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 6: Earth Day: We Can Make A Difference! Be Part of the Solution
The first Earth Day was celebrated 51 years ago by few and with little fanfare across the food and ag communities. Fast forward to 2021, and concerns about our environment — climate change, greenhouse gas, food waste, sustainability — are no longer addressed by just a...
2021 Issue 5: Sustainability Starts At Home! It’s Time to Get Serious About Food Waste
The numbers may vary but the facts are real. We waste food! It’s estimated we waste between 30 and 40% of the food supply or nearly 40 million tons of food in the United States every year. Breaking down the numbers, that is equal to 80 billion pounds of food or...
2021 Issue 4: What Will Be Our “Silver Linings” Post COVID?
As we mark the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on every element of the food value chain (and our lives), it’s a good time to reflect on the lessons we have learned, look for the “silver linings,” and honestly assess the...
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...