The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 1 - Brian Kenny

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:46:04 -0000

Heritage talks with Brian Kenny, Manager of Hearst Ranch Beef Program

The Farm Report - Episode 2 - Craig Good & Chris Wilson

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:46:20 -0000

Heritage talks with Craig Good of Good Farm in Olsburg, Kansas and Chris Wilson of Clover Creek Farm of Northeast Tennessee.

The Farm Report - Episode 3 - Danny Williamson & Christopher Nicholson

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:46:40 -0000

Heritage talks with Danny Williamson of Windmill Ranch and Christopher Nicholson of the Iliamna Fish Company.

The Farm Report - Episode 4 - Alec Bradford & Doug Metzger

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:47:05 -0000

Heritage talks with Doug Metzger of Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch in Kansas and Alec Bradford of Leaping Waters Farm, Shawsville, Virginia.

The Farm Report - Episode 5 - Brenda Smith & Larry Sorell

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:47:20 -0000

Heritage talks with Larry Sorell, of Lazy S Farms in Kansas, and Brenda Smith of Clayton's in Michigan City, Indiana.

The Farm Report - Episode 6 - Eric Rapp & Charlotte Swancy

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:47:36 -0000

Heritage talks with Eric Rapp of the Rare Hare Barn in Leonn, Kansas. Eric raises rare breed Heritage Rabbits. The second guest is Charlotte Swancy, a young Heritage Berkshire pig farmer of Riverview Farms in Georgia.

The Farm Report - Episode 7 - Rose Balfiori & Barb Foulke

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:48:06 -0000

Lorenzo Ragionieri speaks with Rose Balfiori of Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery about the rare breed Dexter cow and Artisanal cheese making and Barb Foulke of Freddy Guys Hazelnuts in Oregon.

The Farm Report - Episode 8 - Ken Klemm

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:48:21 -0000

Lorenzo speaks with Bison farmer Ken Klemm of Elk Mountain, Wyoming.

The Farm Report - Episode 9 - Kevin Lunny & Soni Fitch

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:48:39 -0000

Lorenzo speaks with Kevin Lunny of Drakes Bay Family Farms about Oyster Farming and Soni Fitch of Catalpa Farm in Columbia City Indiana about Chickens.

The Farm Report - Episode 10 - Marty Hill, John Priske & Dorothy Priske

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:49:00 -0000

Lorenzo in conversation with bison farmer Marty Hill, of Twin Springs Farms in Maryland. Also on the show, John and Dorothy Priske, stewards of the Highland Prairie heritage cattle.

The Farm Report - Episode 11 - Frank Reese & Kevin Lunny

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:49:16 -0000

Lorenzo speaks with renowned poultry farmer Frank Reese of The Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch about Heritage breed chickens and issues of biodiversity. Also on the program, Kevin Lunny of Lunny Ranch in Marin County.

The Farm Report - Episode 12 - Melvin Brown & Neil Kirkhart

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:49:29 -0000

Heather talks to Amaltheia Organic Dairy farmer Melvin Brown and Iowa black hog farmer Neil Kirkhart.

The Farm Report - Episode 13 - Mario Fantasma & Dan Purdy

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:49:45 -0000

Lorenzo talks slaughter with Mario Fantasma of Paradise Locker Meats and Dan Purdy of Purdy Foods.

The Farm Report - Episode 14 - Callene Rapp

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:50:03 -0000

Today's July 4th themed Farm Report features Callene Rapp, Chairwoman of The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Callen speaks on how heritage farmers can gain independence from commodity production, and the urgency of preserving our heirloom breeds.

The Farm Report - Episode 15 - Eric Norton & Matt Keehaver

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:50:30 -0000

This week's Farm Report investigates the problem of the rising average age of farmers in America, the stigmas associated with farming, and how to reverse these trends. Two young Missouri farmers are featured: Eric Norton and Matt Keehaver.

The Farm Report - Episode 16 - Amy Good & Betty Metzger

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:50:42 -0000

This week's Farm Report is all about the girls. Heather and Lorenzo talk with Mrs. Good and Mrs. Metzger about the evolving role of the woman on the farm.

The Farm Report - Episode 17 - Marge Kilkelly, Kathy Webb & Wendy Pieh

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:51:00 -0000

This week on the Farm Report: Marge Kilkelly of Dragon Fly Cove Farm joins Lorenzo to discuss consortium farming. Marge is part of the Thyme for Goat consortium of Maine along with our guests today Kathy Webb and Wendy Pieh.

The Farm Report - Episode 18 - Adam Horwich & Ben Flanner

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:51:13 -0000

This week on the Farm Report, Adam Horwich & Ben Flanner talk about Urban Gardening in Greenpoint.

The Farm Report - Episode 19 - Neil Peterson

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:51:30 -0000

On the latest edition of the Heritage Farm Report, Heather & Lorenzo have a conversation with leading pawpaw activist, Neal Peterson. Neal tells us more about this endangered and intensely seasonal fruit, and what the future holds for the pawpaw.

The Farm Report - Episode 20 - James Twomey & Lisa Twomey

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:51:44 -0000

On this week's Farm Report, Heather interviews Lisa and James Twomey of Sandstone Ridge Farms in LaFarge, Wisconsin. Lisa and James raise heritage Tunis sheep, known for their delicate taste profiles and exceptional wool.

The Farm Report - Episode 21 - Erin Fairbanks

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:52:06 -0000

On this week's Farm Report, Heather and Lorenzo host Erin Fairbanks in-studio. Erin is a farmer, chef, and food activist pioneering a new agri-tourism program for food professionals in upstate New York called Farm Camp.

The Farm Report - Episode 22 - Alec Bradford

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:52:20 -0000

On this week's Farm Report, Heather interviews Alec Bradford of Leaping Waters Farm, whose work with the rare and tasty Ancient White Cattle has been grabbing headlines in New York City and beyond.

The Farm Report - Episode 23 - Matt Lorenz

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:52:45 -0000

On this week's episode of the Farm Report, Heather and Lorenzo interview Matt Lorenz of Trees not Trash, a non-profit that starts and manages community gardens. Bonus segment: build your own green roof.

The Farm Report - Episode 24 - Chris Mittelstaedt

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:52:58 -0000

On this week's Farm Report, Heather and Lorenzo interview Chris Mittelstaedt, CEO and Founder of FruitGuys, a San Francisco based company thwarting the junk food crisis at large offices by delivering locally sourced fruit to replace conventional snacks.

The Farm Report - Episode 25 - Ken Klemm

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:53:19 -0000

On this week' Farm Report, Heather and Lorenzo interview Ken Klemm of The Buffalo Guys. Ken lets us in on his Experimental Farming Project, a program designed to uncover avant garde farming techniques to improve the quality and vitality of American soil.

The Farm Report - Episode 26 - Charlie Nardozzi

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:53:38 -0000

Charlie Nardozzi joins Friday's Farm Report to share his passion and forty plus years experience to answer any and all questions related to growing your own food.

The Farm Report - Episode 27 - Matt Lorenz Part 2

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:54:04 -0000

On this week's episode of the Farm Report, Heather and Lorenzo welcome Matt Lorenz back to the studio to talk about ultra-sophisticated green buildings in the Netherlands and what it will take for eco-architecture to catch on globally.

The Farm Report - Episode 28 - Danny Williamson

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:54:21 -0000

On this week's Farm Report: Danny Williamson of Windmill Ranch and Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch talks about his first-class heritage chicken project, the watered-down significance of the term "organic", and what sets heritage chickens apart.

The Farm Report - Episode 29 - Mark Tupper

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:54:38 -0000

On this week's Farm Report, Heather interviews Mark Tupper of Triad Fisheries. Mark discusses Triad's sophisticated, humane, and sustainable trolling practices, and the state of the American salmon industry as a whole.

The Farm Report - Episode 30 - Iroquois White Corn with Marty Travis

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:55:00 -0000

This week on the Heritage Report, Heather and Jack talk to Marty Travis of Spence Farm, supplier to Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill in Chicago, about Iroquois White Corn, an heirloom variety of corn.

The Farm Report - Episode 31 - The Old Spot Pig with Craig Good

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:55:16 -0000

Craig Good is this week's guest on The Heritage Report. He tells the story of the Old Spot Pig, and the journey these pigs took from Ohio to his farm in Kansas.

The Farm Report - Episode 32 - New York Farmland Budget with David Haight

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:55:25 -0000

What's happening to our farmland in NY? New York Director of The American Farmland Trust David Haight tells us on today's Heritage Report.

The Farm Report - Episode 33 - Animal Welfare Approved with Brigid Sweeney

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:55:36 -0000

Jack & Heather talk to Brigid Sweeney of Animal Welfare Approved about standards and third party certification. For more information check www.animalwelfareapproved.org

The Farm Report - Episode 34 - Brooklyn Grange & Au Pied de Cochon

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:55:49 -0000

Heather talks with Gwen Schantz of Brooklyn Grange and the guys from Au Pied de Cochon.

The Farm Report - Episode 35 - Tunis Sheep with James Twomey

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:56:01 -0000

Heather Hyman & Jack Inslee interview James Twomey about his rare breed of Tunis sheep, and what it takes to produce for the Easter season.

The Farm Report - Episode 36 - Mail Order with John Hoppin

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:56:19 -0000

Heather Hyman & Jack Inslee talk to John Hoppin who explains how he revolutionized the mail order system at Heritage Foods USA.

The Farm Report - Episode 37 - No Farm No Food Rally with David Haight & Erin Fairbanks

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:56:31 -0000

Heather Hyman and guest co-host Patrick Martins have David Haight & Erin Fairbanks on to follow up on the No Farm No Food Rally.

The Farm Report - Episode 38 - Balanced Menus with Lena Brook

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:56:40 -0000

This week Heather & Jack speak to Lena Brook, who discusses how to improve the menus in our health and learning institutions.

The Farm Report - Episode 39 - Cochon 555 with Brady Lowe

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:56:56 -0000

Heather & Jack talk with Brady Lowe about his event Cochon 555. For more information check out www.cochon555.com.

The Farm Report - Episode 40 - Meat Proccesing Regulations with Mario Fantasm & Jay B. Wenther

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:57:13 -0000

Jack & Heather talk with Mario Fantasma & Jay B Wenther about the new proposed regulations that would seriously hurt meat processors across the country.

The Farm Report - Episode 41 - The Meat Hook with Tom Mylan

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:57:25 -0000

Jack and Heather talk to Tom Mylan of Brooklyn's whole-animal butcher shop, The Meat Hook.

The Farm Report - Episode 42 - Brooklyn Grange with Ben Flanner

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:57:44 -0000

Ben Flanner from Brooklyn Grange (www.brooklyngrangefarm.com) talks to Heather about their brand new rooftop farm in Long Island City, their fundraiser this Saturday at Roberta's, and their Kickstarter.com campaign.

The Farm Report - Episode 44 - The Greenhorns with Severine von Tscharner Fleming

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:58:04 -0000

Heather talks with Severine von Tscharner Fleming from The Greenhorns about her organization and upcoming documentary. Visit www.thegreenhorns.net for more information and listen to Severine's own radio show every Thursday at 2 on HRN.

The Farm Report - Episode 45 - Rabbits with Colleen Rapp

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:58:31 -0000

This week on The Farm Report Heather, along with special guest host Patrick Martins, spoke to Colleen Rapp of the Rare Hare Barn. Colleen is a master of bunny genetics, bunny farming, bunny butchering, and bunny history.

The Farm Report - Episode 46 - Southern Food Culture with John T. Edge

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:58:40 -0000

John T. Edge from The Southern Foodways Alliance (http://www.southernfoodways.com) talks about transforming Southern culture through food and food history, and about the universal power of fried chicken.

