Kiko's Food News, 3.8.13

If you could shame your friends into composting by calling them out when you caught them trashing compostables–even from miles away–would you? (Mechanical Turk)

I also love the idea of making good food affordable by changing habits around home cooking and storage, like taking 3-minute fridge inventories and cooking wilted veggies: (US News and World Report)

Universities’ searches for new revenue streams, coupled with growing demand for locally sourced food, are fueling farm-to-table product lines like Washington State’s branded “W.S.U. Premium Beef” from cattle they’ve raised in their animal science program for years: (New York Times)

Check out the biggest Oxfam America campaign to date, Behind the Brands: they’re taking on Big Food by ranking the ten largest food and beverage companies on social & environmental issues (I should add that these grades are based on official policies, not actual behavior): (NPR)

Last week I shared news of the horse meat scandal in Europe; turns out the USDA is likely to approve a horse slaughtering plant in New Mexico, which would allow equine meat suitable for human consumption to be produced in the US for the first time since 2007: (New York Times)

Child poverty in the US has reached record levels, with almost 17 million children now affected, and a growing number going hungry on a daily basis; Obama’s focusing his efforts on raising minimum wage to $9 to bolster the incomes of millions of working families: (BBC)

Kiko's Food News, 3.1.13

The former president of Trader Joe’s sees solutions to our problems of food waste and food insecurity in his new nonprofit food store where customers will be able to purchase “expired” ingredients for a fraction of their retail price, plus healthy meals made from donated food. Critics raise the “ew” issue of eating someone else’s leftovers and worry that the discount shop may compete for resources with food banks, but I say we’ve got to try it before we knock it! (Yahoo News)

A study found that 30% of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease can be prevented in people at high risk if they switch to a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits, veggies and wine at mealtime; take this quiz to see how Mediterranean yours is: (New York Times)

For those of us keeping an eye on how local start-up Good Eggs will leverage technology to get food from small producers into local hands: this week they launched a distribution operation, allowing customers to order groceries directly from farmers and food makers and have it delivered right from the field or the kitchen, with no waste from extra inventory: (Wired)

Horse meat falsely labeled as beef has been discovered in lasagnas, burgers, and even Ikea’s meatballs in Britain, Ireland, Sweden and France: (Washington Post)

The International Dairy Foods Association and National Milk Producers Federation have filed a petition with the FDA asking them to alter the definition of “milk” to secretly include chemical sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose–without listing these additives on the label! (Natural News)

For decades the US pork industry has tried to breed the fat out of pork, “the other white meat”, to the detriment of flavor; now an Iowa pig farmer is bringing the flavor back, claiming he’s bred the best tasting pork ever by crossing a Chinese swine with a Russian wild boar. He’s convinced his meat is worth 4 x the price of regular supermarket pork, but how much fat in pork is too much? (New York Times)

Kiko's Food News, 2.22.13

How has a tasting moment called the “bliss point” caused such a deterioration in public nutrition? An in-depth report on the industrial formulations and selling campaigns that get people hooked on convenient, inexpensive processed foods: (New York Times)

Supermarkets lose an estimated $15 billion each year in fruit and veggies alone; enter Food Star, a start-up that’s partnering with retailers to redirect food in-store before it’s wasted by sending flash sale emails to notify shoppers when they can buy perishables at extreme savings: (Green Biz)

A new cattle drug called Zilmax is being widely used in the industrial feedlots where most of America’s beef comes from, part of a new regime for raising cattle that emphasizes higher production and cost-cutting wherever possible: (Slate)

From grocer to travel agency? Whole Foods has kicked off a travel venture called Whole Journeys that promises authentic food and food experiences for active travelers, from a culinary tour of Idaho’s Salmon River to tea ceremonies in China: (LA Times)

Re-thinking salt’s place in our cooking: my good friend Jess Goldman Foung has written a book that shows, through brilliant recipes, how salt is just a single “spice” on the rack, and how choosing to remove it makes room for other exciting flavor combinations: (Huffington Post)

