"Nacho" -- member of Migrant Justice’s Farmworker Coordinating Committee --has negotiated powerful legal changes in Vermont. Jose Ignacio “Nacho” de la Cruz and Julie Kurtz discuss the path from his family farm in Mexico to the dairies of Vermont – and his aspiration for bringing basic labor and human rights to all Vermont farms through the MILK WITH DIGNITY program and ongoing campaign with Hannaford grocers. Will Lambek assists with translation.

Milk With Dignity #2

Migrant Justice dairy farmworker leaders in Vermont have been re-writing the farm labor rules for dairy…by following the money. Julie Kurtz speaks with Migrant Justice Staff Coordinator Marita Canedo about how migrant farmworker communities have achieved policy reforms, organized for economic justice and human rights – and how you can join the MILK WITH DIGNITY CAMPAIGN so that Hannaford grocery store profits are equitably shared with workers in their supply chain.

Milk With Dignity #1

Senator Booker

Julie Kurtz hosts US Senator Cory Booker’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Adam Zipkin, in this final episode of the Eating the Green New Deal series. We discuss how Senator Booker has flushed out Green New Deal concepts through the Climate Stewardship Act, Farm System Reform Act and other legislation. We consider the stakeholders willing to support these Acts for their potential benefits to farmers, rural communities and the climate – and the farmers and agribusinesses that could block their success.Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Julie Kurtz hosts US Senator Cory Booker’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Adam Zipkin, in this final episode of the Eating the Green New Deal series. We discuss how Senator Booker has flushed out Green New Deal concepts through the Climate Stewardship Act, Farm System Reform Act and other legislation. We consider the stakeholders willing to support these Acts for their potential benefits to farmers, rural communities and the climate – and the farmers and agribusinesses that could block their success. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Eating the Green New Deal, Episode 9: Senator Booker Ag Bills

In 2017 Ben &amp; Jerry’s reached a historic agreement with Migrant Justice, implementing the worker-driven Milk with Dignity Program in Ben &amp; Jerry’s Northeast dairy supply chain. Julie Kurtz hosts Cheryl Pinto, Ben &amp; Jerry’s Global Values-Led Sourcing Manager, to discuss how they’re incorporating environmental and labor values of the Green New Deal into their regional and global business. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

In 2017 Ben &amp; Jerry’s reached a historic agreement with Migrant Justice, implementing the worker-driven Milk with Dignity Program in Ben &amp; Jerry’s Northeast dairy supply chain. Julie Kurtz hosts Cheryl Pinto, Ben &amp; Jerry’s Global Values-Led Sourcing Manager, to discuss how they’re incorporating environmental and labor values of the Green New Deal into their regional and global business. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Eating the Green New Deal, Episode 8: Labor & Business

General Mills aims to bring 1 million acres into regenerative agriculture by 2030. Julie Kurtz hosts Shauna Sadowski, Head of Sustainability for General Mill’s Natural and Organics Operating Unit, to discuss how regenerative agriculture could be part of solving the climate crisis, support farm communities, and how food businesses can lead the way in achieving the social justice, equity and environmental principles of a Green New Deal. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Eating the Green New Deal, Episode 7: Food Business

Losing two-thirds of US farmers this past century while farm size tripled, has disproportionately squeezed out small farms, especially African-Americans—where we’ve lost 98% of farmers. Julie Kurtz hosts attorneys Jillian Hishaw and Mavis Gragg, who discuss the strategies they pursue to keep African-American landowners own their land, sustainably managing forests or maintaining their agricultural heritage. They discuss how reimagining government institutions, USDA programs, and reparations would be necessary food system elements of a Green New Deal.Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Losing two-thirds of US farmers this past century while farm size tripled, has disproportionately squeezed out small farms, especially African-Americans—where we’ve lost 98% of farmers. Julie Kurtz hosts attorneys Jillian Hishaw and Mavis Gragg, who discuss the strategies they pursue to keep African-American landowners own their land, sustainably managing forests or maintaining their agricultural heritage. They discuss how reimagining government institutions, USDA programs, and reparations would be necessary food system elements of a Green New Deal. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Eating the Green New Deal, Episode 6: Land