The Farm Report - Episode 47 - Shelley Rogers

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:38:37 -0000

Jack and Heather speak with Shelley Rogers, director of "What's Organic About Organic?" (www.whatsorganicmovie.com), about food film and the complexities of the "organic" movement.

The Farm Report - Episode 48 - Yoga for Foodies

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:56:24 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Heather and special co-host Michaela Best spoke to Dave Romanelli, Yahoo's Wellness Expert and proponent of blurring the boundary between the good food movement and the practice of yoga. Romanelli, or "Yea Dave", gives seminars and writes books extolling the virtues of aligning the worlds of yoga and eating sustainably and intelligently. Tune in for his advice on how to stay happy and healthy without being some sort of food snob. This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch: purveyors of grass-fed beef grazing on the beautiful coast of San Simeon, CA.

The Farm Report - Episode 49 - Keshari Das

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:57:51 -0000

This week on The Farm Report Heather and Jack sat down with Sattva Catering proprietor Keshari Das. She's a yoga enthusiast who fuses everything from Hinduism and elements of alternative healing to community supported agriculture and the good food movement to create a culinary experience that is truly ideological. Das discusses her tutelage in India and how she came to find cooking the most engaging and successful out of a myriad of attempts to find harmony within herself and the outside world. This episode was sponsored by Edwards of Surry Virginia.

Photo: Sattva! Catering for you, by you, and to you...

The Farm Report - Episode 50 - Derek Denckla

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:37:11 -0000

This week on The Farm Report Heather welcomed new co-host Erin Fairbanks to the show. The gals talked to Derek Denckla, author of TheGreenest.net and founder of FarmCity.us, a sort of combination catalyst, aggregator, and promotional tool for sustainable agriculture events. Tune in to find out how Derek's survey of Bushwick revealed a community hungry for more food growth and less condos, and how a lagging economy and the vacant lots left in its wake put this shared dream within reach. This episode was sponsored by Roberta's.

The Farm Report - Episode 51 - Angela Miller

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:07:43 -0000

This week on The Farm Report Erin and Heather speak to Angela Miller of Consider Bardwell farm. Angela is a former literary agent turned dairy farmer, and is the author of "Hay Fever", a book that chronicles the ups and downs of that life-altering change in trajectory. The gals discuss the day to day of running a dairy farm in Vermont's Champlain Valley: choosing and breeding goats and cows, rotational grazing, steering clear of hormones and pesticides, and finally making cheese by hand. This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch: purveyors of fine grass-fed beef from the coast of CA.

Photo: Angela Miller

The Farm Report - Episode 52 - Katharine Millonzi

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 15:34:11 -0000

This week on The Farm Report Erin and Heather speak to Katharine Millonzi, who is working with the Sustainable Food & Agriculture Program via the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives. Katherine is working to make Williams College entire food program based on companies that source locally, share wages with their workers, and utilize fair trade. Tune in to find out how Katharine and the others at the program are working to help other institutions beyond Williams shy away from one-source institutional dining services and get their food sustainably and fairly, while keeping costs down and wages up. This episode was sponsored by Heritage Foods USA.

Photo: Katharine Millonzi

The Farm Report - Episode 53 - Green Markets with June Russell

Sun, 03 Oct 2010 06:59:20 -0000

This week on The Farm Report Heather and Erin talk green markets with someone who knows them better than anyone: June Russell, who inspects farms to make sure they make the grade and are up to snuff so they can join in on the green market fun. June talks about what criteria she looks for in a good, clean farm, why its not always necessary to be organic, and how the green markets change with the seasons. This episode was sponsored by White Oak Pastures.

The Farm Report - Episode 54 - Battenkill Valley Creamery & Everyman Espresso

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:56:37 -0000

This week on the Farm Report, Heather and Erin continue the Report's history of linking farmer with consumer as they speak to Sam Penix of Everyman Espresso and Seth McEachron of Battenkill Valley Creamery. Seth spoke about why he can't distribute his milk himself, and the importance of swift delivery on such a time sensitive product, while Sam lauded the quality of Seth's product and described how the best baristas handle milk and cream in their caffeinated workflow. This episode was sponsored by Edward's Ham of Surry Virginia.

The Farm Report - Episode 55 - Matt Lorenz Returns

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 08:10:19 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Heather and Erin sit down with Bushwick's own Matt Lorenz, of the urban gardener non-profit Trees Not Trash. Listen in to learn all about trees, trash, and being green in the modern age. This episode is brought to you by Acme Smoked Fish (www.acmesmokedfish.com)

The Farm Report - Episode 56 - Scott Bridi

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:08:30 -0000

This week on The Farm Report Erin sits down with Scott Bridi of Brooklyn Cured to discuss the wonderful world of charcuterie, whole animal cooking, and how Scott broke into the industry with his cure-crazy artisan skills. Erin and Scott explain why the requisite space, time, and skill necessary for good charcuterie make it relatively hard to find, and how you can be sure the cured meats you're eating are top-notch. This episode was sponsored by White Oak Pastures.

The Farm Report - Episode 57 - Good Food Jobs

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 21:58:48 -0000

This week on The Farm Report Heather and Erin speak to Taylor Cocalis and Dorothy Neagle of GoodFoodJobs.com, a networking and job-listing site for the good food movement. Taylor and Dorothy created the website to help people find "meaningful food jobs"--jobs that don't just deal with food, but sustainable, clean, and ethical food. The website, still in its infancy but already a hit, has an impressive array of culinary and agriculture opportunities available to listeners like you! This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch: purveyors of fine grass-fed beef from the California coast.

The Farm Report - Episode 58 - Marissa Guggiana

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 21:31:56 -0000

This week on the Farm Report Erin and Heather speak to Marissa Guggiana: journalist, food activist, and author of the book "Primal Cuts: Cooking with America's Best Butchers". The book is part meat manual, part look back at the golden age of butchery, part look forward at the world of sustainable meat and what these trends mean for chefs everywhere. The gang talk about why chefs can benefit from an intimate knowledge of butchery, and why butchers can benefit from an intimate knowledge of the culinary arts. This episode was sponsored by Edwards of Surry VA.

The Farm Report - Episode 59 - Corbin Hill Road Farm

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:38:56 -0000

This week on The Farm Report Erin and Heather talk to Sabrina Wilensky of Corbin Hill Farms. Sabrina explains the difference between Community Shareholder Farms and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). It turns out CSFs may be equally if not more important to growing the good food movement, as they don't entail some of the deal-breaking features found in CSAs (like steep initial membership fees). Tune in to hear yet another great idea to improve our food system! This episode was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

Rebecca Wilk grabs hay to mulch vegetable plants at the Corbin Hill Farm

The Farm Report - Episode 60 - Ben Flanner of Brooklyn Grange

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 01:45:30 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Heather & Erin are joined by friend of the station and rooftop farming extraordinaire, Ben Flanner. They discuss the progress of the Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm, and touch upon many of the important elements that help bring fresh and delicious produce from a roof to your mouth. This episode was kindly sponsored by the folks at Cain Five Vineyard & Winery.

The Farm Report - Episode 61 - EBT & Farmers Markets

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 20:12:35 -0000

A lot is being said about EBT & Food Stamps being spent at farmers markets, but what does it really entail? Tune in to The Farm Report for a comprehensive view of how greenmarkets can feed food insecure households. Erin Fairbanks is joined by Alexis Stevens, EBT Project Manager for Greenmarket, GrowNYC. Alexis Stevens manages the EBT in Farmers Market Project and various other Food Access Initiatives for Greenmarket/GrowNYC. Before working for Greenmarket she worked as a VISTA for the Hunger Action Network of NYS coordinating a low income CSA and their food stamp outreach project. This episode was generously sponsored by White Oak Pastures; raising some of the best All Natural Grassfed Beef in the country! For more information visit www.whiteoakpastures.com.

The Farm Report - Episode 62 - Changing NYC's Food System

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 01:09:17 -0000

Heather Hyman is back from Miami, and her and Erin Fairbanks explore ways that we can change NYC's Food System on this episode of The Farm Report. They are joined by Gabrielle Blavatsky, a graduate student at NYU Wagner's Graduate School of Public Service. Gabby also works with councilwomen Christine Quinn, and FoodWorks - Quinn's 59 point system to change the way New Yorkers eat. Together, they discuss what issues we face in this state and what we can do to address these issues. Tune in and learn some interesting facts about food production in The Big Apple and get inspired to make change! This episode was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons. For more information visit www.surryfarms.com

The Farm Report - Episode 63 - Grazin' Angus Acres

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:46:29 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin and Heather are joined by Dan Gibson of Grazin' Angus Acres. Grazin Angus Acres is a farm committed to raising the finest quality Grass-Fed and Finished Black Angus in a sustainable 2,000-acre eco-friendly environment. Dan talks about the challenges of raising grassfed and grass finished beef on a farm, and what complications arise when dry aging the meat. Tune in and learn how he transformed from a suit and tie Wall Street life to life on the farm. This episode was sponsored by Tekserve & The Lower East Side Ecology Center's "E-Waste Events". Find out everything you need to know about recycling your old electronics by clicking here!

The Farm Report - Episode 64 - Phil Smeltz

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:21:13 -0000

Heather & Erin are back in action on the first Farm Report of 2011! Tune in as the show goes back to its roots: the farm. Phil Smeltz of Down to Earth Organics joins the show to explain how he found a way to make a living off of 1/2 acre of land! Tune in and learn more about making farming a profession, why tractors are so important and what it takes to become an agricultural do-it-yourselfer. This episode was sponsored by our friends at Cochon555 - visit www.cochon555.com for more information and event listings!

The Farm Report - Episode 65 - Jeremy Bloom

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:22:57 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Heather & Erin have a conversation with internet entrepreneur Jeremy Bloom about the intersecting worlds of farming, technology and buying clubs. Jeremy currently runs www.internet-farmer.com. Internet Farmer is a website service for small farms in Maine, as well as other food producers, co-ops, farmer’s markets, buying clubs, non-profits and any organization dealing in local foods. This episode was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons. For more information visit www.surryfarms.com

The Farm Report - Episode 66 - No Farms, No Food!

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 19:28:52 -0000

No Farms, No Food! You've heard the slogan, now hear from the people behind the rally - The American Farmland Trust. David Haight returns to The Farm Report, this time live in studio! Joined by Jen Smalls, David explains the challenges that farmers and farm families facein the New York area.Learn why real estate competition is so fierce and how recent promises from government have not quite gone as planned. This year's No Farms, No Food Rally will take place on March 30th - learn more at FarmLang.org.

The Farm Report - Episode 67 - Derek Denckla

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:19:40 -0000

This week on The Farm report, Heather Hyman and Erin Fairbanks are joined by friend of the show Derek Denckla. Derek updates us on Farm City and his many other endeavors as he touches on some of the problems facing our food system in the United States today. Tune in to learn more about events that fit in line with Derek's work and find out how you can help. This episode was sponsored by White Oak Pastures. For more information visit www.whiteoakpastures.com

The Farm Report - Episode 68 - Fred Magdoff

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:24:46 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by Fred Magdoff, author of the book "Agriculture and Food in Crisis:  Conflict, Resistance, and Renewal". Fred is also an adjunct professor at Cornell and discusses the variety of problems facing our country when it comes to food security. Find out why there is such a price squeeze on crops these days and how Wall Mart manages to sell 20% of the food in this country! This episode was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons. For more information visit www.surryfarms.com

The Farm Report - Episode 69 - Slack Hollow Farm

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 03:52:49 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by guest and friend Seth Jacobs of Slack Hollow Farm. Seth talks about the state of the farm right now, how to build soil with crops already in the ground, carrot surfing, weather patterns and more. Tune in to learn more about farming in New York State and the Hudson Valley. This episode was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons. For more information visit www.SurryFarms.com

The Farm Report - Episode 70 - Maine Lobster Fishing

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:05:32 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks talks with friend and lobster fisherman Chris Major. Chris takes the winters off to do dairy farming in Vermont, but talks to Erin about his summer life in Maine. Tune in to learn about what it takes to catch lobsters in Maine. Find out how the weight of a lobster can suggest its age and why some spots are considered "birth rights only". This episode was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

The Farm Report - Episode 71 - Janet Britt of Agricultural Stewardship Association

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 06:22:05 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by Janet Britt, farmer and Easement Steward of the Agricultural Stewardship Association. Tune in to learn more about the ASA, Janet's life on the farm and the origins of Community Supported Agriculture. Find out why young farmers are in such a good position today, and how the "organic revolution" has truly evolved over the years. This episode was sponsored by The Museum of Food & Drink. Learn about the "Get the Ball Rolling" fundraiser here.