Kiko's Food News, 2.8.13

There are so many ways to cut the grocery bill but still buy healthy foods wherever we shop; here are ten, and at Bi-Rite we also recommend making a shopping list to avoid impulse buys: (Huffington Post)

Residents of low-income neighborhoods across the country are rallying to get healthy food into their communities, thus proving that it’s not elitist: (Civil Eats)

L.A. public school students faced off in healthful cooking as their district entered the Cooking up Change contest for the first time this year as part of an effort to give students a larger voice in its healthful school food initiative: (Los Angeles Times)

Reuse–and re-wash–your shopping bags! A study concluded that a spike in emergency room visits and 46% increase in deaths due to food-borne illnesses following S.F.’s plastic bag ban was due to harmful bacteria in reusable grocery bags: (Fox News)

As a pronunciation snob myself, I was amused by this list of 10 commonly mis-pronounced foods (I think I’ve been botching “gnocchi”!): (Huffington Post)

Food fraud (addition or replacement of a stated, safe ingredient with something unknown) happens all over the grocery world; here are 10 common pantry staples that have been at the center of food fraud reports in recent decades: (The Daily Meal)

Kiko's Food News, 2.1.13

The United Nations launched a “Think-Eat-Save” campaign to reduce global food waste (which it estimates at 1.3 billion tons a year), calling on eaters to take logical steps like making a shopping list to avoid impulse buys, freezing leftovers, and embracing “funny” looking fruit and veggies: (Grist)

One author explores how the simple act of eating differently is radically changing race relations in America, as diverse communities interact in newly forming local food economies: (GOOD)

McDonald’s fish sandwiches and “McBites” will soon have a blue Eco-label from the Marine Stewardship Council, which is auditing to verify their fish comes only from sustainably caught Alaskan Pollock; this will boost the Council’s visibility, but will such a market-based approach result in declining stocks? (Los Angeles Times)

Cheesemongers are a new group within society’s creative class, many responsible for some of the most amusing writing on the market; fun to read different descriptions of Red Hawk and some of our other favorites! (New York Times)

The Good Food Awards, founded here in SF and gaining momentum around the country, will fulfill its vision of changing Americans’ perception of the price and value of food by creating demand for foods that at first glance appear to be expensive, but whose value is revealed as we are educated about the labor-intensive practices and quality of ingredients within them: (Huffington Post)

Two of my favorite chef experts on traditional, economical and resourceful cooking shared juicy tips for making the best broth possible, such as adding raw chicken parts for gelatin and roasting bones before simmering: (Smithsonian)

Kiko's Food News, 1.25.13

Have a pint and change the world: the beer-for-charity movement has beer halls across the country channeling profits towards philanthropy: (New York Times)

A modern day, all-American Jean Valjean? Dave’s Killer Bread, about to launch nationally after huge success in the Northwest, was started after its co-founder finished a 15-year prison term; his loafs contain ingredients like flax, sunflower and sesame seeds, and blue cornmeal: (Fast Company)

The international appetite for quinoa has pushed prices so high that poorer people in Peru and Bolivia, for whom it was once a nourishing staple food, can no longer afford to eat it; in Lima, quinoa now costs more than chicken, leaving locals with imported junk food as the more affordable option: (The Guardian)

A new study of 200 families revealed links between mealtime behaviors and children’s weight, finding that children who regularly sat down for family meals were more likely to have a healthy weight compared to those whose mealtimes were cut short: (Medical Daily)

For most eaters, there’s a place and time for it all, and the Corner Stourmet is a new column that classes up Fritos, Spam and other corner store staples for those moments when a lapse from fresh is good for the soul: (The Bold Italic)

Kiko's Food News, 1.18.13

Coca-Cola Co. released a new TV commercial (check it out) that highlights its efforts in fighting obesity; it mentions how they sell about 180 low- and no-calorie drinks, and reminds viewers that “all calories count no matter where they come from”: (Reuters)

But Marion Nestle calls their bluff, saying that if they really want to reverse their impact on obesity, they need to stop targeting their marketing towards kids and low income minorities: (Food Politics)

