Friday Faves No. 179

our favorite finds from the front lines of food

Appetite For Change is a North Minneapolis nonprofit organization that uses food as a tool to build health, wealth and social change. "Grow Food" is the culminating project of Appetite For Change's Summer 2016 Youth Employment & Training Program.

I guess that the tag line of "favorite finds from the front lines of food" could be a bit misleading. Sometimes there are important finds that are not really "favorite" finds. This is one of those cases - it's time we discuss the state of kids here in the USA going hungry. 

This past week the Washington Post ran an article discussing the record breaking numbers of kids benefiting from the school breakfast program that is ultimately in the crosshairs of some conservatives in Congress. (Washington Post) 

Since this is such an important topic, I want to expand on it a bit more. The blog named The Lunch Tray has done a great job outlining the issues surrounding kids who rely on school nutrition programs. and what may happen to those programs under the new administration. Its a good read that anyone in the food business int he US should take a look at. (The Lunch Tray)

And for those out there who want to do something about this, the website We Are Teachers have outlines how to leverage social media to fight against childhood hunger.  remember all of us who work in food know that kids learn better, behave better and are healthier when they have a good breakfast. This is not rocket science, nor is it new information. (We Are Teachers) And major shout out and thanks to Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation & No Kid Hungry / Share our Strength

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In other news...

More unintended consequences from recent voting....Looks like the UK fishermen won't be getting their waters back anytime soon. (Guardian)

Friday Faves — notes from the new gastroconomy, No. 44

weekly round-up of our favorite finds from the front lines of food

• As we have noted to ourselves many times while making our way through through a refrigerated warehouse in the early morning hours, fish and glamour rarely go together — until we saw the Fishwives Club range of wines from South African (right).

• We can never resist a happy cow story: Where Cows Are Happy and Food Is Healthy fits the bill with video of all the big noses and long eyelashes you could want.

• What do you give to the person who has everything? Sea cucumebers are the answer in China. "Much of the demand is driven by the gift trade. One of Bo’s customers, Lin Xiaojian, founder-owner of a welding company, explained he was buying two RMB 590 (US$93) 1-kilogram portions. 'People are spending a lot more on health these days,' explained Lin, before adding that the sea cucumbers were in fact gifts for local officials he’s hoping will give contracts to his firm. 'I used to buy expensive rice wine but these days the fashion is for sea cucumbers … few ordinary people buy them to eat, it’s for gifting to government and army officials to keep good relations with them.'”

• In Bristol, UK "a community-led "fish allotment" scheme to farm fresh fish and vegetables in the city is being trialled in Bristol."

• US Presidential election time is coming soon. The candidates give a taste of their views on food issues, and will have more to say on September 25 when both candidates will be addressing the Clinton Global Initiative in New York.

Friday Faves — notes from the new gastroconomy, No. 20

a weekly round-up of our favorite finds from the front lines of food

• Behold, the geekiest baking project ever (right) — Apple Pi

• National Marine Fisheries Service's seafood inspection program intends to ramp up enforcement on fish fraud, busting the open secrets of the industry, like soaked scallops and over glazed fillet. "This sounds like something that is so simple, and so sort of pedestrian in the world of fraud, you would think ... people wouldn't get away with it....But it is absolutely a challenge."

• The huge, unsexy and hard to address issue of food waste got coverage from Reuters. "Cleaning your plate may not help feed starving children today, but the time-worn advice of mothers everywhere may help reduce food waste from the farm to the fork, help the environment and make it easier to feed the world's growing population."

• On government and farms: the marketplace is still unfair and USDA needs to do more to help. The unified message: "Agricultural markets are not fair. A small number of companies hold most of the power, and farmers and consumers pay the price. Government regulation is needed to restore fairness and competiveness."

• Pinterest is full of gorgeous food pictures. The online bulletin board for photo sharing is the latest social networking darling. Read some tips on promoting films, with plenty for food producers to apply.