The Farm Report - Episode 72 - Farming Concrete

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:34:14 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by Mara Gittleman of Farming Concrete. Tune in to learn more about this "citizens science project" and how Mara and her colleagues have gathered detailed statistics on all the community farms in New York City. This episode was sponsored by The Museum of Food & Drink .

The Farm Report - Episode 73 - Watershed Agricultural Council

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:42:59 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks talks with Challey Comer, the Farm to Market Manager for the Watershed Agricultural Council. Tune in to learn more about the Catskill region of New York and the policy surrounding our watershed. Learn more about some upcoming conferences an rallies in Albany you can attend if you're interested in improving our agricultural system in New York State. This episode was sponsored by Tabard Inn. For more information visit www.TabardInn.com.

The Farm Report - Episode 74 - No Farms No Food Rally

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:02:58 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by David Haight of the American Farmland Trust. David recaps the recent No Farms No Food Rally in Albany and talks about some of the small changes that are being made to improve food access, agricultural programs and farmland protection in our state. Tune in if you were at the rally or if you missed it and learn more about how the changes that need to be made to improve our food system. This episode was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery.

The Farm Report - Episode 75 - The Union Square Grassman

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 22:07:11 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fitzpatrick is joined by Stewart Borowsky, The Union Square Grassman. Stewart grows hist wheatgrass and salad greens without any chemicals or fertilizers and sells at the Union Square Green Market. Tune in to learn more about the many uses of wheatgrass, how it's grown and why everybody could use a little more "green" in their life. This episode was sponsored by Fairway Market - like no other market.

The Farm Report - Episode 76 - Mapleland Farms

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 02:35:24 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin is joined by David Campbell of Mapleland Farms to talk maple syrup. Find out more about tapping, bottling and all things related to the delicious sugary syrup we all love. Learn why New York state is underutilized as a maple syrup producing region and how regulations and licensing limit the product's true potential. This episode was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons. For more information visit www.SurryFarms.com.

The Farm Report - Episode 77 - FreshKills Park

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:26:45 -0000

Ever wonder what happened to the FreshKills landfill on Staten Island? The once largest landfill in the country is undergoing a drastic makeover into a public park that will be 2.5 the size of Central Park! Tune in to learn more about this fascinating project on the Farm Report with Erin Fairbanks. Erin is joined by Freshkills Park Land Use and Outreach Manager Carrie Grassi. This episode was sponsored by The Barterhouse

The Farm Report - Episode 78 - Fred Magdoff

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:13:59 -0000

This week on Farm Report, Erin talks to Fred Magdoff about food security and sovereignty on both the local and international markets. With 1 in 8 families currently food insecure, how will the growing population be affected by the increase in ethanol and biodiesel fuel that is taking away from our food supply? How are government agencies dealing with this issue and planning for the future? This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch - the nations largest single-source supplier of grassfed and grass-finished beef.

The Farm Report - Episode 79 - John Ameroso

Thu, 05 May 2011 18:39:46 -0000

Urban farming pioneer John Ameroso joins Erin Fairbanks on an urban-agriculture themed episode of The Farm Report. John was the County Extension Agent at Cornell University's Cooperative Extension and has had his hand in many agricultural projects across the world. Tune in to learn more about the past, present and future of urban farming and community gardens as John shares his personal story of helping bring good food to those who don't have access to it. This episode was sponsored by The Barterhouse.

The Farm Report - Episode 80 - Jessica Ziehm

Thu, 12 May 2011 18:21:44 -0000

This week Erin talks to Jessica Ziehm about the New York dairy industry and how dairy farmers are surviving in today's struggling economy. Being the daughter and wife of dairy farmers, Jessica tells us the in's and out's of the milk production process, from the land where the cows are fed to the finished product we see on the shelves. This episode was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

The Farm Report - Episode 81 - United Way of NYC & Food Bank For NYC

Fri, 20 May 2011 21:40:35 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin talks policy with Carmine Rivetti of United Way of NYC & Carlos Rodriguez of Food Bank For NYC. Tune in to learn more about the constant steps being taken to feed New Yorkers in need and help families through these challenging economic times. Learn more about how programs like food stamps and WIC play into the equation and what's in store for the future of food security in our city. This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

The Farm Report - Episode 82 - JustFood City Chicken Project

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:38:59 -0000

The Farm Report - Episode 83 - Tim Patterson

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:14:20 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin sits down with Tim Patterson, the Director of Advancement at Sterling College in Vermont. The Topic? Goats, and more specifically the plight of the male goat in the small-farm context. Learn about Tim and Sterling's goat and sustainable farming projects and the goat roadtrip to NYC. Later learn about the differences between meat and dairy goats and Erin's own involvement with the No Goat Left Behind project. This episode is sponsored by Fairway Market.

The Farm Report - Episode 84 - Bulich Mushroom Company

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:24:14 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin is joined by Michelle Bulich of Bulich Mushroom Company. Michelle explains what it takes to cultivate delicious fungi and how different species require different techniques. Find out how weather plays such an important role and why the farmers market customers become like family. This episode was sponsored by Fairway Market - like no other market.

The Farm Report - Episode 85 - Nick Fantasma

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:31:35 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Nick Fantasma of Paradise Locker Meats joins Erin Fairbanks to break down the world of animal slaughter and processing. Tune in to get an exclusive behind the scenes look at the life of a butcher as Nick explains the differences between commercial and small scale processing and how a humane operation works. This episode was sponsored by Heritage Foods USA.

The Farm Report - Episode 86 - Eagle Bridge Custom Meat

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:08:51 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin is joined by Debbie Ball of Eagle Bridge Custom Meat & Smokehouse. Tune in to get a behind the scenes look at slaughter, butchering and processing. Debbie explains what life on the farm is like and what obstacles need to be overcome before getting the livestock processed and sold. This episode was sponsored by Camp Bacon.

The Farm Report - Episode 87 - Margot Brooks

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:24:12 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by Margot Brooks of Wayward Goose Farm and formerly of Brooksville Farm. Tune in to learn how Margot decided to enter the world of farming and cheesemaking and what it's like working with the people at Consider Bardwell Farm. Learn more about raw cheese, male goats and why farming isn't as romantic as people think! This episode was sponsored by The Smallholding Festival.

The Farm Report - Episode 88 - American Meat Documentary

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:40:06 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by Monica Warek, Outreach Coordinator for the American Meat Documentary premiering this weekend, July 9th and 10th in both Waynesboro and Staunton Virginia. Tune in to learn more about the film and the sustainable farming movement in this country. This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

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The Farm Report - Episode 89 - Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:20:50 -0000

On a special episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. They discuss the importance of community based farmers markets and how to solve some of the challenges facing small farmers trying to get their product on the tables of families in New York City. This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

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The Farm Report - Episode 90 - David Sherman

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:32:46 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin is joined by David Sherman, Market Manager of GrowNYC. David tells listeners how he's convinced many Brooklynites to start eating kale and other healthy produce and explains how some of the markets in NYC operate. Tune in to hear more about food access in NYC and the growing trend of farmers markets and CSA's. This episode was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery.

The Farm Report - Episode 91 - Christopher Nicolson

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:04:11 -0000

This week The Farm Report goes under the sea and talks about salmon with Christopher Nicolson who has been fishing sockeye salmon in the headwaters of Bristol Bay Alaska for over a quarter century and who is currently part of the Heritage Seafood Ventures program. Chris takes us through a day in the life of a salmon fisher and discusses sustainable fishing models as well as the threats to those models such as the Pebble Project and what you can do to help keep sustainable fisheries open. This episode is sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.

The Farm Report - Episode 92 - Hurricane Irene's Effect on Farmers

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:14:47 -0000

Hurricane Irene destroyed many farms in New York and Seth Jacobs of Slack Hallow Farm calls into this week's episode of The Farm Report with Erin Fairbanks to discuss the challenges farmers are faced with in the aftermath. Find out why tragedy for one farmer could bode well for another and how those affected by the storm are recovering. From livestock loss to chemical contamination, natural disasters do not take kindly to our small farmers. Right now is an ESPECIALLY good time to support your local farmers and visit the farmers market. To donate to those affected, visit GrowNYC.org. This episode was sponsored by NOFA's Locavore Challenge..

The Farm Report - Episode 94 - Coffee: Tree to Roast

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:21:38 -0000

This week The Farm Report goes behind the scene of the coffee growing business with Allen Leibowitz of Zingerman's Coffee. Learn about all the different processes that it takes to get from coffee from the trees to the roasters and how the decisions growers, pickers, and producers make separates you big store brand coffee from more artisanal coffee. So tune in and the next time you go to pick up some beans you'll know exactly what you're paying for. This episode is sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.

The Farm Report - Episode 95 - Coffee Part 2

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:21:57 -0000

Allen Leibowitz of Zingerman's re-joins The Farm Report with host Erin Fairbanks to talk more about coffee roasting. Learn how to be as thorough as possible when sourcing and buying coffee and find out why sample roasting is so important. Allen takes listeners on a journey through the process of roasting, and explains how coffee goes from bean to store to cup. Pro tip: coffee is best at its freshest! This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

The Farm Report - Episode 96 - Salt Water Farm

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:08:39 -0000

This installment of The Farm Report brings the story of a city girl who traded it in for starting a farm on the Maine coast. Annemarie Ahearn started Salt Water Farm two years ago not only to grow and produce but to teach people the lost culinary arts; from how to properly pick herbs to making butter to pickling and preserving. Salt Water Farms now offers classes for everyone to learn these skills that seem to have been forgotten. Tune into learn about the best Maine and Salt Water Farm has to offer from sea urchin to foraging and why it's important to buy local even though the cost may be higher. This episode is sponsored Cain Vineyard & Winery.

The Farm Report - Episode 97 - It's Goatober!

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:20:53 -0000

It's Goatober and that means this week the Farm Report gives you the inside scoop on goats and the idea behind Heritage Food's No Goat Left Behind program. From the differences between meat and dairy goats, goat nutrition, recipes, and herding Erin Fairbanks and tatiana Stanton, the goat extension specialist for NY state, will guide you on this encyclopedic episode. Learn how goat is being transformed from a niche meat to being served in over 70+ restaurants in New York and the myriad way you can prepare a delicious goat dish. This episode is sponsored by Heritage Foods USA's No Goat Left Behind initiative.

The Farm Report - Episode 98 - Nutrition with Kristin Wartman

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:19:45 -0000

Certified Holistic Nutritionist Kristin Wartman joins the Farm Report with Erin Fairbanks today to bust some food myths and expose some of the evils of big industry agriculture and food. Find out what makes a healthy diet and hear about some of the common mistakes people make in trying to get healthy. Hear why Kristin thinks food and democracy go hand in hand and why all concerned foodies should be occupying Wall Street and making their voice heard! This episode was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.

