Lisa Kivirist: Farmer, Author, Activist
“Amplifying the voices of women farmers adds up to a win-win for all of us. As this new crop of female farmers prioritizes organic and healthy growing practices along with …
Happy Birthday, Luther Burbank!
March 7th marks the 167th anniversary of the birth of famed American botanist and horticulturalist Luther Burbank (March 7th, 1849 – April 11th, 1926). Burbank’s birthday coincides with California’s Arbor Week. This …
Twenty minutes to educate students about the food system…go!
And then the self-doubt crept in… Which prompted a “hive mind” query on Facebook…and that led to a very different kind of afternoon than previously planned. Back story: several months …
It’s our first anniversary. We’re offering gratitude to farmers. The UC Food Observer is marking its first anniversary. Some quick stats: we published more than 650 blog posts our first year, earned an amazing (and …
Agricultural/food literacy: from orchard to campus, we’re engaged
In an orchard talking about ag literacy Early Wednesday morning, I sat on a stool in a citrus orchard in Saticoy, California. The stool was provided by Mary Maranville; the orchard was provided by Chris …
Celebrate International Year of Pulses
Pulses have been eaten since at least 7000 to 8000 B.C. according to the United Nations, but the year 2016 might be the one that pushes these healthy foods to …
#FarmAid30: Some quick thoughts
Late last week I traveled to Chicago to take part in a number of activities surrounding the 30th anniversary of Farm Aid. These are quick thoughts, put together on a …
Feds say it’s time to get serious about #foodwaste; what a World War 1 poster can teach us
Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined with a coalition of non-profit and faith-based organizations, food companies and local government to set …
On Tuesday, September 8th, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack was invited to discuss the nation’s child nutrition strategy at the National Press Club. The president of the American Academy of Pediatrics …
Sick chicks and the future of poultry in America
This piece is contributed by Katja Jylkka, a doctoral student in English at the University of California, Davis. Jylkka is serving as a UC Food Observer intern this summer. She …