The AgriNutrition Edge Report
The AgriNutrition Edge Report is designed to bring you practical and personal insights about current topics, regulations and studies about food across the value chain…from production to preparation along with consumer insights from you and me! As a 6th generation farm owner, dairy farmer’s daughter and registered dietitian, my intention is to bring perspectives from the ground up while also showcasing those that provide the food on our tables: our farmers and ranchers. Enjoy!
2021 Issue 3: Don’t Let Fresh Get in the Way of Eating Healthy
Too many times, we equate “healthy” with only “fresh” forms of food, especially fruits and vegetables. But, since the 18th century, we have been canning food to have nutritious and safe options regardless of the season or situation. February is Canned Food Month so...
2021 Issue 2: Give Credit Where Credit is Due! George Washington Carver Understood Sustainability
The buzz around sustainability is not new. As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s important to recognize a man whose impact on agriculture extends beyond peanuts. Thanks to the vision and scientific curiosity of George Washington Carver, we can trace the concept of...
2021 Issue 1: Wake Up! We Can Do Better! Take the “2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans” to Heart to Make Every Bite Count
The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) have been released and should be a wake-up call for all of us. The new guidelines offer four principles for moving forward on a more healthful path: (1) follow a healthy dietary pattern at every life stage, (2) eat...
2020 Issue 18: Recharge and Reset … Rockin’ Resilience in the New Year
Since October, retail chains to consumer research firms have highlighted foods that will populate our shopping lists as well as the priorities we, as consumers and farmers, will set in 2021. The sense of urgency to address planet and personal health remains high with...
2020 Issue 17: Unwrapping the Package — What’s Underneath the Label?
Every holiday season, there are always a few “surprises” when we open our gifts. I learned at an early age that the contents of a package don’t always match the outside label. My mother was resourceful, so using a box for the second or third time seemed quite...
2020 Issue 16: Reflections of Resiliency … Actions Speak Volumes
This is not a usual Thanksgiving season. But it is our reality. Perhaps this year our celebration reflects more accurately the resiliency of our forefathers 400 years ago at Plymouth Rock than typical years. Since March, we’ve seen disruptions in our food distribution...
2020 Issue 15: Beneath the “Health Halo” — Plant-Based Meat Alternatives
With the rapid rise of plant-based meat alternatives in the market, the question of “what’s in the meat” has become a hot topic. For consumers who desire to eat healthier, plant-based meats may seem to be a natural fit. But, is this a “healthy” choice or simply a...
2020 Issue 14: Food Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility – Make It a Daily Routine
September is National Food Safety Education Month, but for the thousands of food supply workers every day and every month is about food safety. This issue of The AgriNutrition Edge Report looks at the reality of foodborne illnesses, new efforts to modernize safety...
2020 Issue 13: Farmers’ Markets – A Reflection of Resiliency and Community Spirit
Visions of bright red tomatoes, sweet corn in the husk and zucchini of all shapes and sizes “dance in our heads” and on our plates as the farmers’ market season is in full swing across most of our country. In fact, the first week of August was designated National...
2020 Issue 12: To Buy or Not to Buy Cage-Free Eggs? That is the EGG-CELLENT Question!
Last week, when another supermarket chain announced its commitment to a 100% cage-free egg supply by 2025, I had to ponder this question. Is the momentum to revolutionize the egg industry consumer-driven or agenda-driven? Is the movement about animal welfare,...