This episode is a conversation with Dan Lipow of the Foraged Feast. Dan started a business around foraged food, specifically mushrooms, and has been engaging with the community to spread the word about foraged foods and introduce people to new things. We talk about the powerful benefits of mushrooms, how Dan got started in this work, and how to educate yourself on the world of mushrooms. 

Sara Harper, the founder of Our Grounded Growth,has been a long-time mentor to me when I was just learning what sustainable agriculture meant. I like to think of her as a matchmaker between farmers and brands who are interested in sourcing regenerative ingredients. Sara is able to talk the talk of the private sector, policy makers and the farm community, which is why she is one of a kind!Our conversation covers so many of the big issues in why major change is challenging in our political system, why greenwashing can be both beneficial and dangerous and why regenerative agriculture can be financially beneficial for famers. 

In this episode I talk with Emilio Panasci, one of the co-founders of the Urban Agriculture Coop in Newark, NJ to learn more about what is urban agriculture, why is it so important to our cities and what role can it play in the future of food systems. 

In this episode I interview John from Rolling Hills Farm in NJ on his journey from lost college student to full-time farmer, his thoughts on the organic label, why cheap food comes at a high cost to our health, workers and the environment and why he believes the future is bright for local food 

On the first episode of Illuminate Your Plate, I chat with Maryland farmer Emma Jagoz of Moon Valley Farm, who has had to change her business model to respond to the changing environment caused by this pandemic. I speak with Emma about why she became a farmer, why it's important to support local farms and how she's been able to shift her business from mostly serving restaurants through the winter and spring, to connecting with more consumers through her CSA program. Emma talks to us about her hashtag Local is the New Normal and why it's better to wait for the best produce of the season than eat the poor quality stuff traveling thousands of miles.