The Farm Report - Episode 99 - Highwood Farms

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:28:01 -0000

Goatober is almost over, but don't be sad! You can still get your last goat fix on this week's Farm Report. Host Erin Fairbanks talks with farmer Mark Guanzini and his wife Luce who run Highwood Farm up in Spencer, NY. Highwood Farm is also a participating goat farm in Heritage Foods USA's No Goat Left Behind initiative. They talk about the daily life of raising a herd Boer meat goats from the day they are born until they go to market. From how they allow the goats to self-wean, which they believe decreases the stress of the animals being separated from their mother, to why they keep some dairy genetics in their herd the episode is packed with goat info. This episode is sponsored by the No Goat Left Behind initiative.

The Farm Report - Episode 100 - Monica Patel

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:01:02 -0000

This week The Farm Report celebrates is 100th episode! Former co-host Heather Hyman calls in and in the studio current host Erin Fairbanks is joined by friend and policy specialist Monica Patel of the Ecology Center. Together the cover a broad range of important and current environmental issues from water rights, herbicides, and indoor air quality. Find out the truth about supposedly 'clean coal' technology, what exactly a watershed is, how an aquifer works, and much more. This centennial episode is sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

The Farm Report - Episode 101 - Hot Bread Kitchen

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 03:12:23 -0000

This week The Farm Report trades in the pasture for a trip to the bakery that is the Hot Bread Kitchen. Host Erin Fairbanks sits down with Robin Burger, the business development manager of the Harlem-based non-profit social enterprise to explore how they are creating better lives for low-income women and their families by teaching them the skills necessary to launch food businesses and achieve management track positions in food manufacturing. Tune in to learn about how Hot Bread Kitchen is also supporting the local economy and farmers by using regionally sourced grains and flours, their incubator program for food innovators, and how they've even re-purposed bicycles for making bread! This episode is sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

The Farm Report - Episode 102 - Wild Flavors

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:07:35 -0000

The Farm Report - Episode 103 - Corbin Hill Farm

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:45:04 -0000

This week on The Farm Report host Erin Fairbanks sits down with Dennis Derryck, Tusha Yakovleva, and Sabrina Wilensky of Corbin Hill Farm, which is a for-profit social venture that is trying to re- imagine the relationship between communities, farmers, and investors. Their business model, called farm-sharing, is different than a CSA and allows them to reach out to low-income communities living in “food deserts” in the Bronx and Harlem and provide fresh produce sourced from rural communities in New York State. Tune in for conversation spanning risk management in farms to how academia is helping change the food world. This episode is sponsored Jones Family Farms.

The Farm Report - Episode 104 - Jesse LaFlamme of Pete & Gerry's Organic Eggs

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:51:58 -0000

This week The Farm Report is pleased to welcome Jesse LaFlamme, head of Pete And Gerry's Organic Eggs, the first Certified Humane egg farm in the country. Pete and Gerry’s is proving commercial farming and organic, humane, sustainable farming are not mutually exclusive. Pete and Gerry’s has realized consistent growth without becoming a factory farm. Jesse recruits small family farms as egg producers, keeping family farmers in business and protecting valuable open space. He combines state-of-the-art husbandry and farming technology with streamlined and efficient processing to make Pete and Gerry’s cost competitive with much larger operations. Those efficiencies also allow him to share those margins with his producers. Jesse is one of the new breed of 21st Century farmers who understands that the world needs commercial farms to feed its inhabitants, but needs to do it without degrading the environment and exploiting livestock. This episode is sponsored The Barterhouse.

"[Farmers] just want to be farmers, it sounds basic, but in today's big agriculture that is hard to do." -Jesse LaFlamme, head of Pete & Gerry's Organic Eggs on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 105 - EcoStation NY

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:25:47 -0000

This week on The Farm Report keeps it extra local with Maggie Cheney of EcoStation NY. They discuss the various local agriculture programs that she is helping run, from the Bushwick Farm Campus to educational programs on composting at schools in Brooklyn. Tune in to find out how you can join the fight for better agriculture education in New York through volunteerism or many other routes. This episode is sponsored by Heritage Foods USA.

"We want to feed the community"
--Maggie Cheney on the Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 106 - Ashley Bechman & AgriNews

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:03:26 -0000

This week on The Farm Report host Erin Fairbanks talks with Ashley Bechman, a writer for the publication AgriNews of Illinois. They discuss how she is using her education in both communication and agriculture to cover topics that affect local farm families and their businesses. Tune in to learn about the importance of 4H and FFA as well as why sweet potatoes are actually completely different from yams and more nutritious for you than white potatoes. This episode is sponsored by Fairway Market.

"A sweet potato is a very versatile crop . . . it's nutritious, healthy, and delicious."

--Ashley Bechman on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 107 - Jesse LaFlamme Pt. 2

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:51:10 -0000

This week on the Farm Report we see the return of guest Jesse LaFlamme from Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs. Jesse goes in depth about why big agriculture has gone the way it has with sometimes over 600,000 hens being stuffed in cages in a single barn and why he chooses to keep his chickens cage-free and certified humane. Tune in to learn about the life cycle of chickens and their breeding and laying patterns as well as what exactly a pullet egg is. Remember, an egg a day will keep you healthier and happier! This episode is sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.

"Everything is mechanical and down to an exact science [now] . . .it takes out the nuances that farmers usually have in terms of the relationship they have with their animals."

--Jesse LaFlamme on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 108 - Real Time Farms

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:49:48 -0000

If you are a farmer, a farm enthusiast, shop at farmers markets of just simply care where your food comes from, Real Time Farms is for you! Tune in to this week's episode of The Farm Report as Erin Fairbanks sits down with the women behind the forward thinking website, Corrina Borden & Lindsay Partridge. Find out what The Food Warriors do and how you can help in their mission to help farmers and consumers bridge the gap between farm and table. Check their website for more! This episode was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

"The underlying assumption of our website is that you are a farmer who wants to tell your story."
--Corrina Borden on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 109 - Cambridge Valley Livestock

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:40:24 -0000

This week on the Farm Report get ready to meet Pat McLenithan of Cambridge Valley Livestock, the largest family-owned livestock auction house in New York state. He talks with host Erin Fairbanks about the ins-and-outs of how a livestock auction house works, from when the animal arrives to when it is sold on sale day and everything in between. Learn about why livestock buyers have some of the sharpest eyes around , what a feeder cow is, and even hear Patrick do one of his amazing auctioneer chants live! This episode is sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

"[Beef] is a commodity ... within a phone call the price can change drastically, it really is like the stock market sometimes."

--Pat McLenithan on the Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 110 - All Abuzz About Bees

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:27:42 -0000

This week the Farm Report is abuzz with bees and honey. Joining host Erin Fairbanks is bee lover and owner of Catskill Provisions, Claire Marin, who imparts us with her encyclopedic knowledge of these creatures from mating habits, to how to start your own apiary, to why raw honey is best. Later on Adam Diehl, a maple syrup farmer who supplies Catskill Provisions, with his syrup tells us all about how to tap a maple, especially in this crazy February weather. Finally, tune in for a very special extended edition segment with Laura Ten Eyck of the American Farmland Trust who fills us in on the No Farms, No Food rally coming up in Albany and how you can do your part to fight for a more transparent food system. This episode is sponsored by White Oak Pastures

"Always buy raw honey that hasn't been heated above 93 degrees . . it retains all the good stuff that way, all the antibiotic properties and antioxidants."

"Bees are amazing . . . they can teach us about efficiency, democracy . .we can learn a lot from them."

--Claire Marin on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 111 - Slope Farms Beef

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:05:34 -0000

This week on the Farm Report host Erin Fairbanks talks with Ken Jaffe of Slope Farms Beef. Located in the hilly landscape of Catskills, Jeff and his wife Linda pasture raise a herd of all grass-fed cattle. Learn about how production in upstate New York has transitioned over the years from dairy production to cattle (there's so much grass!) and why hydrofracking would be in fact quite destructive of the local economy. This important episode is sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"I would be out of business if fracking gets into our area. . .from a business point of view my wholesale customers aren't going to be buying meat where there is fracking in close proximity."

--Ken Jaffe on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 112 - Beaverkill Trout Hatchery

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:46:53 -0000

On this week's episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by Sherry Shaver of Beaverkill Trout Hatchery. Tune in as Erin continues her series of exploring farming in the Catskills and learn about Sherry's fish farming operation and how she was introduced to this way of life through family tradition. Learn more about water quality, trout species, egg harvesting, and life as a fish farmer. This program was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.

"Good water is the key to the whole hatchery... everything we do here is controlled by nature."
"Once you hook a brown trout, it will be a while before you hook it again."
--Sherry Shaver of Beaverkill Trout Hatchery on The Farm Report.

The Farm Report - Episode 113 - Feeding the Hungry

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:27:48 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks talks with Anthony Butler of St. John's Bread and Life, an emergency food provider based out of Bed Stuy, Brooklyn. Tune in to hear Erin and Anthony discuss the importance of local and healthy food providers for poor and hungry populations, the problems with the food stamp program in New York City, and food education in the Bed Stuy community. Also, Anthony tells about how to work with donated food, whether it's squash or lobster. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery.

"Probably the best and most robust group that is able to respond to the issues of hunger is the food community, particularly in Brooklyn. We're dramatically increasing our procurement from purveyors of New York State products, both farmers and value -added purveyors."
"If you receive food stamps as an individual, you have to live on four dollars and fifty cents a day. It grows for a family, it's about twelve dollars a day. It's a significant problem. There's been a 25% increase in the number of folks with four-year degrees who are [finding] themselves in food pantries and soup kitchens."
-- Anthony Butler on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 114 - Jeanne Hodesh of GrowNYC

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:44:02 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks checks in with Jeanne Hodesh of GrowNYC. Erin and Jeanne talk about all of the vegetables, cheeses, and meat that will be available at Greenmarkets throughout New York City. Tune in to hear about the some of the new spring garlic, how weather and time changes the taste of maple syrup, and the upcoming availability of goat cheeses and meats. Listen to Jeanne discuss regional grains, home gardening events, and the upcoming Taste of Greenmarket. This program was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"What types of grains grow well in our region? Now that we have them in our market, we want to introduce them to people. We have things like spelt flour, and people might not know what to do with that." -- Jeanne Hodesh of GrowNYC

The Farm Report - Episode 115 - Hemlock Hill Farm

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 21:58:27 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks checks in with Laura De Maria of Hemlock Hill Farm in Cortland, New York. Tune in to hear what it's like running a family farm in Westchester Country and what challenges come along with this location both culturally and geographically. Learn more about farm grants, processing and regulations that need to be considered on a small farm, and hear about the different livestock that Laura has at the farm. This program was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"Right now we have about 100 pastured raised black angus beef cattle, 50-60 hogs on hand at any given time, lamb, goats, chickens, a little bit of everything."
"Once people come here and taste the [Plymouth rock] chicken, they say it's nothing like what you get in the store."
"Everybody's looking for this all natural organic beef, but then they might drink a Budweiser which is not organic by any means."
--Laura De Maria of Hemlock Hill Farm

The Farm Report - Episode 116 - Terry Jones of the Jones Family Farm

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:54:10 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks chats with Terry Jones of Jones Family Farms in the White Hills in Shelton, Connecticut. Tune in to hear the history of this seven generation farm! The Jones Family Farms has grown everything from Christmas trees to wine grapes to Terry's specialty- strawberries. Listen in to hear Terry's opinions about seasonal eating, his involvement in the Working Lands Alliance, and the importance of healthy food in schools. This program was brought to you by Whole Foods Market.

