Edible Browsing: Fall 2018
About 44% of farmland is rented, which means that even fewer farmers are stewards of our farmland. Over half of the farmers who remain in the state do not list farming as their primary occupation. Off-farm employment is necessary for health insurance and income… As for the American diet, cheap corn has made it possible for us to eat a whooping average of 270 pounds of meat per year and consume more processed foods with more sweeteners and starches than ever.
Edible Cleveland, Summer 2018, The Not-So-Sweet Truth about Ohio Corn, page 2
I don’t want to be that chef who’s in the office, comes down at 5 o’clock: “Why isn’t this ready? This doesn’t taste right!” (Chef Evan) Gastman says, pulling a Gordon Ramsey-esque scowl. “Then I’m leading by fear, and I never want to be that person.”
Edible Sarasota, Summer 2018, Chef Evan Gastman, page 15
“In my own age group there will be times when we go out to dinner and someone will say, this is way too expensive,” she (Katie Flannery) said. “But from my perspective, if you’re not doing it that often and the menu showcases a good item, then it’s worth it. Because there really is a difference between good food and bad food. There can be really important moments in your life that you should celebrate with good food and with good wine, and understand that you’re not eating a $10 steak from Costco.”
Edible Marin and Wine Country, Summer 2018, Strong Roots Provide Wings To Grow, page 69
The Farm Bill has guided American agricultural policy since its creation in 1933. Part of the New Deal, it was designed to protect farmers and consumers when the twin forces of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl put the country’s food security at risk. Passed every five years, the bill includes 12 titles that cover everything from conservation to crop insurance. The 2011 Farm Bill, which encompassed roughly $457.5 billion in spending expires on September 30, 2018. As the next iteration is drafted, the decisions made will affect us all.
We’ve done a great job helping farmers who produce commodities (corn, soy), notes (Tom) Colicchio. But incentives are few for fruits vegetables. “We’ve done very little at looking at fruits and vegetables and increasing their yield. Fruits and vegetables cost a lot of money.” Our food policies, says Colicchio, ought to support people who eat, as opposed to corporations.
Edible Jersey, Summer 2018, A Primer On The 2018 Farm Bill, page 47 and 56
Many young people are now are in danger of having “Nature Deficit Disorder,” a term author Richard Louv coined in 2008, giving label to the increasing cost for children when they spend almost no time in unfettered outdoor play. In fact, a study out of the University of Cambridge showed that children can often identify more cartoon and Pokemon characters than plants and animals that live nearby.
Edible Ojai & Ventura County, Summer 2018, Go Wild, page 21
