She’s got Soul: The Chron’s Carol Ness visits Alexis Koefoed at Soul Food Farm just outside Vacaville, CA, where she raises pastured chickens for eggs and meat. (Bonnie here: I could debeak Carol for making my profile of Soul Food for Edible East Bay, not yet out, look like a big old "me-too" leftover.) (San Francisco Chronicle)
We eat their young: Farmers and vegetarians are protesting the BBC’s latest season of "Kill It, Cook It, Eat It," which will show the slaughter of piglets, lambs and veal calves. And we didn’t think the show could really "up the steaks" any higher. (This is London)
UK has better TV, part II: A new reality series called "Dumped" drops 11 unsuspecting volunteers off at one of Britain’s biggest landfill sites for three weeks. Their challenge? To survive off our garbage and learn a little thing or two about the environment. Awesome! (Alternet)
Deep Waters: In a Q&A, Alice Waters tells how she became a spokesperson for wild salmon, and says the way to start a movement is "through the bread." (Common Ground)
Mollie Katzen eats meat!: As consumers start asking more questions about how meat is produced, new labels and certifications are sprouting everywhere. Labels can be confusing or even meaningless (many are strictly marketing gimmicks), so having a connection to the farmer through farmers markets, conscientious blogs, or a trusted retailer can be helpful. (Daily Camera)
Fair is good: A look at Fair Trade’s effects shows it does truly benefit coffee growers and nature, by avoiding deforestatation during periods of low prices, providing funds to build community health facilities, and preventing exposure to the "dirty dozen" pesticides (which Fair Trade rules prohibit). Also looks at certification of other products like timber and nuts. (Environmental Health Perspectives)
Now that’s good heat: An interesting call-in radio program examining the celebrichef phenomenon, with Alton Brown from the Food Network and "Heat" author Bill Buford among the guests. Buford makes the important point that most TV programs have almost no connection to the natural world, and although the profits-oriented nature of the Food Network is mentioned, Paula Deen’s collaboration with the nefarious Smithfield is not. (On Point Radio)
Hey! How about a link at least?: A Rochester, NY reporter explores local, farm-based eating. Of note: "The food mile has become the touchstone for this ethicurean philosophy, with devotees shopping at farm stands and the diehard subsets (who also identify themselves as localvores) pledging for a week, a month, a year or for life to eat as much as possible from within their foodshed." Wait, there’s a pledge? We must have been too busy calculating our food-miles with Google Maps. Please. (Democrat & Chronicle)
Organic farming is booming in Washington state (Seattle Times)
Food, Farming, & Food Politics events calendar