"In nature, the only constant is change." -- Terry Jones on The Farm Report
"I think it's absolutely critical that [the new generation of farmers] are involved in their community." -- Terry Jones on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 117 - Jamie Jones of the Jones Family Farm

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:51:51 -0000

It's our second installment of the Jones Family Farm interview, and this time, Erin Fairbanks is talking to Jamie Jones in Shelton, Connecticut. Jamie Jones focused on Plant Science at Cornell University, and began the vineyard at the Jones Family Farm. Tune in to hear about Jamie's experiences at Cornell, his beginnings in the vineyard, and the Jones Family Vineyard and Winery as it is today. Tune in to hear about how the farm is dealing with farm transition, and how his family is working to keep the farm running. This episode was sponsored by Whole Foods.

"I've seen a lot of people with non-agricultural backgrounds getting back into farming" -- Jamie Jones on the Farm Report
"90% of our wine we sell directly from our farm. That's always been our family's philosophy; we've never really been into wholesale. We enjoy having people come visit the farm, whether it be to harvest strawberries, blueberries, pumpkins- it's the same thing with the winery...our mindset is to supply to the local market." -- Jamie Jones on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 118 - Jay Reville of Regional Access

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:21:41 -0000

On this episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks talks with Jay Reville of Regional Access. Regional Access is a company dedicated to transporting and distributing local meat, dairy, produce, and wine all across New York state. Tune in to hear about the origins of Regional Access and its founder, Gary Redmond. Also, learn about the day-to-day workings of the company, including cold-chain considerations and how the distribution routes operate and intersect. Jay speaks about Regional Access's expansion into Brooklyn, and what that means for food-conscious city dwellers. This episode is brought to you by Whole Foods Market.

"We get direct inquiries from farms who want to sell their products through us in a direct wholesale manner, and then there are items where we have learned through experience that we can provide a better service by just providing transportation and logistical coordination of often difficult point A to point B arrangements... We are part of a logistical chain that gets direct sales from farmers and growers to consumers."
"I think the key to our success is that we haven't had top-down management throughout most of our history, and the flexibility that goes along with that is the real strength."
"I don't think there's enough money in the new economy to keep the [wholesale model] going, and I can see what we're doing as a harbinger of what more people are going to be doing in the future."
-- Jay Reville on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 119 - Erin Grimley and Steve Blabac of the Root Down Farm

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:57:55 -0000

Today on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks talks to Erin Grimley and Steve Blabac of the Root Down Farm. The Root Down Farm is located in western New York, serving the greater Buffalo area as a mixed-vegetable C.S.A. farm. Now in its second Year, the Root Down Farm has doubled its C.S.A. membership! Tune in to hear about how Erin and Steve met working on C.S.A. farms in the northeast, the some of the trials of their first season, and their future plans for the Root Down Farm. This episode is sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"When I graduated I realized I wanted nothing to do with my marketing degree. I decided I wanted to put my efforts to some sort of non-profit endeavor...and I found farming." -- Erin Grimley on The Farm Report
"Because we had such a harsh spring last year, we're confident that we will be able to adjust to whatever comes our way this year instead of worrying about making the right decision." -- Steve Blabac on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 120 - Hydrofracking Perspectives

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:45:19 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by wealth of guests to discuss the issue of hydraulic fracturing, better known as hydrofracking. Erin talks with Heather Carlucci-Rodriguez and Alissa Westervelt of Chefs for the Marcellus, a group of New York City chefs and food purveyors raising awareness about the harmful health effects of fracking. Joining via the phone lines is Greg Swartz of Willow Wisp Farm, talking about how hydrofracking circumvents the Clean Water Act via exceptions granted by the Bush-Cheney administration. Also calling in is Luce Guanzini of Highwood Farm. She discusses the "No Surface Rights" lease that prevents gas companies from entering private properties. How do these technologies impact our food systems? This episode has been brought to by Hearst Ranch.

"It [fracking] directly impacts our watershed. You can't do anything without water, namely grow food. It doesn't relegate itself to farm-to-table...but it really affects everything - industrial food and fast food." --Heather Carlucci-Rodriguez on The Farm Report
"If hydrofracking safe, why do they need an exemption from basic environmental legislation?" --Greg Swartz on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 121 - Maple Syrup with David Campbell

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:25:31 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is talking maple syrup with David Campbell of Mapleland Farms in Salem, New York. Tune in to hear Erin and David discuss how this year's weird weather has affected maple sap yield in the Northeast. Also, hear about some of the new technologies involved with sap extraction, such as vacuum systems and reverse osmosis machines. Erin and David also talk about what can go wrong in the syrup-making process, the different types of fuels used for cooking syrup, and syrup's shelf life. This episode has been brought to you by Whole Foods.

"Any producer that wants to be in it for any length of time isn't going to overtap their trees because they want them to stay healthy and produce for a long time. It takes about 40 years for a tree to get large enough where we even start tapping it, and it will live for 150 to 200 years easily." -- David Campbell on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 122 - The Federation of Southern Cooperatives

Thu, 03 May 2012 20:32:57 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is talking with Mircha King of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives about the Pigford case- a class action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination on the part of the USDA concerning the distribution of loans and credits. Tune in to hear Mircha and Erin discuss the roots of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives in the Civil Rights Movement, the history and intricacies of the Pigford case, and the changes that black farmers see twenty years after the case. To learn more about the Pigford case, visit BlackFarmerCase.com. This episode has been brought to you by Fairway Market.

"What these lawsuits had asserted that the United States Department of Agriculture had systematically discriminated against African American farmers on the basis of race, which violates the 5th Amendment."
"Before Reagan left office, one of the things that he did was terminate the office of civil rights for the U.S.D.A... So for years there were stacks of boxes and boxes with claims of discrimination that no one even touched."
"We have all of these discrimination claims- we have black farmers, Native American farmers, women farmers, Hispanic farmers- and he [Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture] made a personal commitment to settle these claims."
-- Mircha King on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 123 - Dan and Margot Brooks

Thu, 10 May 2012 18:25:45 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks interviews the father-daughter duo: Dan and Margot Brooks of Wayward Goose Farm and Consider Bardwell Farm. Dan used to work on a large-scale family dairy farm, and has moved to working with twenty head of cattle. Margot studied Conservation Biology at St. Lawrence University, and has taken this knowledge to work with goats at Consider Bardwell. Tune in to hear about how Margot and Dan work together to make delicious cheeses using both goat and cow milk. Hear about Dan's work with veal calves, and why 'veal' isn't necessarily a dirty word. Tune in to hear more about Dan and Margot's lives in West Pawlet, Vermont. This program has been brought to you by Edwards.

"I realized I could really make an impact if I took my conservation biology background and took it into farming." -- Margot Brooks on The Farm Report
"To me, veal means that the cows are generally fed milk. Commercial veal are held in confined space and fed mostly milk, but also a lot of milk replacements." -- Dan Brooks on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 124 - Atina Diffley

Thu, 17 May 2012 18:27:37 -0000

On today's episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is chatting with Atina Diffley, farmer at Gardens of Eagan outside of Minneapolis/St. Paul, and author of the new book Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works. Tune in to hear Atina recount the experiences of being an organic farmer during a boom of big agriculture, the importance of organic certification, and trying to run and salvage a farm during suburban construction in Minnesota. Atina also explains what is the process of "soil building" entails, and how you can convert a chemically farmed plot into a true organic farm in 36 months. Now, Atina has given up farming to focus on writing, speaking, and telling her and her husband's stories. Tune in to learn more! This episode has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch.

"The Monsantos and these organizations that a lot of people complain about are not just going to change because it's the right thing to do. We as farmers and consumers have to create the lives and world that we want, and we have the power to do that." -- Atina Diffley on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 125 - Revival Market and Stephanie Fisher

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:10:52 -0000

On this episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is talking with Morgan Weber and Ryan Pera of Revival Market, a free-standing market in Houston that provides fresh, local food to the community at a reasonable price. Tune in to hear about their backgrounds as chefs and farmers, the growing demand for quality domestic charcuterie, recent trends in butchering, and their decision to raise heritage breed Mangalista pigs. Erin also checks in with Stephanie Fisher, an old employee of Heritage Foods USA who is traveling the country interning on small dairy farms. Hear about Stephanie's time at Consider Bardwell Farm in West Pawlet, Vermont, and some of the troubles she and her boyfriend came across in eastern Washington. For those listeners interested in working on farms, tune in to hear some of Stephanie's tips about finding an ideal farming environment. This episode was brought to you by White Oak Pastures.

"The most important thing to us is quality so we feel like if we offer the quality, we're gonna put it at a fair price...Once we have the quality of the ingredients established, we really try to make that stand out." -- Morgan Weber on The Farm Report.
"There was tons of old rusted machinery all over the place, the animals all looked kind of sick, they were wearing these nylon twine collars, and the chickens were running around in their own filth..." -- Stephanie Fisher on farm internships, The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 126 - Sandor Katz and The Art of Fermentation

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 21:48:50 -0000

Erin Fairbanks is back for another episode of The Farm Report! On this week's installment, Erin is talking with Sandor Katz, author of the new book The Art of Fermentation. Fermentation is happening all around us: in our food products and in the life cycle! Tune in to hear Erin and Sandor talk about the differences between anaerobic and aerobic composting systems. Sandor also addresses 'the war on bacteria' and the fears that come with fermenting foods at home, stating that there has never been a reported case of food poisoning from fermented vegetables. Hear about a study that shows no health benefit difference between traditional yogurt and its specialized brand name "pro biotic" counterparts. Did you know that fermented urine is a good fertilizer and household cleaner? Learn how fermentation creates a more stable, value-added product. This program has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch.

"Fermentation is absolutely essential to agriculture, and even the bigger picture than agriculture- if we're thinking about the cycles of life and death- is the cycle of life, death, and fermentation."
"Because of the flexibility of bacterial genetics, a single strain will never be as powerfully beneficial to us as eating a variety of different kinds of foods that have their own indigenous bacterial populations." -- Sandor Katz on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 126 - The Fiber Series: Mary Jeanne Packer and Mary Pratt

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 19:53:58 -0000

Welcome to the first episode of The Farm Report's Fiber Series, hosted by Erin Fairbanks. Erin is talking with a couple of guests so that you can learn more about textiles in the context of agriculture and raising livestock! In the first half of the episode, Erin is talking with Mary Jeanne Packer of Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill in Washington County, New York. Tune in to hear about natural wool colors, and the processes involved with selling large quantities of wool to commercial buyers. Learn about the demand for American breeds of sheep, and what that means for fiber producers. Later in the episode, Erin talks with Mary Pratt of Elihu Farm, also located in Washington County. Hear Mary talk about different applications for different textures of wool, the merits of specific breeds of sheep, and the benefits of selling to hand-spinners. This episode has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch.

"Now that people are starting to understand the American breeds, the Northeast breeds, and what they can knit with them, you're just going to see that grow and grown." --Mary Jeanne Packer on The Farm Report
"Any wool is good wool if it's taken care of."
"All livestock have to be herd and flock animals...They're social animals, and they like each others' company. But they're not dumb, but they are prey animals." -- Mary Pratt on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 127 - The Fiber Series: Virginia Scholomiti & Andy Rice

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:58:02 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks continues her exploration into the world of agricultural fiber. First on the show, Virginia Scholomiti of Yellow Farm describes the process of breeding and managing flock to produce fleeces of superior quality for hand-spinners and crafters. From artificial insemination to sheep coats, learn about everything it takes to produce high end fiber from sheep. Later on, Andy Rice of Hogget Hill Farm joins the conversation to talk about his work with the Swiss Village Foundation, the process of retaining heritage breed genetics and concerns of parasite control and diversity. Learn how the process of shearing has been perfected in New Zealand and why what's good for the sheep is good for the shearer. This program was sponsored by International Culinary Center.

