What the Washington Post got wrong about dietitians: Episode127
Food Bullying Podcast
When dietitians are offered a seat at the table of commodity boards, food brands, and non-profit associations, there are benefits for all involved - including the consumer. But what’s the emotional price tag the dietitian must pay when partnerships are erroneously scrutinized for all the world to see? Is the discussion more nuanced than recent articles would you to believe? , MS, RD, LD, and owner of Street Smart Nutrition, is a fierce advocate for fearlessly nourishing meals, and she uses a weight-inclusive approach in her work in private practice and nutrition communications. Working with...
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Southern belles, soil health, & sustainability: Episode 126
Food Bullying Podcast
“The biggest misconception about farming in the dietetic world is that GMOs are bad for the environment and human consumption - and that farmers are financially well-off.” Wendy Yeager is a fourth-generation farmer who, with her husband Jamie, owns and operates Bell Place Farm, a diversified row crop operation. They grow peanuts, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, and wheat managed through crop rotation over 1100 acres in west central Alabama (the heart of the Blackbelt). Given the rise in prices of multiple inputs including fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, and diesel fuel, the...
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The heart of the wheat kernel: Episode 125
Food Bullying Podcast
“If a food is free from something, then it must be healthy, right?” Dr. Brett Carver, a wheat breeder and researcher at Oklahoma State University for nearly 40 years, has found himself spending more time defending the plant to which he’s devoted his career in recent years. “A huge chunk of our population, based on easy-to-find survey data, makes dietary choices AWAY from gluten (wheat). That's about 9-12% of us, and millennials and Gen Z's lead the way. About 1 in 5 persons will reduce or eliminate gluten from their diet because they believe this to be a healthier option,” says...
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The art & science of farming citrus: Episode 124
Food Bullying Podcast
Rich in vitamin C and flavonoids, many citrus varieties have earned their place on our breakfast tables, squeezed into our water (and cocktails), and in our favorite American recipes. There is both art and science in growing citrus that is in demand as part of our nutrition. Citrus farmers continually met consumer demand for new flavors (think blood oranges), increased eye appeal (Cara Caras come to mind), and ease of use (seedless lemons). Amid so much innovation, the unfortunate reality is that citrus is at risk. In this episode of the Food Bullying podcast, Casey Creamer,...
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Big bad agriculture: a transparent look at their science & safety
Food Bullying Podcast
“The biggest misconception about my work is that agriculture companies place pesticides or biotech products on the market without testing them for safety. The fact is that agriculture is one of the most strictly regulated and thoroughly investigated industries in the world. Agriculture companies must strictly follow local and international regulatory guidelines and conduct hundreds of safety studies before launching a product. When a consumer has safety questions about pesticide residues or GMOs in their food, I hope all dietitians are well-equipped with knowledge about the agriculture...
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A.I. in your food (cattle, not computers): Episode 122
Food Bullying Podcast
Brady Blackett is a 4th generation cattle producer from Utah who’s passionate about the cattle industry and its ability to contribute to a healthy and wholesome food system in the U.S. and abroad. As the co-founder of IGA (Intermountain Genetic Alliance), Blackett is well-versed in the subject and application of AI (artificial insemination). In this episode, Blackett explains the many ways in which AI has a positive net impact on the environment and offers a wider array of consumer choices at the meat counter and in the dairy aisle. For example, by selecting traits...
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Food labels & nutrition choices driven by dollars: Episode 121
Food Bullying Podcast
What’s the relationship between front-of-package food labeling and consumer choice, and how can it potentially impact grocery prices? Dr. Chen Zhen is a professor in Food Choice, Obesity, and Health Economics at the University of Georgia. His research focuses on the impact of interpretative front-of-package labeling on consumer behavior and food prices. In this conversation, Zhen discusses policies that can discourage consumption of less nutrient-dense foods (such as taxation) versus those that focus on access (making more nutritious food more accessible and less nutritious food...
