UVM Food Feed

Fun Facts about Eggs

Posted by Guest Author | April 14, 2017

By Alison Kosakowski
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Spring is the egg’s time to shine.

Though they play an important role in baking, quiche, and of course breakfast, the humble egg is often overlooked, or treated like a minor-character in the mealtime plot. But spring is the incredible egg’s time to shine. This week, eggs have been working overtime, hidden in egg hunts, nestled in Easter baskets, and displayed on traditional Passover Seder plates.

In honor of the occasion, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets is sharing some fun facts about eggs.

According to the USDA Ag Census, Vermont farmers raise about 212,000 layer hens, annually.

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Posted in Economic | Tagged dairy, local food, Vermont | 2 Comments

How Hannaford Set the Supermarket Standard for Selling Local Food

Posted by Erica Houskeeper | April 7, 2017

Chelsea Wagner wants more consumers to buy local food.

A specialist for Hannaford’s Local program, Wagner works with farmers and producers across the region to give them shelf space at Hannaford supermarkets across five states.

hannaford-local-food

Chelsea Wagner

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Posted in Vermont | Tagged farming, food access, local foods, Vermont | 1 Comment

Jim Harrison’s ‘A Really Big Lunch’ Will Restore Your Appetite

Posted by Guest Author | March 29, 2017

By Hailey Grohman

In today’s faddish food culture, self-denial and restraint are the name of the game. Every day a new diet scheme is born; every day the media condemns a different food group. Be like Tom Brady, who doesn’t eat nightshades! Be like your caveman ancestors, and eat only protein! A person could wear themselves out—and many do—trying to keep up with the new “right” way to eat.

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Posted in Culture | Tagged book review, food culture | 1 Comment

Alternative Spring Break Program Exposes Students to Food Justice Issues

Posted by Alison Nihart | March 24, 2017

While their peers traveled home to visit family or flew to warm, far-away places, ten UVM undergraduate students chose to stay in Vermont for an alternative spring break experience last week. Although they came from programs as disparate as elementary education, dietetics, genetics, and nutrition, they all shared a passion for a topic of mutual interest: food justice.

The eight-day program, organized by students affiliated with UVM Hillel, aimed to expose students to the variety of programs and efforts underway in Vermont that are addressing issues related to poverty, food security, and human rights. The itinerary included visits to food shelves and local farms, discussions with local food security organizations, and many opportunities for deep discussions. Although the trip took place in Vermont, the trip leaders were careful to put the topic in the context of larger systems.

food-justice

Students at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf

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Posted in Economic, UVM | Tagged Economy, food security, UVM | Leave a comment

Family Grateful to Be First Generation Farmers

Posted by Guest Author | March 21, 2017

By Laura Hardie

Shaun Riordan and his wife Lauren, owners of Grateful Morning Dairy in Shaftsbury, aren’t your traditional dairy farmers. They didn’t grow up on farms, or have backgrounds in agriculture. Shaun was a special education teacher before becoming a farmer, and Lauren is a midwife.

“We knew we wanted to involve agriculture in our life in some way. We were always looking for a way to do that,” Shaun says. “Education is a job you can do anywhere and so the thought was I could work in education and live in a rural area and have a small farm someday.”