"We are always there when our lambs are born, because our sheep are very rare and we can't afford to lose any of them."
--Virginia Scholomiti of Yellow Farm on The Farm Report
"The idea behind preserving rare breeds is that some of these breeds, for instance the Santa Cruz breeds in California, have developed some of their own natural parasite control. If we can use some of these genetics in our modern breeds and not have to use drugs [to fight parasites], it would be a whole lot better."
"The better a shearer gets the more relaxed the animal gets. It has nothing to do with the sheep, it's all dependent on the shearer and how you control them. Whether the sheep like it or not is very hard to say."
"A good blade shearer can shear 200 sheep in a day."
--Andy Rice of Hogget Hill Farm on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 128 - The Fiber Series: From Fleece to Yarn with Mary Jeanne Packer

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 18:00:26 -0000

On the final installment of The Farm Report's Fiber Series, Erin Fairbanks is checking in with Mary Jeanne Packer of Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill. On this episode, Erin and Mary Jeanne are talking about all of the different processes involved with harvesting fiber from animals and turning them into value-added products, like yarn and textiles. Tune in to learn more about the growing demand for locally-produced fiber, and how fiber is processed on different scales. Hear about the importance of maintaining a proper level of lanolin during the scouring process, and at what point in the production the fiber get dyed. If terminology like 'carding' and 'batting' is lost on you, tune in to this episode of The Farm Report, and get educated in the fiber arts! This program has been brought to you by The Heritage Meat Shop.

"Too much lanolin will hold in the dirt, and you'll have a sticky, gooey mess throughout the [yarn-making] process. The scouring process can remove up to 100% of the lanolin, but at that point you also risk reducing the moisture in the fiber. We always want to leave just a little [lanolin]."
"I'm really optimistic about the near future of the locally-produced natural fiber market. I think people have really become aware of how the things- that they are making, the clothing they are wearing, the things they are using in their homes- have been processed on the other side of the globe and the amount of energy that has gone into that and the working conditions of the people who are producing it." -- Mary Jeanne Packer on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 129 - John and Dorothy Priske of Fountain Prairie Inn & Farms

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 18:18:23 -0000

On this week's installment of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is interviewing John and Dorothy Priske of Fountain Prairie Farms, located just outside of Madison, Wisconsin. Tune in to hear about the Priskes' start in agriculture; John grew up on a subsistence farm, and later grew bushels of asparagus at his brother's farm. Hear about John and Dorothy's brief stint in industrial agriculture, and why they decided to switch to grass-based, rotational crop farming. Learn why the Priskes decided to raise Scottish Highland cattle, and the importance of supporting heritage breeds of animals. Finally, hear about John and Dorothy's retirement plans, and how they have protected their land from development and preserved it for future farmers. This program has been brought to you by Heritage Foods USA.

"In order to save animals, you really need to eat them, which means you have to have some economic value there."
"You can't handcuff the young people coming in [to farming], because they might have ideas that we've never even considered." -- John Priske on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 130 - Feeding Crane Farms

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:44:45 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, host Erin Fairbanks checks in with Brian Shaad of Feeding Crane Farms in Sacramento. Brian talks about some of the challenges and benefits of being certified organic, including increased labor and improved quality of produce. Learn about the ins and outs of running a farm in Sacramento, CA including weather, irrigation and marketing. Find out what goes into deciding which vegetables to grow and how home chefs and restaurant chefs can equally benefit from the "culinary" produce they feature. This program was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"There is a cost to bear by going organic, and that is mostly labor. Labor costs are prohibitive, but what we get out of organic is a much higher quality with a much longer shelf life. What we found is that we can market what we sell mostly on it's quality, the organic label is secondary."
"We're very much the chefs farm and we treat that chef both as a home chef and a restaurant chef."
--Brian Shaad of Feeding Crane Farm on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 131 - Matthew Weingarten, Raquel Pelzel, & Jackson Landers

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:38:47 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, host Erin Fairbanks chats with a group of talented chefs who have also authored two books, Matthew Weingarten and Raquel Pelzel, authors of "Preserving Wild Foods", and Jackson Landers, author of "Eating Aliens". Matthew and Raquel discuss the importance of foraging, utilizing what grows around you and re-imagining some of the wild foods that are often overlooked such as dandelions and mulberries. Jackson encourages listeners to be open minded about the foods they eat and brings up the importance of harvesting invasive species in favor of over harvested species. What makes eating iguanas any less weird than eating lobsters? Re-imagine your food on an imaginative and resourcefully themed episode of The Farm Report. This program was sponsored by HeritageRadioNetwork.org.

"Indentured servants would have in their contracts that they couldn't be fed lobster more than 2 or 3 times a week. Then we changed our minds about it, and now it's become a luxury item."
"I think eating iguana is much less weird than eating this big weird alien thing from the ocean [lobster]."
--Jackson Landers, author of Eating Aliens on The Farm Report
"The whole idea is to diversify what we eat. That's the key to any successful food system - diversity. I think the separation of our food sources is what causes a lot of our irresponsibility."
"Food should always be delicious and it should always be accessible and easy to make delicious food."
--Matthew Weingarten, co-author of Preserving Wild Foods on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 132 - The Seed Underground with Janisse Ray

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:31:51 -0000

On this week's installment of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by Janisse Ray to talk about the importance our seed supply. Janisse is the author of the new book, The Seed Underground: A Growing Revolution to Save Food. Tune into this episode to learn about genetic diversity in seed stock, as well as different types of pollination. How has industrialization and urbanization affected the range of seeds in our food system? Learn how to harvest and save seeds, and hear about the two different types of scientifically-enhanced seeds that are on the market today. Later, Erin gets a Market Update with Liz Carollo, the Publicity Manager for New York City's Green Market. Listen in to hear about what's happening this week in Green Markets in all five boroughs! Today's episode has been sponsored by Heritage Foods USA.

"I have two main passions in my life- one is writing, and the other is my love of nature and the environment."
"Every morsel of food that we put into our mouths is dependent on seeds."
"We have no idea what kind of climate conditions we are going to need to prepare our foodstuffs for."
-- Janisse Ray on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 133 - Gardening with Willi Galloway and Melissa Metrick

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:16:33 -0000

This week's episode of The Farm Report is all about gardening! Host Erin Fairbanks chats with Willi Galloway, a Portland-based gardener and author of Grow Cook Eat: A Food Lover's Guide to Vegetable Gardening, Including 50 Recipes, Plus Harvesting and Storage Tips. Erin happens to be a novice gardener; tune in to hear Willi's suggestions for good herbs and vegetables for those who are just starting a garden. Learn about some essential gardening tools and their uses. Later, Melissa Metrick, the head gardener at Roberta's, joins Erin in the studio to talk about gardening in a dynamic, ever-evolving space. Hear about the multitude of fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers grown in the Roberta's garden. Once again, Erin wraps up the show by checking in with the GrowNYC Greenmarket. Listen in to hear from Jeanne Hodesh, Greenmarket publicity coordinator! This episode has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"No matter where you live, a community garden is a great place to garden because you get to interact with people, and there are usually good gardeners there. The best way to become a better gardener is to observe other people and talk with them about what they're doing." -- Willi Galloway on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 134 - The Seed Underground with Janisse Ray, Part 2

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 18:12:53 -0000

This week's episode of The Farm Report is a follow-up with Janisse Ray, author of the new book, The Seed Underground. Tune in to hear host Erin Fairbanks and Janisse discuss the need for a return to an ecozoic mindset in regards to food production and conservation. Learn why Janisse thinks that the term "conventional agriculture" should not be used to describe the processes used by large-scale ag. Hear more about the genetic materials of seeds, and how they store information that can protect against climate variations and disease. Later, Erin checks in with Liz Carollo, the Publicity Manager for GrowNYC. Hear about some of GrowNYC's upcoming Greenmarket events! This program has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch.

"I don't think that corporations are people. I think that corporations are piles of money that dictate people's actions"
"There's nothing conventional about chemical agriculture."
"Millions of years of history are stored in a seed."
-- Janisse Ray on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 135 - Growing Beer: Mary Izett of the NYC Homebrewers Guild

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 18:05:03 -0000

Welcome to the first installment of The Farm Report's "Growing Beer" special. In this series, your host, Erin Fairbanks, is investigating beer as a value-added, agricultural product. On this episode, Erin is talking beer basics with Mary Izett, President of the New York City Homebrewers Guild and founder of the website, My Life on Craft. Erin and Mary list and explore all of the ingredients of beer- from alpha acids to yeast. Hear about the different roles of the various components of beer. What dictates the fruity or spicy components of beer? Later, Erin and Mary list the different steps in the brewing process. Learn about the importance of temperature and air control in the fermentation process. Hear about how the beer-making processes differ depending on whether the brewer intends to bottle it or put it in a keg. Jeanne Hodesh, the GrowNYC Greenmarket publicity coordinator, calls in at the end of the episode for a Market Update! Hear about Buzzard Crest Vineyards grapes, as well as the wealth of apples coming into the city's greenmarkets! This episode has been brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery.

"Hops do three major things. One: they add bittering compounds that balance out the malty sweetness of the beer. Two: they're a preservative. Three: they provide a lot of aroma and flavor." -- Mary Izett on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 136 - Growing Beer: Andrea Stanley of Valley Malt

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:01:49 -0000

The Farm Report continues its "Growing Beer" series with Andrea Stanley of Valley Malt. Valley Malt, a husband and wife team, helps provide the Northeastern craft and home brewer with artisanal malt from locally grown grains. Learn about the life of a barley farmer and what challenges they are faced with in terms of seasons and harvesting. Andrea explains everything from how to make a batch of malt to the process of combine harvesting. Discover what goes into beer from farm to glass on the second installment of "Growing Beer" on The Farm Report. As usual, tune in for the GrowNYC Market Update after the program! This program was sponsored by White Oak Pastures.

"When a brewers brewing a beer they are mostly using base malts than then small portions of specialty malts."
"In our country today, there are eally only 5 large malt houses that exist..the big malthouses don't necessarily do a lot of new creative things. That's why we're excited about being a small malt house becuase we have the ability to try new things...There are a lot of unusual grains being grown in this area. We've malted grains like spelt, buckwheat, millet, amber, red fife, rye and more."
--Andrea Stanley of Valley Malt on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 137 - Growing Beer: David Katleski and Becca Jablonski

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:03:07 -0000

This week, Erin Fairbanks is once again talking about beer and agriculture with guests David Katleski and Becca Jablonski. David is the president of New York's own Empire Brewing Company and the New York State Brewers Association. Becca is Ph.D. candidate at Cornell University and an agricultural economist. Tune in to hear discussions regarding New York State's Farm Brewery Bill. The bill's aim is to establish beer as an agricultural product in New York, encourage farmers to grow hops and barley in the state, and generally support the beer industry. Learn about New York's climate, any why the state cannot compete with China and the Pacific Northwest in terms of large-scale hop production. Later, Erin checks in with Jeanne Hodesh of the GrowNYC Greenmarket. Hear about the last of summer's tomatoes, as well as some of the amazing celery that's in the market right now! This episode has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"Our rural economies are not doing so well in New York state. We are lagging behind some of the urban centers... We're trying to think about how we can generate business that's going to create jobs so people come and revitalize some of these areas that were once thriving." -- Becca Jablonski on The Farm Report
"In a ten year span, not only have we tripled our sales, but we've tripled the number of breweries in New York State." -- David Katleski on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 138 - Growing Beer: Regional Grains and Hops

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 18:20:43 -0000

Welcome to the final installment of The Farm Report's "Growing Beer" series. Today, Erin Fairbanks is talking local and regional ingredients with a wealth of New York state beer and agriculture guests. Carrie Blackmore from Good Nature Brewing calls in to talk about the locally-sourced grains and hops used in Good Nature's brews. Hear why local and regional sourcing works for small-small scale breweries, but why the state industry needs to grow to accommodate larger productions. Next, Erin chats with Paul Dlugokencky of Blind Bat Brewery to talk about making beer out on Long Island with some strange ingredients. Hear why Paul believes that a farm brewery model may be the future for Blind Bat. Erin checks in with June Russell of Greenmarket to talk regional grains, and why the industry needs to target producers of all types in order to grow. Hear from Liz Carollo with the GrowNYC Greenmarket update! Check out the variety of beans and fresh broccoli rabe that should be hitting Greenmarket stands soon! This episode has been brought to you by Fairway Market.

