The Complexity of Food-Call to Action

By: Darin Grimm, AgChat Foundation President

In-depth discussions of our eating habits has gone mainstream.  No longer can we simply grab a simple meal, a salad, a burger and fries, a bowl of cereal, without our choices being analyzed, praised and criticized.  Often all at the very same time!

The random collision of two events this Saturday, May 19th demonstrates the incredible diversity that exists.  First, we have Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Day.  Jamie, a leading celebrity chef, has made it a personal mission to “get people cooking again”.  His effort has gained a lot of traction, there’s additional goals that have been added, but at it’s core, it’s about getting people to cook their own food.  As a farmer, I think that is a wonderful thing!  

The second event this weekend is Ag Pizza Day.  It has been organized by a group of farmers as a way to say “Thank You” to Domino’s Pizza.  Thanking Domino’s for turning to the experts in animal care and behavior, as they evaluate their corporate purchasing strategies.  Everyone loves pizza, and I hope you join the rest of the ag community in having a Domino’s Pizza this weekend.  

At first glance, these two events might seem almost contradictory, yet they really represent all the diversity, the challenges, but yet the potential that is our food system.  There will not be a single method that feeds us affordably into the future.  It will require a diverse food supply, folks who cook at home ranging from frequently to only on rare occasion, folks that would rather pay someone else to prepare most of their meals.  It will require the most modern technology we can develop to coax the maximum production from our animals and soil, and it will require tender, loving hands to care for those same animals and soil in the way only a heart can.  

Yes, we need both, we need the diversity in our food system.  So my encouragement to you, recognizing the diversity that is being celebrated on May 19th, have a Domino’s for lunch, and than treat yourself to a home-cooked dinner of whatever it is you enjoy making/eating the most!

Want to follow the action online?

Food Revolution on Facebook or Twitter using #foodrevolution

Make sure to join the Ag Pizza Day Event on Facebook

May 15th, 2012 – FoodChat on USDA Food and Nutrition Programs

What are the USDA Food And Nutrition Programs? To many, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is just about agriculture. But it offers much more than that. The USDA offers services and support to many families that utilize the output of agriculture: food. In this FoodChat, USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon, Food, Nutrition & Consumer Services, shares more about what is offered.

May 8st, 2012 – AgChat on Media Influence

Media Influencing Consumer And Business Decisions How are media channels informing consumers? What are some of the methods agriculture information is shared with non-ag people? This AgChat session shares thoughts on media influences on people and business decisions.

Agvocacy 2.0 Training

Applications Now Available for Agvocacy 2.0 Farmer Social Media Training

The third-annual Agvocacy 2.0 application for the 2012 social media training conference is now available. The two-day event will explore how farmers can effectively share agriculture’s message using social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, blogs and mobile applications.

May 1st, 2012 – AgChat on Nutrients for Plants & Animals

What Are Nutrients for Plants & Animals? Plants and animals need food to grow. What do farmers and ranchers do to provide the food and what are the issues they must handle? #AgChat farmers and ranchers provide some insights and learn what others are doing.