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Building up data for dietitians: Episode 120
Food Bullying Podcast
“You can’t talk about what’s on the plate if you don’t know how it got there.” As the founder of Build Up Dietitians, Leah McGrath has created a space in which dietitians at all stages in their careers (including students), can learn more about just that - and provides avenues for evidence-based practitioners to gain a better understanding of agriculture practices. But when searching for that evidence, how do we discern quality sources from those that are less-than? McGrath offers for dietitians so that YOU can empower the consumer to make choices based on fact - not fiction....
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GMOs & bacon with a side of bullying
Food Bullying Podcast
“I wish people would take a little time to understand where their food comes from and also to trust the farmer.” A great perspective for RDNs to remember! Wanda Patsche, alongside her husband Chuck, farms in southern Minnesota. They grow corn and soybeans and raise hogs. Patsche also utilizes her to tell her farming story. Unfortunately, she has recently experienced some food bullying as part of her efforts to help people understand farming. “I think GMOs and organic foods are still widely misunderstood by the consumer,” says Patsche. “I also think the fear-based...
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Separating fact from fiction in food & farming: Episode 118
Food Bullying Podcast
Grocery store costs are crazy, but what costs have gone up on farms? Are fields sprayed with “such harsh pesticides” that workers can’t enter the fields? Is hydroponic farming the wave of the future when it comes to leafy greens? Should you be worried about lead in soil? Michele helps Nicole separate fact from fiction on these topics and more. The co-hosts spend time reflecting on their personal favorite and eye-opening episodes from 2023, which include apple growing, dietitians, pumpkins, GMOs, mRNA vaccines, scientists, farmers, animal protein &...
info_outlineSocial media memes and marketing messages often ring nostalgic for how things used to be on the farm. But were the “good old days” really better? In this episode we chat with fruit and vegetable expert Gene McAvoy about how farming used to work (and how it still works in some parts of the world) and how research has made farming better.
Gene McAvoy is currently the Associate Director for Stakeholder Relations at the University of Florida Southwest Florida Research and Education Center and previously served with UF IFAS Extension as regional specialized vegetable extension agent in SW Florida for 23 years. He has over 50 years experience in vegetable production in NJ, West Africa, South Africa and the Caribbean and most recently Florida. He is currently president of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents.
Key points:
What does an agricultural agent do?
Agricultural or extension agents act as go betweens bringing research information from land grant universities to the people who need it.
How has agriculture changed?
In the past farmers were barely feeding themselves - sustenance farming. Today a single farm supports 250 people. Florida grows food for 150 million people. ,
How has COVID19 impacted Florida agriculture?
A single town in Florida produces 16 million pounds of produce per week during harvest. During the early months of COVID Florida had to destroy 60 million pounds of produce per week.
As much food as possible was donated to charity, but difficulties in transportation and produce that perishes quickly made it challenging.
Crops had to be destroyed instead of harvested to keep them from becoming a breeding ground for pests.
It costs $16,000 per acre to bring a crop to market. Florida experienced a 1/2 billion dollar loss in 6 weeks in Spring 2020.
Florida agriculture is starting to recover.
How has traveling the world influenced your view of farming?
In places like the Caribbean it is expensive to import food. Growing food locally for residents and tourists increases income for the farmers and decreases expenses for local governments.
In Africa a simple school garden can prevent children from going blind by supplying food rich in vitamin A. Teaching simple practices impacts an entire community.
Three tips to overcome Food Bullying:
- Educate yourself. Not everything on Facebook is true.
- Any fruit or vegetable is better than none. Produce is good for agriculture and good for you.
- Don’t buy into claims that pit one type of agriculture against another.
Links:
Gene McAvoy website: https://swfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gene.mcavoy or https://www.facebook.com/South-Florida-Vegetable-Grower-149291468443385/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SWFLVegMan
Food Bullying with Michele Payn: http://foodbullying.com
Embrace Your Heart with Eliz Greene: http://www.embraceyourheart.com/
Food Bullying Podcast’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/foodbullyingpodcast