"Generally, I don't think that most brewers have any connection to their farmers. It's almost impossible." -- Carrie Blackmore on The Farm Report
"If you're going to rebuild the grain market in the Northeast, you need to have multiple markets for the grains." -- June Russell on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 139 - Will Harris of White Oak Pastures

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:49:53 -0000

Meet Will Harris, the the owner/operator of White Oak Pastures, a multi-generational family farm that was established in 1866 in the small, southwest Georgia community of Bluffton. White Oak Pastures is the only farm in the United States that has both a beef and chicken abattoir on the property. Erin Fairbanks interviews Will on this week's episode of The Farm Report. Mr. Harris explains what inspired him to transition away from the big industrial farming model and back to the humane and organic methods his great grandfather practiced. Learn more about what animal welfare means at White Oak Pastures and how they set the standard for excellence in modern livestock production. This program was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

"We're the only farm in the country that has both a beef and poultry slaughterhouse on the farm - we're very proud of that."
"When I was in my 40's in the 1990's I became disgusted with the excesses of the industrial practices and started transitioning back to the ways of my great grandfather."
"Good animal welfare is very easy to determine. If you enjoy watching the animal - you have good animal welfare. The animals need to be able to express their instinctive behavior."
--Will Harris of White Oak Pastures on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 140 - Erin's Story & No Goat Left Behind

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 18:43:41 -0000

Welcome to a very special episode of The Farm Report. This week, Erin Fairbanks is recounting the events that led her to Heritage Foods USA and the Heritage Radio Network.org. Hear how Erin's college job in Zingerman's deli inspired her to pursue a career in food. Hear how Erin went from working in kitchens at Savoy and Gramercy Tavern to organizing a farm camp at Flying Pigs Farm. Later, Erin talks about the No Goat Left Behind program at Heritage Foods USA, and what it means for small dairy producers and goats alike! Learn about the mystery of the commodity market, and why so much goat meat is imported to the United States. Finally, Erin talks celery root and squash with Liz Carollo for the GrowNYC Market Update! This episode has been sponsored by The Heritage Meat Shop.

"One of the things that I'm trying to do with this show is to demystify the agriculture process for urban constituents."
-- Erin Fairbanks on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 141 - Growing Cider: Eleanor Leger of Eden Ice Cider

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:27:21 -0000

Erin Fairbanks is investigating cider as an agricultural product on this week's episode of The Farm Report! Tune in to hear Erin talk with Eleanor Leger of Eden Ice Cider. Eleanor produces ice cider- a higher ABV beverage that is made through cold-concentration processes. Learn more about the processes involved with making ice cider, and why Eleanor and her husband decided to pour their life savings into this business. For farmers and artisans, cider is important to the New England agricultural economy. Later, Erin and Eleanor talk about the slowing local juice industry, and the prevalence of imported juices from concentrate in the grocery aisle. Later Jeanne Hodesh from the GrowNYC Greenmarket calls in to talk about the apples, potatoes, and bay scallops entering NYC's markets! This program has been sponsored by Whole Foods.

"We're very excited to encourage other orchards in Vermont and New England to start producing ice cider. We really believe it's a product that represents our terroir well, and you cannot make it in a lot of places." [14:23]
"All of the fresh juice market has disappeared in the U.S. Virtually every bottle or can of fresh juice in the supermarket today comes from concentrate from outside of the U.S." [22:33]
-- Eleanor Leger on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 142 - Steve Wood of Poverty Lane Orchards and Farnum Hill Cider

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:35:35 -0000

Erin Fairbanks continues her exploration into the world of apples, orchards and cider on this week's episode of "The Farm Report" with guest Steve Wood of Poverty Lane Orchards and Farnum Hill Cider. Find out how apple picking and orchard development has changed over the years, due to packing machinery, industry demands and consumer trends. Learn what goes into cider production, including growing of the fruit and processing of the cider itself. Discover the differences between heirloom and commodity varieties of apples, and hear some of the logistical challenges that come along with distribution, packing and sales. Also, as always, tune in for the GrowNYC Market Update! This program was brought to you by Susty Party.

"I started working here in 1965 when I was a kid - so yeah, I guess I've got an apple growing background!" [1:45]
"Since packing machinery came around, the market started insisting on larger apples, waxed apples... the whole thing started to change dramatically." [3:33]
"For a lot of [apple] varieties bigger is not better - it's actually more boring." [10:55]
"Every patch of ground imposes conditions on what things can be grown well there." [12:00]
"A farm is not a natural environment - so the idea that people can grow things naturally is almost a joke to me." [26:28]
"When you plant an orchard - you're basically planting a candy shop for all kinds of organisms. It's very different from having an apple tree in your backyard or a cottage in the woods!" [28:27]
--Steve Wood of Poverty Lane Orchards and Farnum Hill Cider

The Farm Report - Episode 143 - Jim Gerritsen of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 20:54:33 -0000

Today on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks calls up Jim Gerritsen of Wood Prairie Farm, and President of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association. OSGATA has recently been involved in a lawsuit against Monsanto in order to protect the rights of organic growers that choose not to use genetically engineered seeds. Tune into this episode to learn about the extensiveness of Monsanto's patent rights, and how their "intellectual property" can contaminate organic seed through the air. Learn more about the OSGATA vs. Monsanto lawsuit, and why it appears that Monsanto has been inconsistent in terms of its legal stance toward GMO contamination. Later, Erin chats with Liz Carollo of the GrowNYC Greenmarket for this week's Market Update! Tune in to learn what apples Peter Hoffman of Back Forty prefers in the fall. Check out all the awesome pie ingredients, and hear about some of Greenmarket's upcoming food events. This program has been brought to you by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.

"If we can't have our property rights respected and prevent companies like Monsanto trespass on our farm, and have their pollution contaminating our crops, then there's no way that organic farmers that buy seed from us can grow a crop that's not contaminated." [13:00]
"There's no market for genetically-engineered organic seed!" [14:10]
-- Jim Gerritsen on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 144 - John Lowell of East Dennis Oyster Farm

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:59:04 -0000

This week's episode of The Farm Report is all about a different kind of farming- oyster farming! Erin Fairbanks is joined via the phone lines by John Lowell, the owner of the East Dennis Oyster Farm. Tune into this episode to learn why raising oysters is indeed a type of farming! Hear about the different oyster seed stock that John chooses from, and the processes involved in starting an oyster farm. The East Dennis Oyster Farm is a small-scale production; learn why it's important for farmers of all types to realize and work within their individual capacities, and not expand beyond their means and original goals. Learn more about food safety regulations for shellfish, and why the oyster industry is more traceable than most other areas of the food business. When are oysters in season? Learn the differences between wild and farmed oysters, and why one type may be more desirable for restaurants. Also, tune in to hear from Jeanne Hodesh of the GrowNYC Greenmarket for this week's Market Update. Tune in to hear what it takes to be featured in the Greenmarket, as well as some delicious harvest legumes and vegetables at the market stands! This program has been brought to you by White Oak Pastures.

"It's like a vineyard. You don't plant a vineyard and have a vine the next day. And it's the same thing with oysters. You don't just make more. You need to be patient, and you have to really want to do it." [16:00] -- John Lowell on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 145 - Food & Water Watch and Severine Von Tscharner Fleming

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:14:04 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is talking with two important guests from the world of food and agriculture. First up is Mark Schlosberg, the National Organizing Director for Food & Water Watch. Tune in to hear Erin and Mark discuss two ballot initiatives from the past election cycle that affect the environment and farming: Question 300 in Colorado, and Proposition 37 in California. Learn how the community of Longmont, Colorado kept hydrofracking out of their town. What organizing methods were successful? Later, hear Mark talk about the labeling of GMO foods in California, and why Prop 37 did not pass. The people have the right to know where their food comes from! Learn about Food & Water Watch's upcoming campaigns dealing with transparency in the food system. Later, Erin calls up Severine Von Tscharner Fleming, founder of The Greenhorns and host of HRN's Greenhorn Radio. The Greenhorns are a non-profit organization that works with young farmers and creates media that promotes sustainable agriculture and educates beginning farmers. Hear Erin and Severine talk about Superstorm Sandy, and how it impacted farmers in the Hudson Valley. Learn about new farm technology, and how young farmers are banding together in numbers to develop tools to deal with unpredictable weather. Finally, Erin checks in with Jeanne Hodesh for this week's GrowNYC Market Update! This episode has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"Communities should have the ability to protect themselves from the real threats that fracking poses to water, air, public health, and really- the community. When people band together and talk to their neighbors and do real organizing, they're capable of pushing back against big money interests that are trying to exploit our essential resources without regard to the consequences." [4:15]
-- Mark Schlosberg on The Farm Report
"One-hundred-year storms are happening every year, and when your livelihood depends on being at the market of every week...and, largely depends on pieces of aluminum supported by pieces of plastic with sixty thousand dollars with of tomatoes underneath! It's hard to have piece of mind and think that it's a simple matter." [21:00]
-- Severine Von Tscharner Fleming on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 146 - Steve Malinowski of Fisher's Island Oyster Farm, Inc.

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:59:26 -0000

Erin Fairbanks continues talking about oyster farming on this week's episode of The Farm Report. Steve Malinowski of Fisher's Island Oyster Farm, Inc. is on the line to set the record straight on oyster breeding. Find out what Steve seeks out in an ideal oyster, and how certain oysters are selected for breeding. Hear about the spawning process, and how to distinguish between male and female oysters. How do oysters differ from other bivalves in terms of reproduction? Later, Steve explains how Fisher's Island Oyster Farm, Inc. grows all of the food for their oysters on-site, and why juvenile oysters are susceptible to disease depending on the salinity of the water they inhabit. Erin wraps up the show by talking with Liz Carollo for this week's GrowNYC Greenmarket Update! This episode has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch.

"All clams are born males, and during the first year, approximately 50% of them will become female and remain that way for the rest of their lives. Oysters, on the other hand, can actually change sex from one season to another." [8:00]
-- Steve Malinowski on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 147 - The Food Culture of Chile

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:07:27 -0000

The Farm Report takes a trip to Chile this week, as Erin Fairbanks is joined by Felix de Vincente, Chairman of Prochile, and Blas Tomic, Head of Fundacion Imagen de Chile. Learn about the climate, culture and foods of Chile as Felix and Blas talk about the advocacy work they do for the country and what makes it such a special and unique place. What is the average farm size in Chile? What is it like being a farmer in the South American country? Learn how salmon found its way to Chile, and how agriculture plays such a huge role in the nation's economy. Later, tune in for this week's GrowNYC Market Update with Jeanne Hodesh and Jack Inslee! This program was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.