London’s leading department store launched an out-of-the-box campaign with a “no noise” theme, and is now offering logo-free products, headspace pods and a Silence Room where the walls are soundproofed, electronic devices are forbidden, and meditation is encouraged! (Fast Company)

Grocery shoppers are less likely to complain to company management than shoppers for other goods and services, as a study found that 46% of grocery shoppers do not report bad experiences to their grocers, vs. 24% of banking customers and 21% of media customers: (Supermarket News)

Traditionally a reliable source of profit, cigarette sales are waning at 7-Eleven and other convenience stores, and food, with higher margins, is rising to take its place: (Bloomberg)

For the first time, an American whiskey (a single-malt from Waco, TX) won Best in Glass, beating nine others, including Scottish classics, in a blind panel of spirits experts: (New York Times)

Kiko's Food News, 1.11.13

Hallelujah! It’s time Americans realize that “sell by” dates have little to do with food safety, and that most products are safe to eat long after their expiration date (we need to rely more on our sense of smell): (NPR)

This article about a formerly reluctant food scrap composter, now converted, makes me appreciate San Francisco’s institutionalized compost pickup: (New York Times)

Butcher love: This fun movie short (produced by Ashton Kutcher, wha??) celebrates the “subculture” of local butchers–Aaron trained here with Morgan and Chili before opening his shop! (Thrashlab)

Big food companies have in recent years worked to cut salt from their top-selling products, but quietly so: (NPR)

Chicken farmers are feeding their flocks a specially milled diet laced with oregano oil and cinnamon to fight off bacterial diseases without resorting to antibiotics: (New York Times)

The FDA released two proposed rules designed to boost the safety of our food supply: one would require worker safety training, hand washing and monitoring the presence of animals in the field that could spread illness in fruits and vegetables; the other would require food processors to develop plans for preventing contamination: (NPR)

Slow Food USA has hired Richard McCarthy, co-founder of the Crescent City Farmers Market in New Orleans, as its new leader; he’ll be tasked with navigating the question of whether Slow Food should exist to celebrate the pleasures of the table, or to advocate for food justice and biodiversity, (New York Times)

Kiko's Food News, 1.4.13

 Easy to feel optimistic about the year in food when I read stories like these:

The San Francisco Unified School District announced plans to award a contract to Oakland-based Revolution Foods to provide nutritious, freshly prepared meals for city schoolchildren–it’s about time! (San Francisco Examiner)

In its fifth year the Young Farmers Conference at the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture sold out its 260 spots in 36 hours, with 175 on the waiting list: a real show of momentum for sustainable farming! (New York Times)

And 2012 was a huge year for the Right to Know–check out these top 10 highlights of the non-GMO movement internationally: (Clean Fish)

***

As for the future of the movement, this article argues that foodies should rally behind the reform of plant patents to make food property rights less exclusive and less profitable for big company executives: (Slate)

A 15-year old girl’s discovery of Brominated vegetable oil (a common ingredient in many citrus drinks that may cause side effects like neurological and thyroid disorders) on the ingredient list of her Gatorade bottle has brought attention to the arcane world of additive regulation: (New York Times)

Government regulators moved a big step closer to allowing the first genetically engineered animal – a fast-growing salmon – to enter our food supply; the AquAdvantage salmon contains a growth hormone gene from the Chinook salmon and a genetic switch from the ocean pout which causes the fish to reach market weight in about 18 months instead of three years: (New York Times)

Ever heard of a wine apartment, or a sourdough hotel? See how many you know on this fun list of food words that gained mass circulation in 2012: (Huffington Post)

New Year's Resolution: Waste Less Food!

I was at a British-themed party recently and came across the tome to the right, which included instructions for US personnel headed to Britain during World War II.

As you can see in the text I photographed below, the manual has some explicit advice for American Servicemen regarding waste. In short, “…when you destroy or waste food you have wasted the life of another sailor.”

