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It’s CSA Season!

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

I received wonderful news yesterday…our CSA starts on Friday!  What’s a CSA?  Short for Community Supported Agriculture, some people refer to CSA as a produce subscription, a garden share, or a vegetable-of-the-week program.  No matter what you call it, each week throughout the growing season you receive a box of whatever’s ripe for market.  

Okay…so it starts out a little slow in the spring, with lots of green, leafy things that end up in the salad bowl.  But, as we move in to summer, each week blossoms into a rainbow of color (including the perfect tomato in August) and ultimately reaches a zenith of earthy goodness with bulbous root vegetables in the fall.

CSA’s exist to help small farmers plan better and capture more value for their labor.  By becoming a member, you share in the bounty (as well as the risk) of the farm.  I remember a few skimpy “harvests” some years back when summer floods ravaged southern Minnesota.  However, in any weather, a CSA is a great way to connect with your food.

To learn about CSAs operating in your areas, check out your local natural food co-op or go to www.localharvest.org/csa/.

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The British Are Coming…And Not A Moment Too Soon!

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Every generation or so a British invasion hits our shores and shakes things up a bit.  This latest assault won’t “Twist and Shout” its way to Billboard’s Top 10, but it’s message is worth tuning in.

Jamie Oliver, British-born chef cum reality television star, has taken to main street USA to tell Americans they are too fat, which is somewhat ironic, given the UK is one of the few countries that can match our collective girth thigh for thigh.  He’s set his sights on Huntington, West Virginia, the least healthy community in the union, and his message is simple: we are feeding our kids to death.  And it’s hard to argue his point, when he shows us young kids suffering with “adult” diseases like heart disease and diabetes or reviews the weekly diet of an obese mom and her three obese kids.

The sad (or frustrating or maddening…your pick) thing is his message isn’t new or something we all don’t already know.  We have spent the last 30 years literally eating ourselves to death and in doing so, created the first generation of kids whose life expectancy is shorter than their parents. 

Oliver’s putting his cooking skill where his mouth is, working with the local schools to improve lunch menus, building basic nutrition into curriculums and spreading the gospel throughout the community…all under the spotlight of a reality television series.  While cynics may question his motivation, there’s no denying the problem is real and the need is great.  So what if it takes a cockney voice to alert us to our problem?  I say jolly good show, old chap!  With any luck, Oliver’s efforts will give a new generation cause to appreciate “When I’m 64”.

Click here for more in formation on Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.

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Smart Choice…Says Who?

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Why is anyone surprised that products carrying the “Smart Choices” seal may not be too smart?  After all, the manufacturers doing the choosing are in business to sell calories, not health.  And in a country that produces more calories than we could possibly consume (by last count, around 3900 per person per day), manufacturers seek every advantage – from plastic toys in the carton to nutrition claims on the carton – to make the sale.

The problem is too many of us choose to not think about the food we eat, abdicating our decision-making to people who may not have our best interests at heart.  Instead, we approach most meals like a NASCAR pit stop, stopping just long enough to slam down some “fuel”, while mostly ignoring the health impact (or benefit) of our choice.  So if Jeff Gordon burns high octane super-premium, why do so many of us run on low-test and expect it to not affect performance? 

Instead of relying on industry-supported health standards, shoppers need to take responsibility for making their own smart choices.  The good news is, with very little effort, you can find places with more to offer than empty calories.  The outer ring of most grocery stores is a good place to start.  Likewise, farmer markets and natural food co-ops offer healthy, sustainable food plus have knowledgeable staff to help you understand the difference between whole grains and donut holes. 

So next time you need to refuel, take a second to think about what you’re doing.  After all, your smartest choice might be to ignore the nutrition claims on the carton and instead focus on the secret spy decoder ring inside the box.

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