Is a sustainable farming future possible without farmers? Till just recently, the US has hemorrhaged young farmers, who face a myriad of barriers to entry and to maintaining generational family farms. Today features Davon Goodwin of NC and Jake Ehret of MN to talk about land access, farm communities, and how a Green New Deal could impact their farming futures.Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Is a sustainable farming future possible without farmers? Till just recently, the US has hemorrhaged young farmers, who face a myriad of barriers to entry and to maintaining generational family farms. Today features Davon Goodwin of NC and Jake Ehret of MN to talk about land access, farm communities, and how a Green New Deal could impact their farming futures. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Eating the Green New Deal, Episode 5: Millennial Farmers

If this episode doesn’t convert us all into a soil farmers, it at least makes clear how much soil matters. Host Julie Kurtz speaks with Dr. Andrea Basche and Steven Tucker of Nebraska about the power of soils to transform how we do modern agriculture, by using nature’s lessons to help us protect our communities from floods and droughts, create vibrant ecosystems and grow healthy food. They share how vision for healthy soils is spreading in Nebraska, among university students, the state legislature, and the agricultural community.  #SexySoilsPowered and distributed by Simplecast

If this episode doesn’t convert us all into a soil farmers, it at least makes clear how much soil matters. Host Julie Kurtz speaks with Dr. Andrea Basche and Steven Tucker of Nebraska about the power of soils to transform how we do modern agriculture, by using nature’s lessons to help us protect our communities from floods and droughts, create vibrant ecosystems and grow healthy food. They share how vision for healthy soils is spreading in Nebraska, among university students, the state legislature, and the agricultural community. #SexySoils Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Eating the Green New Deal, Episode 4:  #SexySoils

The Food System employs more workers than any other sector, but pays less. Guest host Julie Kurtz speaks with Jose Oliva—longtime Organizer, James Beard Award Recipient, and American Food Hero Awardee—about the inseparability of labor, race, immigration and food. We consider how a Green New Deal, as well as the private business sector, could support dignified labor and a food system that supports healthy people and a healthy planet. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Eating the Green New Deal, Episode 3:  Worker Throughout Food Supply Chains

Despite enthusiastic response among some, not all farmers, ranchers and rural communities find the Green New Deal easy to swallow. In the second episode with guest host Julie Kurtz, today we talk with Scott Blubaugh of Blubaugh Angus Ranch in Oklahoma and Roger Noonan of Middle Branch Farm in New Hampshire, both leaders in the National Farmers Union, about how they’ve encouraged strong on-farm environmental conversation practices in the midst of challenging social, political and financial pressures -- and how they continue to fight hard to keep midsize family farmers and ranchers at the heart of agriculture.Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Despite enthusiastic response among some, not all farmers, ranchers and rural communities find the Green New Deal easy to swallow. In the second episode with guest host Julie Kurtz, today we talk with Scott Blubaugh of Blubaugh Angus Ranch in Oklahoma and Roger Noonan of Middle Branch Farm in New Hampshire, both leaders in the National Farmers Union, about how they’ve encouraged strong on-farm environmental conversation practices in the midst of challenging social, political and financial pressures -- and how they continue to fight hard to keep midsize family farmers and ranchers at the heart of agriculture.Powered and distributed by <a href="simplecast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>

Eating the Green New Deal, Episode 2

Lunch Agenda is a virtual lunch date that offers us all a chance to be food activists. Kiko spent three years interviewing neighbors served by the Capital Area Food Bank about how they like to eat. She’s learned that in order for everyone in America to eat better, we need to listen to different perspectives from our own and pursue change on many levels. She’ll sit with doctors, parents, policymakers and more to hear their agenda for the food system, and will ask each guest for one action listeners can take to change things for the better.This show records and broadcasts LIVE on Full Service Radio from the lobby of the LINE DC in Adams Morgan, Washington DC.

I love Kiko and Lunch Agenda. She does a tremendous job at putting together (and curating) the most relevant food issues. As we know, food is not just food. It’s a door to talk about the food industry, agriculture, animal welfare, cooking, our relationship with food, culture and community...etc. I could go on. Kiko skillfully teaches us about every aspect related to food, making us better and smarter eaters. Listen to this podcast now!!