I passed these juicy bits of history to my friend Jonathan Bloom, the author of American Wasteland, and he shared it on his food waste-focused blog. Here’s what he had to say:

“The instructions are also enlightening on what food and fuel meant in wartime Britain. In contrast to the food-rich US, Britain relied upon imported food (and fuel). During World War II, when the German navy threatened all shipments, British sailors risked their lives to secure such supplies. In addition to the need to feed soldiers, this risk provided all the more reason not to waste food.

I’ve never seen stronger anti-waste words. And I’d never heard such a direct correlation between food waste and ‘the ultimate sacrifice.’ Hopefully the below passage reminds us how fortunate most of us are and inspires us to avoid waste in honor of those past sacrifices.”

 

Kiko's Food News, 12.21.12

(Phewy, if you’re reading this I guess we’re all still here!)

Kiko’s favorite gift ideas (no shopping required):

• An investment in strengthening a neighborhood: People’s Community Market is gaining momentum to open in West Oakland, but needs help in reaching their $1.2M goal: (details here)

• Hands-on learning and cooking: 18 Reasons membership grants a year’s worth of discounts to 18 Reasons classes and treats at our supporting businesses: ($35-90,details here)

Can food, so often portrayed as the glue that binds a family together, also be the wedge that drives us apart? I loved this ode to the generational eating divide: (New York Times)

Deceptive restaurant menus got even fishier last week when an international organization dedicated to ocean conservation released a report that found tilapia and tilefish posing as red snapper, farmed salmon sold as wild, and escolar disguised as albacore tuna on New York menus: (New York Times)

The summer’s drought is now showing up in food prices, as the price for food on the producer price index jumped 1.3%, the largest gain since February 2011, and wholesale food prices have risen for six consecutive months: (Wall Street Journal)

Darjeeling growers have followed the example of Scottish whiskey distillers and French wineries, winning legal protection for the Darjeeling label under laws that limit the use of certain geographic names to products that come from those places: (New York Times)

Kiko's Food News, 12.14.12

After decades of rising childhood obesity rates, several US cities are reporting their first declines; as of today, 17% of children under 20 have a body mass index at or above the 95th percentile, qualifying as obese: (New York Times)

But that still feels high–to further this progress, the USDA announced their first-ever Farm to School grants, which totaled more than $4.5 million for 68 different projects around the country: (Slow Food USA)

Remember being offered “ABC (already been chewed) gum” as a kid? What if you were offered “already been digested” coffee? An exotic new brew is made from beans eaten by Thai elephants and plucked a day later from their dung: (San Francisco Chronicle)

While the number of Hispanic farmers grew by 14% over the past five years, Hispanic farmers comprise only 2.5% of all farm operators. The Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) is giving farm workers, most of whom are first generation Latino immigrants, the chance to move up the job ladder, teaching them crop planning, marketing and distribution: (Huffington Post)

Remember my last week’s article about the dismal compensation for food workers across the country? Well this National Diner’s Guide to working conditions in US restaurants aims to involve consumers in pushing the conversation with industry management on fair pay and better working conditions: (Restaurant Opportunities Center)

An NRDC report on fresh produce losses at the farm and packing level revealed that up to 30% of fruit and vegetable fields aren’t harvested in some years, and up to 30% of some crops go unsold because they don’t meet cosmetic criteria: (Natural Resources Defense Council)

Most of the conversation surrounding climate change revolves around reducing emissions–not how to modify agriculture–but in the absence of a global treaty that provides incentives for farm adaptation (and with the world population expected to rise by another one billion people in 15 years), many governments are not waiting for an international consensus before taking action: (New York Times)

Kiko's Food News, 11.30.12

Maybe San Francisco’s further from New York City than I thought: this article proposes that the seated dinner party is an endangered pastime, but I refuse to believe that cooking for others is a dying art! (New York Times)

I found this list of top over-used ingredients compiled by CookWithJames (one of our longtime regular guests) right on; enough boneless, skinless chicken breasts and sundried tomatoes, already! (Cook with James)

A study found that buying from locally owned businesses could mean four times as much money staying in the local economy; independent stores in Louisville recirculate 55% of revenues compared to 14% for big retailers, and local restaurants recirculate 67% vs. 30% for big chains: (Fast Company)

