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!
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,...
2020 Issue 11: Regenerative Agriculture — Is What Is Old Actually New Again?
Regenerative Agriculture is one of the buzz words of agriculture permeating throughout the food value system. While regenerative agriculture is a principle-based system, practices within the holistic management system do exist in traditional agriculture, a fact that...
2020 Issue 10: Lessons Learned Extend Beyond the Cow
Regardless of our childhood and how long ago it was, we have memories that bring smiles to our faces, tears to our eyes or the realization of what we thought was bad, may actually have been good. June brings those mixed emotions for me and some of my “farm kid”...
2020 Issue 9: Shining Stars Among Grim Realities
The pandemic, the long-term lingering effects of hunger, unemployment and poverty, and the grim realities of today’s headlines can be discouraging. Wearing “rose colored” glasses may not seem appropriate, but we can’t forget there are “shining stars” among us who...
2020 Issue 8: Will the “New Normal” Become Normal in Our Quest for Food?
The latest issue of The AgriNutrition Edge Report looks at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our food shopping behaviors. In the past two months, regardless of where we are in the “farm to fork” process, we have changed. New consumer research shows we are...