Amid the headlines of the ever-changing bird flu outbreaks in chickens1 and now, the spread to dairy cattle, one headline is still consistent: our food is safe. Poultry producers and dairy farmers work to ensure their products are safe by following safety protocols...
Tag: Food Supply Systems
Beyond the Table: The Local and Global Commitment of Many
Farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture, local restaurants and markets remind us that many hands help put food on our table. But the reach and number of those hands extend beyond the local community. Today, our desire for year-round produce and food variety...
Cracking the Case on Eggs Beyond the Plate
Eggs are in the headlines again! It is Easter and the lure of dying eggs and creating egg-centric dishes for holiday meals increases the attention. But it’s the cost that is getting the headlines this year. While we were spoiled for paying less than one dollar per...
We Can’t Always Get What We Want: The Flavor vs. Fresh Tomato Trade Off
Buying fresh tomatoes in the middle of winter was never an option or even a consideration when growing up on a farm. You just knew fresh tomatoes were the best off the vine in the summertime and relied on home canned tomatoes (or store bought) for winter days. But...
Bee-Friendly Food: A Feast for All
Spring is beautiful in Kentucky. Dogwood, redbuds and tulip trees abound and tulips, daffodils, iris and azaleas brighten our surroundings. Garden centers bustle with energized customers looking for the perfect outdoor flowers. Farmers’ markets open with the abundance...
“Weathering” the Economic Risk — From Orange Groves to Wheat Fields — for Food on the Table
A weather radio sat on my kitchen table. I woke up every day to Radio 700 AM broadcasting weather and news. Weather dominated our conversations. The memories and realities of whether it was going to "rain or shine” controlled the order of the farm day (other than the...
Despite Challenges the Outlook for Eggs Is Bright
This is the time of the year when the “incredible” egg usually gets top billing. There are Easter egg hunts, Easter egg decorating, spring brunches and Sunday dinners featuring eggs in some form or fashion. However, eggs are seeing some undo focus this year as prices...
Ditch the Fear, Not the Facts! Fruits and Vegetables Are Safe
Spring is here! The images of farmers’ markets and planting our own backyard or container gardens dance in our minds with delight … especially for those of us dealing with a long winter. Fruits and vegetables suddenly have a broader appeal when we see those first...
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,...
Sustainable Agriculture — Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Perspectives from the Sustainable Ag Summit
For those of us who grew up with “dirt under our fingernails” or are currently engaged in raising cattle or crops from almonds to corn, it can be easy to say, “sustainable agriculture has always been at the core of our existence.” However, sustainable farming...