An analysis by Consumer Reports found that most store-bought pork tested contains a bacterium that causes food poisoning, plus the samples were often resistant to antibiotics–probably because many farm animals are routinely fed them: (Los Angeles Times)

Wal-Mart accounts for the largest share of groceries bought by U.S. shoppers, and its concentrated buying power allows it to drive down prices paid to suppliers, who therefore have to find ways to cut costs, denying their own workers fair wages and pressuring farmers to do the same: (Food First)

Even though the defeat of Prop 37 means that genetically engineered info won’t be added to labels yet, PLU codes (four digit numbers that identify types of produce) can be revealing; for example, a PLU prefix of 9 signifies an organic item, and 8 signifies that an item is genetically engineered: (Bay Area Bites)

The potential for drilling and fracking to contaminate our food is evidenced by reports from ranchers in heavily fracked regions showing that oil and gas wells introduce chemical compounds and radioactive material into the air, soil and water; secrecy shrouding the hydrofracking process prevents consumers from knowing if their food is safe: (The Nation)

Kiko's Food News, 11.23.12

Happy Plaid Friday! Oaklanders founded this holiday as an alternative to the big box store “Black Friday” to promote local and independently owned businesses during the holidays.

A trip to a dinner party in Berlin reveals an idea of luxury different from the decadent British or American one; these Germans prize frugality, celebrating with boiled potatoes (how refreshing)! (BBC)

Payback Time! Organic diehards are boycotting these “natural” brands whose parent companies donated millions to defeat Prop 37: (Organic Consumer)

Check out these photos taken by an electron microscope that reveal how natural and processed foods differ not only in their nutritional value, but in their chemical structures: (Fast Company)

Swiss company Nestle is focusing on product innovation for the Chinese market, opening new research centers to try out peanut milk, spicy Sichuan sauces, congee, and a less bitter coffee more pleasing to Chinese palates: (Bloomberg)

A team of computer scientists have come up with an algorithm to guess how successful a recipe will turn out; it predicts with nearly 80 % accuracy how many stars a recipe will receive online, and can recommend more healthful ingredient replacements: (Capital Public Radio)

Looking for a fun holiday weekend activity in DC or NYC? For the first time, the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian have opened major exhibitions devoted to food and the food industry: (New York Times)

Kiko's Food News, 11.16.12

Goodbye Twinkies, Wonder Bread (and sorry Dad, goodbye Ding Dongs)! Hostess is liquidating its 82-year-old business due to a national strike on top of increasing consumer preferences for healthier food; a co-worker informs me that Amazon is almost sold out of Twinkies as of my writing this: (Wall Street Journal)

Mark Bittman laments how money played the leading role in preventing food movement triumphs in last week’s election, defeating both Prop 37 and the proposed soda taxes, and is confident that food mega-companies will continue spending to squelch local attempts to curb their dominance: (New York Times)

Oprah’s made millions on her food and health recommendations; her next venture may be her own line of frozen organic vegetables: (Forbes)

The sad human toll of factory farming was revealed by a study by the University of California, Davis which estimated that 254,000 people in the Tulare Basin and Salinas Valley, prime dairy producing regions, were at risk for nitrate contamination of their drinking water due to runoff from animal waste lagoons: (New York Times)

I spoke with Supermarket News about why we’re calling our new line of preserves, sauces, pickles, oils and more PUBLIC: (Supermarket News)

Today we’re taught to eat breakfast or else, but this historical review shows that, somehow, humans survived for centuries without it! (BBC)

Whole Foods Market has launched a travel company designed for active food lovers to experience “what travel should taste like”; Whole Journeys will offer guided trips through Europe, China and the U.S.: (Supermarket News)
Think your family has silly turkey day traditions? Check out some of the dishes US presidents have eaten at Thanksgiving: (Buzzfeed)

Kiko's Food News, 11.9.12

We knew our YES on 37 camp was the underdog, but are inspired by the 4.2 million Californians who sent a clear message about GMO labeling Tuesday; in the end, the world’s leading pesticide and junk food companies outspent us by more than 5 to 1: (New York Times)