What are you waiting to listen to this podcast?

Kiko is building something great—listen to this!

Soothing voice, important topics

Lunch Agenda is a virtual lunch date that offers us all a chance to be food activists. Kiko spent three years interviewing neighbors served by the Capital Area Food Bank about how they like to eat. She’s learned that in order for everyone in America to eat better, we need to listen to different perspectives from our own and pursue change on many levels. She’ll sit with doctors, parents, policymakers and more to hear their agenda for the food system, and will ask each guest for one action listeners can take to change things for the better. This show records and broadcasts LIVE on Full Service Radio from the lobby of the LINE DC in Adams Morgan, Washington DC.

Lunch Agenda

Want to get inside the head of people who invest in food concepts? In partnership with the Bainum Family Foundation, Kiko kicks off a special series all about the who, why and how of food investment. Today’s guests--Eric Kessler of Arabella Advisors, Leila Otis of the Bainum Family Foundation, and Celeste James who leads Kaiser Permanente’s Community Health Philanthrophy in the Mid-Atlantic region--help us understand the different types of food funding that exist in 2019, and give us a window into how funders make their decisions.

Want to get inside the head of people who invest in food concepts? In partnership with the Bainum Family Foundation, Kiko kicks off a special series all about the who, why and how of food investment. Today’s guests--Eric Kessler of Arabella Advisors, Leila Otis of the Bainum Family Foundation, and Celeste James who leads Kaiser Permanente’s Community Health Philanthrophy in the Mid-Atlantic region--help us understand the different types of food funding that exist in 2019, and give us a window into how funders make their decisions.

Investing in Food, Episode 1: Inside the Mind of the Investor

Lola Bloom (Director of Food and Wellness at DC Bilingual) and Jenn Mampara (FRESHFARM's Director of Education) are together responsible for thousands of Washington, DC kids being schooled in cooking and gardening. Kiko digs into their approaches to aligning the classroom with the cafeteria in pursuit of healthier students.

Lola Bloom (Director of Food and Wellness at DC Bilingual) and Jenn Mampara (FRESHFARM's Director of Education) are together responsible for thousands of Washington, DC kids being schooled in cooking and gardening. Kiko digs into their approaches to aligning the classroom with the cafeteria in pursuit of healthier students.

Teaching Food, Episode 2

Powered and distributed by <a href="simplecast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>

Eating the Green New Deal, Episode 1

Roughly 2.8 million incarcerated Americans--who on the outside would present significant power as consumers--are often ignored or forgotten in our food system. Kiko talks with Halim Flowers about the lived experience of eating while incarcerated for 22 years in facilities from the east coast to the west coast; Halim shares why he’s especially worried about adolescents whose bodies and brains develop on the inside. We also hear from Kanav Kathuria about the Farm to Prison Project that is using food to change the consciousness of people in his Baltimore community toward those who are incarcerated.

Roughly 2.8 million incarcerated Americans--who on the outside would present significant power as consumers--are often ignored or forgotten in our food system. Kiko talks with Halim Flowers about the lived experience of eating while incarcerated for 22 years in facilities from the east coast to the west coast; Halim shares why he’s especially worried about adolescents whose bodies and brains develop on the inside. We also hear from Kanav Kathuria about the Farm to Prison Project that is using food to change the consciousness of people in his Baltimore community toward those who are incarcerated.

Institutional Food, Episode 3: Prison Food (Nutrition Justice)

Michael Twitty

This week marks the beginning of Black History Month, and this year marks the 400th anniversary of the transatlantic slave trade beginning in the United States. In that spirit, Kiko kicks off a new Lunch Agenda series in conversation with Michael Twitty, a black culinary historian, food writer, and author of the James Beard Foundation’s 2018 Book of the Year, The Cooking Gene. She'll ask him to school her on foods and traditions that travelled across the Atlantic from Africa, evolved along with the African American community since, and have shaped the food experiences of us all.

