The Food Chain

Ep 1417 Guarantors of Farmers Market Authenticity

One of the most effective ways to get rid of pesky competitors is to establish laws and regulations that make it very difficult for competitors to operate.  That leads us to ask:

How did farmers regain the right to sell food directly to consumers? 

The 1417^th edition of the Food Chain Radio Podcast with Michael Olson hosts David Sanford, Commissioner, Santa Cruz California Department of Agriculture, for a conversation about the partnership that guarantees the authenticity of Certified Farmers Markets and the foods thereof.   

Topics include how California’s small farmers won the right to sell their food directly to consumers; how the authenticity of farmers markets and the food thereof is guaranteed; and speculation as to what might be done to increase the awareness and utilization of Certified Farmers Markets.  

Ep 1415 The Lipstick Farmer's Food Train to the Governor's Mansion

A FOOD CHAIN RELEASE FROM MICHAEL OLSON 

Those on both sides of the political spectrum look at what has become of the great State of California and wonder: ‘What happened?’  This leads us to ask:

Did California eat too much nonsense?

The 1415^th edition of the Food Chain Radio Podcast with Michael Olson hosts Elaine Culloti, California’s “Lipstick Farmer,” for a conversation about food, trains, and her campaign to be California’s governor. 

Topics include speculation as to why California has become the nation’s “U-Haul-Ass” state; The Lipstick Farmer’s proposal to use trains to deliver food from farmers to California’s cities; and why a full audit of government is needed to determine what happened to California’s missing money. 

Show On-Demand Recording:  #1415 The Lipstick Farmer’s California Food Train

Archive Host:  www.metrofarm.com  

Appraising Farmland

In her novel The Good Earth, Pearl Buck wrote, “If roots are to bear fruit, they must be kept well in the soil of land.”  Her thought leads us to ask: 

 

Which farmland is best for bearing one’s fruit? 

 

We have been hearing a lot about farmland recently. 

We’ve been hearing how very wealthy people like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates have been using the millions and billions pouring into and out of their businesses to buy up vast tracks of America’s farmland; how mysterious entities from China are buying up farmland near America’s military bases; and how entrepreneurs have been buying up farmland covered in greenhouses for the purpose of growing America’s cannabis.

The true value of all that farmland is determined by what someone is willing to pay for it.  And there are a lot of reasons why people buy farmland.

Today, we focus on those who want to obtain farmland to grow food, flowers and fiber as a business. And we are fortunate to have one who knows how to find the true value farmland for a business. 

Please welcome… 

Chuck Allen,  Chuck Allen Properties, Watsonville, CA   

Ep 1413 Feeding the Obstinate Child

Michael Olson hosts Danielle Flint - Danny the Nanny

You would think a hungry child would want eat just about anything, but a lot of hungry children only eat what they want to eat.  And so we ask: 

How do you get an obstinate child to eat what you want them to eat?

The 1413^th edition of the Food Chain Radio Podcast with Michael Olson hosts Danielle Flint, Maryland’s Danny the Nanny, for a conversation about feeding the obstinate child.

Topics include the ways in which children express their obstinacy about eating what they are supposed to eat; ways in which adults try to manage their obstinate children; and how a nanny must somehow justify the demands of obstinate child and frustrated parents. 

 

Ep 1412 Rocky Oaks Goats - Just Kidding!

No kidding!  It's true.  Having had to catch a plane and fly away, we missed kiddentine in California's great Central Valley.   Our loss leads us to ask:

Have you had the opportunity to play with the kids? 

The 1412^th edition of the Food Chain Radio Podcast with Michael Olson hosts Margie Weber, Co-Owner, Rocky Oaks Goat Creamery, for a conversation about raising goats in a vertically integrated dairy. 

Topics include why goat dairy; the raising of goats in a semi-rural environment; and the selling of goat dairy products direct via farmers markets.

Ep 1411 The Snack Chips Man

Along the Food Chain with Michael Olson…

 

#1411 The Snack Chips Man

Jake Stenton, President

Natural Bridges Company

 

 

You stand in front of the grocer’s selection of snack chips and think, ‘A penny’s worth of potato in a bag that costs a buck!’ 

 

We Americans eat about $50 billion dollars worth of snack chips every year.  That pencils out to about $167 per person per year.  And the price of those bags of snack chips keeps going through the roof. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a bag of chips that cost $6.75 in 1977 would cost $33.39 today! 

That so much money is spent on those bags of snack chips, leads us to wonder:

What would it take to bag up some chips and sell them?

Episode 272 Hour One

China Now, 26.1.29, Hour 1

Gang of Two Nan Su & Michael Olson

CCP Coup Attempt at Zhongnanhai / A Trap is Sprung

Episode 272

China Now 26.1.29 Hour 2

Gang of Two:  Michael Olson & Nan Su

CCP Coup Attempt at Zhanganhai, Xi gets away!