Authored by Jennifer Kret, UMN Public Health Nutrition
Why eat local? If you ask any devout “locavore” or “localtarian” they will tell you, among other reasons, locally grown produce is simply fresher and tastes better. The importance of eating locally produced foods is eloquently put in the Japanese interpretation of “food with a face,” and by teikkai, a word which means the provenance of a food–where it comes from, how it was raised, and who grew it. Eating local celebrates those “faces” who provide the bounty on our tables: farmers, ranchers, fishers, vintners, and foragers. Eating local is also about keeping in touch with the seasons. While food at the grocery store may look abundant and even beautiful, its origins are usually a mystery to us, keeping us disconnected from them. Additionally, supermarkets confuse the issue of seasonality by making imported produce available year round. Of course, food safety scares boost the consumer desire for greater transparency in the food system and for closer relationships with the numerous people responsible for every step on our food’s path. Hence, it is becoming more common to find local products in mainstream grocery stores because the consumer demand is growing. Connecting to our foods directly enriches our lives and appreciation for what we eat. This is why we eat local food.
Read more on Eating Local Produce Year Round in Minnesota…
photo courtesy of Mette Nielsen Photography
Authored by Jillian Tholen, University of Minnesota Public Health Nutrition student
It is entirely possible that you grew up with certain expectations about ripe fruits and vegetables—they are supposed to look a certain way. Tomatoes are red, peppers are green, and watermelons are pink, easy. And really, there is no reason not to believe this, it is, after all, true. To some extent, that is. At some point while maturing into an informed consumer, however, perhaps you have ventured out to a friend’s garden, or down to the farmer’s market, and had your lifelong assumptions seriously challenged. Sunset pink, and green-striped tomatoes (that are ripe?), deep purple carrots, pale yellow peppers, and orange-fleshed watermelons. Where did these farmers find such terrifically unusual plants, what are they, and why on earth would anyone want to grow or eat them? The answer is that these plants are called heirlooms, they are indeed unique, and they are actually absolutely delicious.
Read more on Heirlooms—what are they, exactly?…
By Jennifer Kret, UMN Public Health Nutrition Graduate Students
A nutritious diet is an important part of a healthy childhood. Likewise, reducing childhood obesity is a major public health challenge, since obese children are more likely to become obese adults, increasing their risk for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Because children spend a significant amount of time in school, the lunchroom is an opportune setting to teach children healthy eating habits.
Read more on Farm to School, Revolutionizing School Lunches…