This week marks the beginning of Black History Month, and this year marks the 400th anniversary of the transatlantic slave trade beginning in the United States. In that spirit, Kiko kicks off a new Lunch Agenda series in conversation with Michael Twitty, a black culinary historian, food writer, and author of the James Beard Foundation’s 2018 Book of the Year, The Cooking Gene. She'll ask him to school her on foods and traditions that travelled across the Atlantic from Africa, evolved along with the African American community since, and have shaped the food experiences of us all.

Black Food History Month, Episode 1: Michael Twitty on Culinary History

Kiko kicks off a long-awaited series examining food offerings in hotels, hospitals and prisons. In conversation with Spike Gjerde of A Rake's Progress in the Line Hotel DC and Jessi Silverman of Center for Science in the Public Interest's report on hotel food, we explore why food served in institutions lacks the transparency of sourcing, accountability to nutrition and standards of flavor that we expect elsewhere...and what is being done about it.

Kiko kicks off a long-awaited series examining food offerings in hotels, hospitals and prisons. In conversation with Spike Gjerde of A Rake's Progress in the Line Hotel DC and Jessi Silverman of Center for Science in the Public Interest's report on hotel food, we explore why food served in institutions lacks the transparency of sourcing, accountability to nutrition and standards of flavor that we expect elsewhere...and what is being done about it.

Institutional Food, Episode 1: Hotel Food

How do city folks learn to grow food in their urban garden plots? And how do farmers learn to grow food in huge quantities on production farms, with all of the machinery, strategic planning, and environmental knowledge it requires? Kiko catches up with three food growing teachers: Shawna DeWitt and Attila Agoston of Mountain View Farm in Neersville, VA and Dana Bourne of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Grow NYC. We talk about what techniques they think are most important for rural and urban food growers to know, and get their recommendations for each of us to seek out agricultural learning opportunities wherever we live.

How do city folks learn to grow food in their urban garden plots? And how do farmers learn to grow food in huge quantities on production farms, with all of the machinery, strategic planning, and environmental knowledge it requires? Kiko catches up with three food growing teachers: Shawna DeWitt and Attila Agoston of Mountain View Farm in Neersville, VA and Dana Bourne of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Grow NYC. We talk about what techniques they think are most important for rural and urban food growers to know, and get their recommendations for each of us to seek out agricultural learning opportunities wherever we live.

Teaching Food, Episode 6: Teaching Food Growing

Leah Penniman

Leah Penniman co-founded Soul Fire Farm with a committment to ending racism and injustice in the food system, and last year published Farming While Black, a how-to guide for African-heritage people ready to reclaim their agency. In today's episode Kiko asks her about Ujumma, Susus, and other ways African farmers have organized, pooled resources and supported each other both in Africa and her diaspora.

Leah Penniman co-founded Soul Fire Farm with a committment to ending racism and injustice in the food system, and last year published Farming While Black, a how-to guide for African-heritage people ready to reclaim their agency. In today's episode Kiko asks her about Ujumma, Susus, and other ways African farmers have organized, pooled resources and supported each other both in Africa and her diaspora.

Black Food History Month, Episode 2: Leah Penniman on Agricultural Organizing

Instacart co-founder Max Mullen goes head to head with Glen's Garden Market founder Danielle Vogel in #LunchAgenda's first live on-air debate, about the future of the grocery distribution industry. Over the past five years, we’ve seen mega-retailers like Target and Walmart become increasingly significant players in the grocery space and come to sell even more organic food nationally than natural-oriented grocery chains. We most recently have watched Amazon’s take over of Whole Foods lead to changes in the chain’s product assortment, and pilots of cashier-less grocery stores. So what should we as consumers expect next? Will brick and mortar grocery stores continue to be a viable model, or will customers increasingly stay home and order our food online? And most importantly for Lunch Agenda listeners, who believe in voting with our dollars, which model do we want to use for getting groceries to our homes 10, 20, and 50 years from now?

