Cover crops deliver bee forage
In a previous guest post for UC Food Observer, I quoted my FarmLab message to third graders: “Crops’ are what we grow for people, and ‘cover crops’ are what we …
Strawberry Production in Post-Methyl Bromide World
Parting is such sweet sorrow. Said no conventional strawberry farmer in California, ever. In 2016, the powerful soil fumigant methyl bromide–a chemical strawberry farmers relied on for decades–was finally phased …
If farm dogs ran the world, we would never have needed to discover coffee. With an adult life spent largely in agriculture and the military, I am no stranger to …
Fair Food Advocate Has UC Roots
Sustainable agriculture is more than about cultivating crops. It is also about creating a healthy and just food system that is equitable, transparent, diverse and accessible. Oran Hesterman, founder of Fair …
Progress in Sustainable Agriculture Must be Supported
Federal Support for Sustainable Agriculture is at Risk Last week, I was in Washington, D.C. for a Farm Bill symposium that the Berkeley Food Institute organized in collaboration with American …
“Clean floors” give way to cover crops
Clean Floors When I was a kid, you could evaluate a lemon grower with a look at his orchard floor. A “clean floor” was a sure sign of good stewardship. …
Building Worker Power to Transform Agriculture
About the California Institute for Rural Studies: The California Institute for Rural Studies (CIRS) has been working for forty years to increase social justice in rural California for all residents. Their belief? That it …
Guest Post: Dr. Mario Sifuentez on Teaching About Food System
A few months ago, I was asked to write a blog post for the Organization of American Historians blog – Process – about my experience teaching a class I call the “History …
Nutrition Education Summit to Tackle Food Waste
Up to 40% of Food Produced in the U.S. is Wasted Food waste presents a major challenge in the United States. Estimates suggest that up to 40% of the food produced …
UC’s Nutrition Policy Institute coordinates national drinking water project
Drinking plain water instead of sugary beverages is a simple change that can reduce intake of calories and added sugars, improve health and save money, too. Drinking water seems simple, …