A weed-laced meal at Roberta’s in Brooklyn convinced one author that following Colorado and Washington in legalizing pot would, in addition to engendering medical miracles and rendering moot a large sector of illegal-drug-related crimes, allow quantum leaps in the world of cooking: (GQ)

A study found that that if a penny-per-ounce tax was applied to soda, cuts in consumption would result in an 8% decline in diabetes cases among blacks and Latinos, who currently face the highest risks of diabetes and heart disease: (KQED)

This provocative opinion piece argues that food has replaced art as high culture, but shouldn’t as “it is not narrative or representational, does not organize and express emotion” (I beg to differ): (New York Times)

The Head of Sustainability at packaged food giant Unilever believes that low food prices leads to food waste (at least in developed countries), since they encourage people to buy too much and end up throwing out so much: (Huffington Post)

Beekeeper and advocate Robert Mackimmie, who tends to our rooftop hives, explains how city beekeeping is becoming an integrated way of life for Bay Area businesses: (Wall Street Journal)

On family-owned coffee farms in Africa, about 70% of maintenance and harvesting work is done by women, but only rarely do women own land or have financial control; the International Women’s Coffee Alliance is trying to change that by giving “sisters of coffee” access to training and networking: (NPR)

Kiko's Food News, 11.2.12

Don’t forget to vote Yes on Prop 37 Tuesday–and to visit the Creamery Saturday or Sunday for a 37-cent scoop of non-GMO Caramel Apple!

One side effect of the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Sandy is a new unintentional fleet of “emergency response” mobile food providers: New York City’s food trucks are serving areas of the city that remain without power: (full story, Business Week)

Did you know that oysters once protected the New England coastline from storm surges? As storms like Sandy grow stronger and more frequent, our shorelines have become more vulnerable as the bivalve population has diminished: (full story, New York Times)

It’s been a year since Occupy Oakland–so what remains of the movement? Our own Sam Mogannam and Brahm Ahmadi of People’s Community Market penned this op-ed which presents a new kind of grassroots investment for community change: (full story, San Francisco Chronicle)

Heritage seed-inspired fashion? The couple who runs the largest mail-order heirloom seed business in the US is bringing back pioneer chic: (full story, Grist)

The biggest Italian dinner in history: Parmigiano-Reggiano promoters are organizing a national sit-down dinner in homes and restaurants across Italy to  revitalize the Parma region and its cheese making tradition: (full story, NPR)

Kiko's Food News, 10.26.12

Updates from our Yes! On Prop 37 campaign:

Check out the new California Right To Know ad–we need to share it widely to counter the millions spent by Monsanto and huge food conglomerates on TV-ads!

Alice Waters’ chefs’ petition in support of Prop 37 has been endorsed by over 100 top notch chefs including Dan Barber, Mario Batali, Jacques Pépin, Joyce Goldstein, Charles Phan, and our own Sam Mogannam–spread the word! (full story, New York Times)

An encouraging study demonstrated a decreased need for chemicals in agriculture, showing that longer crop rotations produced better yields of corn and soy, reduced the need for nitrogen fertilizer and herbicides by up to 88%, reduced the amounts of toxins in groundwater 200-fold, and didn’t reduce profits by a single cent: (full story, New York Times)

***

A lot of working women are still rushing home from work each night to cook dinner; a study indicated they spend more than twice as long (35 minutes) as working men (15 minutes) whipping up meals and cleaning up afterwards: (full story, NPR)

I’m inspired by the domino theory of public health–how one city or state’s putting a stake in the ground on an issue will influence others; our neighbor cities Richmond and El Monte have put the soda tax on their Nov. 6 ballot! (full story, New York Times)

Just when we thought the Rome police had better things to do than to stop people from eating a sandwich, a new ordinance outlawed eating and drinking at the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and other areas of historic, artistic or cultural value in Rome’s center: (full story, New York Times)

Only a few decades ago, many doctors and nutritionists warned that nuts should be eaten on special occasions and only sparingly, but have since revised their recommendations; here’s a breakdown of how our favorite nuts stack up health wise: (full story, LA Times)

