agriculture

I found myself on a plane to mingle and speak at the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association  (INFFRA) conference in Minnesota. As the great desert gave way to the patchwork of Midwestern fields, I was awed by the amount of food being produced beneath me.

You probably take bananas for granted.

The term Regenerative Agriculture has generated quite a buzz in the last several months. Farmers, ranchers, and many companies across the U.S. are embracing the term as a way to heal the planet and combat climate change. Some promote it as the next big stage for food and farming calling it “Beyond Organic.” What exactly is this new farming philosophy and will it take root to become the next big food movement? What does it mean for organic? 

A Sustainable System?

I live and work in California, the farming capital of the world; hub of agriculture, intersecting food, chefs, and farmers. It is the state that produces the most food in the country, home to the world’s smallest and largest organic farms, and boasts the greatest diversity in farming systems and farm workers. Yet the lack of food and agricultural literacy is tremendous, and the bond between the farm worker and the eater is ill understood.

The hot, balmy month of June requires three things: SPF 50, a friend with a pool, and refreshing cocktails to offer to your friend in exchange for everyday pool access. Or, for Floridians, every day of the year requires these things. So you can imagine that when I heard about Starvation Alley Farms, a B Corp, and their cold pressed, purely delicious organic cranberry juice--the first of its kind to hit the market-- I knew my cocktail options had dramatically improved. I also knew I might suddenly have more friends with pools.