Instacart co-founder Max Mullen goes head to head with Glen's Garden Market founder Danielle Vogel in #LunchAgenda's first live on-air debate, about the future of the grocery distribution industry. Over the past five years, we’ve seen mega-retailers like Target and Walmart become increasingly significant players in the grocery space and come to sell even more organic food nationally than natural-oriented grocery chains. We most recently have watched Amazon’s take over of Whole Foods lead to changes in the chain’s product assortment, and pilots of cashier-less grocery stores. So what should we as consumers expect next? Will brick and mortar grocery stores continue to be a viable model, or will customers increasingly stay home and order our food online? And most importantly for Lunch Agenda listeners, who believe in voting with our dollars, which model do we want to use for getting groceries to our homes 10, 20, and 50 years from now?

Distribution: the Hidden Link, Episode 2

Beyond the public safety and public health impacts of inadequate nutrition in correctional facilities, the food served there affects the emotions, relationships and aspirations of those on the inside. Kiko learns about issues of food environment from Leslie Soble, an ethnographer with Impact Justice. The series ends on a high note in conversation with Seth Sundberg, an entrepreneur whose mission-driven nutrition bar company began during his five years in federal prison. Stick through the end of the episode, when Kiko reveals two guest hosts who will be your Lunch Agenda dates over the summer during her maternity leave!

Beyond the public safety and public health impacts of inadequate nutrition in correctional facilities, the food served there affects the emotions, relationships and aspirations of those on the inside. Kiko learns about issues of food environment from Leslie Soble, an ethnographer with Impact Justice. The series ends on a high note in conversation with Seth Sundberg, an entrepreneur whose mission-driven nutrition bar company began during his five years in federal prison. Stick through the end of the episode, when Kiko reveals two guest hosts who will be your Lunch Agenda dates over the summer during her maternity leave!

Institutional Food, Episode 4: Prison Food (Identity & Entrepreneurism)

Our institutional food exploration moves to hospitals, another setting where huge amounts of people (who don’t necessarily have a choice in the matter) eat every day. Kiko speaks with Jeff Klova, Executive Chef at Temple University Hospital and Shelley Chamberlain, the Healthy Food in Healthcare Specialist for Philadelphia's Good Food Healthy Hospitals initiative, about sourcing more ingredients locally, serving less meat, wasting less food, and "nudges" that steer people to use food as medicine while at the hospital.

Our institutional food exploration moves to hospitals, another setting where huge amounts of people (who don’t necessarily have a choice in the matter) eat every day. Kiko speaks with Jeff Klova, Executive Chef at Temple University Hospital and Shelley Chamberlain, the Healthy Food in Healthcare Specialist for Philadelphia's Good Food Healthy Hospitals initiative, about sourcing more ingredients locally, serving less meat, wasting less food, and "nudges" that steer people to use food as medicine while at the hospital.

Institutional Food, Episode 2: Hospital Food

DYK that less than 3% of the tomatoes, potatoes, and blueberries consumed in the Washington, DC area are grown here? The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments just released a report that is the closest thing we have to a real-time snapshot of farming in the broader DC foodshed. Kiko is the first to interview Lindsay Smith, who coordinated the report as the Council’s Regional Food Systems Program head. We learn further insights about agricultural land use from Chris Van Vlack, a hay farmer and conservationist with the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District.

DYK that less than 3% of the tomatoes, potatoes, and blueberries consumed in the Washington, DC area are grown here? The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments just released a report that is the closest thing we have to a real-time snapshot of farming in the broader DC foodshed. Kiko is the first to interview Lindsay Smith, who coordinated the report as the Council’s Regional Food Systems Program head. We learn further insights about agricultural land use from Chris Van Vlack, a hay farmer and conservationist with the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District.

What Our Region Grows: Briefing on Newly-Released Agriculture Report

First question on today's #LunchAgenda: where are the women in bread?? We shared theories before diving into the history of grain agriculture and milling in the Mid-Atlantic, and exploring how farmers might revitalize a local grain community moving forward. Kiko welcomes Steve Dryden, Executive Director of Friends of Peirce Mill (located in DC's Rock Creek Park) to the studio, along with Jason White, a University of Maryland researcher who studies efficiency and environmental implications of grain agriculture, and spearheads the Grassroots exhibition at the US National Arboretum. This episode is supported by Compass, the future of real estate in the Metro DC Area and beyond. Discover it at compass.com. This episode is supported by Compass, the future of real estate in the Metro DC Area and beyond. Discover it at compass.com.

