Oscars and Vegetarians and Starbucks, OH MY! Episode 26

Oscars and Vegetarians and Starbucks, OH MY! Episode 26

Artificial insemination. Vegetarian choices. The Oscars. STDs. Greenhouse gas emissions. Baby calves. Nursing. Starbucks. Nutrient density of food. Personal choices. 

If those topics don’t add up to a civil conversation in your mind, listen in for a model on how to have a discussion around food and the environment that’s respectful and informative with someone different than you.

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Starbucks, are you contributing to farmer suicides?

Just as it takes more than one formula to create a latte at Starbucks, sustainability includes multiple ingredients. Sustainability in food production takes a big picture look at the environment, the ability of family businesses to succeed long-term and contribute to their local communities – AND the nutrition value food brings to society. Expanding plant-based beverages does not necessarily mitigate climate change, but it does have consequences – many that impact farmers in a mental health crisis.

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Why do bullies call farmers animal abusers? Episode 19

Why is it so easy  to call farmers names despite the great efforts they put in place to ensure we have food? “It hurts so much when someone says that I am an animal abuser because sometimes I work day and night take care of my animals.” German dairy farmer Agnes Greggersen, from the northern…

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Are confined spaces cruel for farm animals?

There are many ways to house dairy cattle. Some operations will keep their cows out on pasture, like my neighbors, so the cows aren’t in the barn a lot during the summer and fall. However, even those cows are in the barn for shelter during weather, to eat their specially mixed ration (a nutritionally balanced…

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Genetics improve your groceries

Did you know that beef cattle have been bred to have less fat in the meat? And dairy cattle genetics allow for higher protein milk, while chickens and turkeys have larger breasts because of genetic selection? And messing with genes gave you seedless grapes and seedless watermelons?  And there is rice genetically modified to provide…

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