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HomeFields
1. Going the extra food mile
Does buying that tomato from your local farmer vs. one that traveled 1,500 miles from Mexico make a big difference in terms of its environmental impact? Not necessarily.
2. Social connections in urban soil
City Seeds Urban Farm, a 2 ½ acre plot next to an off ramp in Saint Louis, has become a hub of sorts for socials service agencies looking for new ways to tackle addiction, recidivism, hunger, unemployment and other issues.
3. In rural areas, a chance to innovate
Despite the challenge of few grocery stores and farmers markets outlets in rural areas, farmers see potential in local food.
4. Paying more, or paying less
For some people, local food is about saving money. For others, it represents a premium product that they’re willing to pay more for. How can this be?
6. Carving out middle ground
As local food expands into the mainstream, the industry is working to overcome gaps in the supply chain. The answer may be found in the middleman.
5. A cultural disconnect
There's a lot of talk about providing more local food, sustainable models and knowing your farmer. But for many people, local food is not a priority. Is the holdup the perceived high cost or a question of culture?
Home Fields the TV documentary
As grocery stores and restaurants build supply networks with nearby farmers and ranchers, the U.S. food system is evolving quite dramatically.
Talk Show: Developing local food networks
A look at the challenges and opportunities to developing local food networks
Americans seem to be spending a lot of time talking about how and what they eat.
Credit the local food movement for much of this discussion. From home gardens to farmers markets to a concern about food miles, Americans are connecting to food in new ways. Some “locavores” even advocate for food systems to be rebuilt on the premise of a local food advantage.
Harvest Public Media contributes to the discussion with our first documentary. “Home Fields: Digging Into Local Food,” produced by our partner NET in Lincoln, Neb., aired on PBS stations across the Midwest in July 2011.
In support of the documentary, our team produced six compelling radio stories. You’ll find those stories here at Harvestpublicmedia.org, along with video, slideshows, photos, links and interactive graphics. Locavore or not, we think you’ll find much to appreciate in our look at how this movement is changing the conversation on food production in the United States.
- Donna Vestal, editor, Harvest Public Media