First question on today's #LunchAgenda: where are the women in bread?? We shared theories before diving into the history of grain agriculture and milling in the Mid-Atlantic, and exploring how farmers might revitalize a local grain community moving forward. Kiko welcomes Steve Dryden, Executive Director of Friends of Peirce Mill (located in DC's Rock Creek Park) to the studio, along with Jason White, a University of Maryland researcher who studies efficiency and environmental implications of grain agriculture, and spearheads the Grassroots exhibition at the US National Arboretum. This episode is supported by Compass, the future of real estate in the Metro DC Area and beyond. Discover it at <a href="http://compass.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">compass.com</a>. This episode is supported by Compass, the future of real estate in the Metro DC Area and beyond. Discover it at <a href="http://compass.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">compass.com</a>.

Breaducation, Episode 3

Resilience

Though Wards 7 and 8 are home to over 150,000 DC residents, there are only three grocery stores open in these neighborhoods, causing a food access issue that must be addressed. This episode marks the first guest host spot on Lunch Agenda. Join Alexya in discussion with Clarice Manning and Raul Edwards, board members of the upcoming Community Grocery Co-op to be located east of the river. Through the Co-op, they hope to not only provide affordable, healthy foods to residents but to also uplift the community's voice and build bonds. Learn all about the history of cooperative business and about what food access really means in this episode!

Though Wards 7 and 8 are home to over 150,000 DC residents, there are only three grocery stores open in these neighborhoods, causing a food access issue that must be addressed. This episode marks the first guest host spot on Lunch Agenda. Join Alexya in discussion with Clarice Manning and Raul Edwards, board members of the upcoming Community Grocery Co-op to be located east of the river. Through the Co-op, they hope to not only provide affordable, healthy foods to residents but to also uplift the community's voice and build bonds. Learn all about the history of cooperative business and about what food access really means in this episode!

Building Community Resilience through Cooperative Food Access

Fifth graders from Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School take the mic to interview Chef Dot Steck about their school's own from-scratch kitchen, and Lea Howe of DC Greens about work being done across DC to improve school food. These students have persevered for months to learn about podcasting, explore topics, identify expert guests, write and rewrite their script, and practice for their Full Service Radio debut!

Fifth graders from Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School take the mic to interview Chef Dot Steck about their school's own from-scratch kitchen, and Lea Howe of DC Greens about work being done across DC to improve school food. These students have persevered for months to learn about podcasting, explore topics, identify expert guests, write and rewrite their script, and practice for their Full Service Radio debut!

5th Grade Special: School Kitchen Investigation

On this episode of Lunch Agenda, guest host Alexya takes a deep dive into one of the largest student-run food justice organizations in the country. In 2011, several students from the University of Maryland, College Park organized to recover leftover food from the campus dining halls to deliver it to community members in need and to reduce food waste. Today over 230 chapters of Food Recovery Network operate across the nation, powered by student action. Yuzhu Shi, current president of the inaugural chapter at University of Maryland, sits down to discuss the origins of the student-powered non-profit, the impact FRN has on the community and for food waste, and about youth leadership and activism.

On this episode of Lunch Agenda, guest host Alexya takes a deep dive into one of the largest student-run food justice organizations in the country. In 2011, several students from the University of Maryland, College Park organized to recover leftover food from the campus dining halls to deliver it to community members in need and to reduce food waste. Today over 230 chapters of Food Recovery Network operate across the nation, powered by student action. Yuzhu Shi, current president of the inaugural chapter at University of Maryland, sits down to discuss the origins of the student-powered non-profit, the impact FRN has on the community and for food waste, and about youth leadership and activism.

Food Justice meets Sustainable Action: The Food Recovery Network

The Best Multi-Part Documentaries, with documentaries on Obama, Federer vs Nadal, the making of Star Wars, Netflix vs Blockbuster and more. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Multi-Part Documentaries

The best podcast episodes on physical health. Episodes talk about your diet, sleep, exercise and all the things that people do to improve their physical health and live a healthier life. This topic is for everyone, with applications in all of our everyday lives. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!