Kiko's Food News, 10.19.2012

California’s Central Valley, the world’s largest patch of class one soil where the 25-degree daily temperature swing is ideal for growing and the sun shines nearly 300 days a year, is our greatest food resource. So why are we treating it so badly? (full story, New York Times)

A neglected icon of Cali agriculture, most raisins available today are devoid of seasonal pizazz, but special varieties like the Thompson, Diamond Muscat and Princess–freshly harvested and processed by small growers–are beginning to show up at farmer’s markets: (full story, LA Times)

CUESA explored the GMO labeling debate by interviewing farmers & food makers at their Ferry Building Farmers Market, many whose produce & foods we sell: (full story , CUESA)

Speaking of knowing what’s in our food, here are eight ingredients to avoid if you see them on a nutrition label: (full story, Today)

And speaking of GMOs, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal of a federal court ruling Monsanto won against an Indiana soybean farmer; this is exciting as no farmer has ever won a court case against Monsanto: (full story, Grist)

We’re keeping our eyes on Craig Ramini, a former Silicon Valley consultant turned buffalo mozzarella producer who’s working to produce the Italian cheese on his new farm and facility 69 miles north of SF; we’ve been tasting batches as part of his journey towards the traditional ideal! (full story, New York Times)

Tech investors have recently bought a $20 million controlling stake in Blue Bottle Coffee, a large stake in Stumptown Coffee, and an investment in Sightglass Coffee…but for reasons they see as far from “an exercise in the vanity of wanting to be in the restaurant business”: (full story, Wall Street Journal)

Through Slow Money’s efforts, more than $20 million has flowed to over 170 small food enterprises over the past two years; now the Soil Trust is focusing that money at the root of the issue: the dirt! (full story, Soil Trust)

Field Trip To Full Belly Farm Hoes Down

Communities come in all shapes and forms. We like to talk about how the relationships we build through buying and selling food strengthen our Bi-Rite community–our staff, guests, and food producers. But it’s times like last weekend that remind me how broad our community really is.

For the first time I got my act together to venture northeast of SF to Yolo County, the home of Full Belly Farm, for their annual Hoes Down Harvest Festival. We celebrate Full Belly throughout the year in the form of the amazing melons, squashes, potatoes and more they send us to sell in our produce section. Sam, Anne, Simon and the rest of our staff who make this an annual getaway had raved about how good the air feels up there, but I couldn’t have imagined quite how special this coming together of farmers, cooks, eaters, kids, animals, and every other happy being there could be. 

Highlights of the day included:

• The parking lot volunteers! These were the first people I interacted with upon arriving, and the grins on these guys’ faces said it all. Talk about pride–from all of the volunteers to the Full Belly staff to the hundreds of visitors, we all knew how fortunate we were to be celebrating this amazing

• family’s work and land.
• The farm tour given by Hallie (the daughter of Dru and Paul, Full Belly’s owners, who grew up on the farm and now coordinates the Hoes Down) and farmer Andrew. As we stood in a grove of walnut trees, Andrew talked about the wonder that is soil: how alive it is, how many billions of organisms it contains. When we’re standing on a farm, we may be blown away by fruit trees over our heads or veggie vines at our ankles, but what’s really amazing at Full Belly is the health of the soil underneath our feet. It was on this tour that Simon turned to me and said “This is the part where I start to cry!”
• The food! Man can the farm crowd cook–I started with an avocado lime popsicle, then moved on to tackle a plate of the most succulent grilled lamb and falafel (around the campfire we plotted a new dish for Bi-Rite–a lamb falafel ball–we’ll see if that comes to pass!)
• The camping groves: take your pick between pitching your tent under almond trees, walnut trees, and more.
• Square dancing–they made it look so easy!

And I couldn’t believe that we were swimming on an October day! Wading around in the beautiful, calm river that borders the farm, I felt like one of a herd of human elephants.

The Full Belly crew literally had to push people off the farm come Monday morning; the support of all of us who drove hours to the farm is testament to the relationships they’ve built over the years, and the secret to their success!