Meet Me At the Table
My goal with this blog is to bring you perspectives from my past, peppered with insights and facts on the future of food, farming and health – providing “food for thought, action and personal responsibility.” As a registered dietitian and a sixth generation farm owner in Kentucky, the connection of farm to plate is part of my DNA. I have spent my career navigating the connections between food, health, agriculture and consumer behavior. Together, we will dig into the complex and ever-changing story of who grows our food, what’s in our food, and how food affects our health and ultimately our lives.
All Things Local are Global — The Seeds of Exploration
The soon-to ripen Florida peach orchards or the spring preparation of Midwest soybean fields may conjure up images of local, domestic food but let’s dig a little deeper. Much of our U.S. grown “local food“ has a global beginning. The National Nutrition Month theme,...
Leading Across the Table … From Mentorship to Leadership
Amid the blasts of late season snow across the Midwest and East Coast, signs of spring are beginning to emerge. The early daffodils and crocuses are raising their heads, kites are flying and daylight hours are longer. It’s time to march into spring … and celebrate...
Patience Not Panic, Please — A Food Supply Reflection
Food Costs Slow Rising I don’t have to tell you food costs have increased over the past year. But when you look at the rate of increase and the percentage of our personal budget, we are fortunate to have an affordable food supply. Recently released USDA Economic...
Curious Minds Forever Changed the Way We Eat! Salute to Our Black Scientists
What and how we plant, grow or eat today is the benefit of curious minds over the years committed to answer the “what if” question. Think about it! The ability to buy bread rather than make it; the availability of fruit and vegetables anytime from anywhere; and the...
Chocolate Makes the World Go Around
“Eat chocolate” was the reported advice given by physicians in the 1800s to patients needing a remedy for anxiety and “broken hearts.”1 The lore of the “doctor’s order” combined with the centuries old tradition of Americans exchanging heart shaped cards and candy...
Put the Chill(i) on the Price of Your Super Bowl Party — Celebrate “Queen City” Style
When it comes to the Super Bowl, food is front and center regardless of the football teams playing! This year, the cost of the party food is getting added attention across the field from ag economists to consumers with the snack category trending 6% higher than a year...
Let’s Ring Out the Old (Habits) & Zero in on Food Waste in 2022
“Food waste is a serious issue!” was the first line of a blog I wrote in January 2019. Fast forward to 2022 and we’re still talking about eliminating food waste, but what are we DOING about it? Even with my “don’t toss food” upbringing, I admit that my refrigerator...
Move Over GMO — Bioengineered is the New Label in Town
Amid the chaos of the holidays, supply chain disruptions and rising food insecurity issues, headlines are popping once again about GMOs or foods containing GMOs as a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) labeling law took effect on January 1. The law, known as the...
Food for Thought — Good Reads for Your List
If you’ve been on any Zoom calls or webinars with me over the past two years, you know I like books (and no, this is not a staged backdrop). Regardless of the virtual and audio options available today, from my perspective, there is nothing like a book in your hand (or...
Tracking Trends for 2022 — It’s Vintage with a Technology Twist
“What is old is new again” may be the perfect description of the coming food and agriculture trends in 2022. When you look at new products on the “must have” lists, it is clear that consumers desire to connect their health back to nature. Turmeric, sunflower seeds,...