In addition to listening to Ben Glassen on the Farm To Table Talk podcast, he can be visited with directly on Clubhouse in the Farm To Talk Club. www.glassenfarms.com

COVID-19 forced thousands of farmers, fishermen, butchers, and food suppliers to make incredible changes that they had never imagined. Fortunately, in the emerging food chain, suppliers of all sizes can compete in the digital world at the intersection of technology and food. Joseph Lee, Co-Founder and CPO of Freshline shares the story of how new ventures like theirs have stepped up to create these links that are revolutionizing the way food efficiently gets from boats and farms to tables all over North America. www.freshline.io  

What does Social Science have to do with our food system? Professor Silvia Secchi a Social Scientist at the Public Policy Center at the University of Iowa believes it has a key role to play as is clear by her favorite quote from T. W Shultz, \”It is especially the social sciences -economics, sociology and political science -which, if prosecuted with vigor reveal answers which are unpalatable to special interests.\” Today that vigorous prosecution can address issues facing women farmers, polluted waters, barriers to entry and misdirected carbon credits strategies. Professor Secchi highlights the issues and ways to constructively engage in the dialogues that can lead to positive change. [email protected] https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10460-020-10077-x.pdf https://www2.iihr.uiowa.edu/cjones/crap-and-trade

If food insecure populations can\’t make it to food markets, bring it to them. With this idea and a grant from the California Department of Agriculture for a Farmers Market Food Truck, this is a dream come true in West Sacramento. Sara Bernal is the program manager for the West Sacramento Urban Farm Program and now with a vehicle the size of a traditional U Haul moving truck low income communities are able to shop for farm fresh foods in their own neighborhoods. “With the seniors particularly but also these affordable housing complexes with families, it can be exceedingly hard if you don’t have a car to get groceries,” Bernal said. “So the whole purpose of the truck is to get produce to people where they live in the easiest way possible and then to make it affordable.” Sarah Bernal and Rodger Wasson visit in the parking lot of a low income housing community while customers bring their Cal Fresh/SNAP EBT cards for discounted purchases of healthy foods. www.landbasedlearning.org

Food waste presents its own serious crisis. As awareness has risen about the impact of climate change on our environment, we are learning the significant role that food waste plays. In America, 40% of the food supply, from farm to table, is wasted. This excess food ends up in landfills where it creates methane gas, a major contributor to the warming of our planet. Vegetables, fruit, milk, and other nutritious foods fill our landfills. At a time when there is so much hunger in our country, we are throwing away the very food that could feed the food insecure and help save our planet.The bottom line is that hunger and food waste are unacceptable in America where there is a wealth of resources and enough food being produced to feed everyone. The knowledge that these crises can be solved drives the mission and work of Food Rescue USA whose CEO Carol Shatuck visited the Farm To Table Talk Clubhouse room (now open to all) and this episode of Farm To Table Talk. www.foodrescue.us    

  Before he became the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson envisioned a country of \’citizen farmers\’ who would be engaged in government. Jefferson would have been pleased with citizens like Iowa farmer Francis Thicke and Vermont farmer Dave Chapman who climb off their tractors to Zoom with the Secretary of Agriculture about needed policy infrastructure repairs to the USDA Organic program. A thousand farmer have already joined with them to give consumers assurance of Real Organic production practices and to rescue the reputation and trust in Certified Organic. It\’s wrong when farmers are passive about what they grow and it\’s wrong when consumers are passive about what they eat. Jefferson could see farmers and eaters saying \”we the people are going to do it on our own.\” www.realorganicproject.org

If more of us pledged our head to clearer thinking, our heart to greater loyalty, our hands to larger service and our health to better living it would be better for us, our clubs, our community, our country and our world. That\’s been the 4-H pledge for generations, although our \”world\” is a welcome additional beneficiary. 4-H is not just for farm kids with animals. In many states the vast majority of young people in 4-H Clubs are in cities with a wide range of projects that often have more in common with computer labs than barnyards. Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty is the California 4 -H Director for University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Lynn tells the story of today\’s 4-H and how we can help our kids and ourselves. Caring parents, neighbors or grandparents should look in to 4-H for youngsters or to volunteer their own time for \”better living in better communities\”. http://4h.ucanr.edu