"The modernization of our agriculture began 30-40 years ago very seriously, which began with the structural properties. The incorporation of technology and the globalization process put Chile in contact with the demands of the world..." [20:00]
"We have a climate that in the center of our country really resembles California." [35:00]
"We don't export anything with genetic modification at all." [38:00]
-- Blas Tomic, Head of Fundacion Imagen de Chile, The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 148 - Roots with Diane Morgan

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:00:30 -0000

On this week's episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined in the studio by cookbook author Diane Morgan. After a curious trip to a Portland farmer's market, Diane was inspired to write a book all about roots and root vegetables entitled Roots: The Definitive Compendium with more than 225 Recipes. Tune into this episode to learn about the different types of roots; what distinguishes a taproot from a tuberous root? How do agricultural practices determine how roots develop? Erin and Diane profile and discuss a few types of root vegetables, such as rutabagas and wasabi. Hear about the roles of root vegetables in different ethnic cuisines! Despite their reputation, hear why potatoes are beneficial to your diet! Get a healthy serving of root vegetables on this episode of The Farm Report! This episode has been brought to you by Susty Party.

"Roots are cold weather crops for the most part. Radishes can be planted before the first thaw, so that in the spring, you have these lovely little roots with bushy tops. The same goes for carrots. Whereas parsnips are planted later because you want to harvest them after the first frost so that the sugars are concentrated." [11:00]
-- Diane Morgan on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 149 - Eric Weltman of Food & Water Watch

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:52:53 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks calls up Eric Weltman of Brooklyn's Food & Water Watch to talk about hydrofracking. Food & Water Watch is a non-profit organization that aims to ensure the safety and accessibility of food and water, and to ensure these basic needs in a sustainable way. Tune in to learn about the harmful side effects of fracking, and the mythology behind the environmental safety of natural gas. Hear about the need for renewable energy in New York state, and how fracking threatens the state's three largest industries - farming, tourism, and real estate. Erin and Eric discuss the pros and cons of hydrofracking over an imaginary dinner! Later, Erin catches up with Jeanne Hodesh of the Greenmarket for this week's GrowNYC Market Update! This program has been sponsored by Tabard Inn.

"There are safe alternatives to natural gas, but there are no alternatives to water." [4:25]
"Natural gas is primarily methane, and methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas." [6:20]
-- Eric Weltman on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 150 - Gene Baur of Farm Sanctuary

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:54:21 -0000

The topic of the day is animal rescue on The Farm Report. Erin Fairbanks is talking with Gene Baur, the president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary. Farm Sanctuary rescues and protects animals from factory farms and abusive situations, and promotes a vegan lifestyle. Tune in to this episode to hear Gene talk about the benefits and reasons for a vegan diet. Learn about breeding practices, and how they have caused damage to the genetic stock for certain species. Tune in to hear Gene express his opinions on the rising popularity of alternative farming methods, and the truth behind a lot of buzzwords like "free-range". Gene speaks to the importance of transparency in our food system, and how increased public knowledge of production leads to more humane practices. Remember to tune in for the GrowNYC Market Update with Liz Carollo! This episode has been brought to you by Tekserve

"This is an industry that really depends on secrecy to continue, because what they do is unacceptable to most people." [7:20]
"If you think about the inputs for any animal production farm- you need feed, and you need more water." [27:10]
-- Gene Baur on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 151 - Mary Peabody of the Women's Ag Network

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:43:25 -0000

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks calls up Mary Peabody, the founding director of the Women's Ag Network and professor at the University of Vermont. Mary Peabody is a Community Economic Development Specialist with University of Vermont Extension, and the New Farmer project. Learn why women are not often counted amongst farmers in the census, and why more women are increasingly getting into the agricultural business. How does Mary assist women who want to start their own farms, and prepare for the farm life? Learn about the Women's Ag Network's start in 1994, and how it continues to operate based on member and foundation support. What other organizations deal with women in ag on a regional or national scale? And what states host the most women farmers? Find out on this episode of The Farm Report! This program has been brought to you by Consider Bardwell.

"It makes us really happy when we look down the list of associations in the area and we see women that have worked with us as presidents, vice presidents, and treasurers of these policy makers that are really going to shape agriculture in this country." [25:30]
-- Mary Peabody on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 152 - Growing in South Carolina Pt. 1: Hugh E. Weathers & Dana Beach

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:01:08 -0000

Agriculture is growing in South Carolina; the future is bright! This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is talking with Hugh E. Weathers, the Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of South Carolina. Learn about the state's top ten cash crops, and hear why South Carolina's ag sector is growing! Hear about the history of agriculture in Commissioner Weathers' family, and how it mirrors farm trends throughout the history of South Carolina. Listen in to hear Commissioner Weathers talk about the importance of value-added products in South Carolina's economy, and learn more about the "Fresh on the Menu" program. Later, Dana Beach of the Coastal Conservation League joins the show to talk about land development in South Carolina. Hear about the prevalence of "sprawl" throughout the state, and how Dana's work is to preserve unique cultures throughout the state. This program has been brought to you by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.

"We've probably gained- albeit some lifestyle farmers- we've gained several thousand more farmers over the last 4 or 5 years. I'm very optimistic for the future... there are so many opportunities for agriculture in South Carolina." [9:00] -- Commissioner Hugh E. Weathers on The Farm Report

"South Carolina is the perfect place to make a local food system. We have a twelve month growing season, we have good soil, and good farmers!" [32:45] -- Dana Beach on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 153 - Growing in South Carolina Pt. 2: Grow Food Carolina

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:23:16 -0000

Erin Fairbanks traces the local produce supply in South Carolina on this week's installment of The Farm Report. Tune in to hear Erin talk with Sara Clow, the General Manager for Grow Food Carolina. Grow Food Carolina is a local food wholesaler initiated by the Coastal Conservation League that aims to make local produce widespread. Learn more about South Carolina's growing seasons, and the importance of crop diversity in the state's hot climate. Later, Erin is joined by Matt Settar, the Produce Manager for EarthFare supermarkets. Hear Matt discuss his reasons for working with Grow Food Carolina, and EarthFare's focus on organic produce and healthy food. Finally, Erin calls up Carol Williams of Millgrove Farms, one of Grow Food Carolina's producers. Learn how a love of the land inspired Carol and her husband, Ben, to grow without pesticides. What does Grow Food Carolina offer individuals like Carol and Ben? Find out on this week's installment of The Farm Report! This episode has been sponsored by Route 11 Potato Chips.

"In order to make local food not just a specialty food and part of everyday, Grow Food Carolina sells as a wholesaler. [4:20] -- Sara Clow on The Farm Report
"Grow Food Carolina brings all the local farmers into one place, and it makes it really easy to deal with." [21:40] -- Matt Settar on The Farm Report
"We wanted to make the land last forever, which is why we decided to go organic instead of conventional." [29:40] -- Carol Williams on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 154 - Erik Hoffner & Orion Magazine

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:54:44 -0000

Orion Magazine has been producing thought-provoking, progressive journalism for thirty years. On this week's episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is chatting with Orion's Outreach Director, Erik Hoffner. Tune in to hear Erik talk about the ecology-focused lens with which Orion views all sorts of social issues. Learn about the magazine's roots in New York City, and why the operation moved to Western Massachusetts. Hear Erik and Erin talk about the unknown health factors of nanotechnology, and how nanoparticles may be damaging to the environment and individual health. Learn about several of Orion's freelance contributors, and what they have to say about topics like hydrofracking and environmentalism. This program has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch.

"So many good things are happening in New York with urban agriculture, and with public art using the landscape." [11:00]
"The health of our ground water for the next hundred years is worth more than ten years of fuel." [26:10]
-- Erik Hoffner on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 155 - Claire Marin of Catskill Provisions

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:57:07 -0000

Seal the deal with Catskills Provisions! Tune into the Farm Report as Erin Fairbanks sits down with Proprietor, Beekeeper and Forager at Catskill Provisions, Claire Marin. Located in a small corner of the Northwest Catskill Mountains, Catskill Provisions specializes in creating raw, all-natural handmade food products while subscribing to the philosophy that a thriving society makes use of the closest resources around it. Tune in to learn more about their local honey, maple syrup, chocolate truffles and brand new line of pancake mix made with Cayuga flour; all part of their Valentine's Day themed "Seal the Deal" package! This program was sponsored by Rolling Press.

"It's not just selling something its creativing relationships with people you do business with. business and humanity can go hand in hand - they really can!" [2:00]
--Claire Marin of Catskill Provisions on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 156 - Revisiting Brooklyn Grange with Ben Flanner

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:31:22 -0000

Spring is coming sooner than you think; time to start planting! This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is talking with President and farmer at the Brooklyn Grange, Ben Flanner. Tune in to hear Ben talk about innovations in farm technology, and how these virtually simple tools can increase productivity for small farmers. Hear about the Grange's expansion to the Brooklyn Navy Yards, and the need for a long-term lease in urban farm security. Hear about Ben's educational retreat to Mexico, and find out what Ben looks for when scouring a seed catalog! How was the Grange affected by Hurricane Sandy? Find out on this week's episode of The Farm Report! This episode has been brought to you by Whole Foods.

"One of the challenges of urban farming is that you need some sort of long-term stake on some property." [10:40]
"In terms of inputs, everything we need is right here in the city- think about all of the organic waste in New York City!" [15:00]
-- Ben Flanner on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 157 - Chef's Garden with Farmer Lee Jones

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:48:31 -0000

From the farm, to tables across the country! Farmer Lee Jones is Erin Fairbanks' guest on this week's installment of The Farm Report. Tune into this episode to hear Farmer Jones talk about the mission of Chef's Garden, and why it's important to grow food that chefs prefer in the kitchen. Hear about the heirloom varieties that Farmer Jones grows at Chef's Garden, and why it's necessary to grow certain crops to boost nutrient levels in the soil. Find out what celebrity chefs purchase from Farmer Jones, and why he harvests at eight different plant growth stages. Listen to Farmer Jones speak to the power of seasonality in terms of nutrition! This program has been sponsored by Seersucker/Nightingale 9.

"If you work in harmony with nature instead trying to outsmart it, the results can be incredible." [11:00]
"Chefs have taught us that at every stage of a plant's life offers something different to the plate." [26:30]
-- Farmer Lee Jones on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 158 - Lucky Lee and Her Tomatoes

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:00:13 -0000

Tasty tomatoes year-round? This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined in the studio by Lucky Lee of Lucky's Real Tomatoes. Tune in to hear Lucky talk about her family's history in the tomato business. What makes Lucky's tomatoes stand out? Find out why restaurant groups like the Union Square Hospitality Group prefer Lucky's. Lucky's has been ahead of the curve in the areas of traceability and quality for decades! Listen in to hear Erin and Lucky talk about the local food movement, and how it sometimes falls short for the needs of chefs. How did Hurricane Sandy affect Lucky's farms? Find out on this week's installment of The Farm Report! Thanks to our sponsor, Hearst Ranch.

"What makes our company different- and our tomatoes different- is that they are all from the United States, they're all grown in the ground, and they aren't picked until they are almost ripe." [3:50]
"Whenever you start fooling around inside of a tomato, you take away part of the reason why you might want to eat it." [10:50]
-- Lucky Lee on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 159 - Fair Trade Coffee with Equal Exchange

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:50:24 -0000

How does fair trade works to promote a higher quality coffee? Find out on this week's episode of The Farm Report as Erin Fairbanks is joined by Todd Caspersen, Director of Purchasing for Equal Exchange. Hear about the initiatives Equal Exchange has started to develop common language so that producers, retailers and consumers are all on the same page. Language barriers, personal relationships and honesty are all integral to ensuring that fair trade standards are maintained and upheld, and Todd gives listeners inside perspective into the process of managing all of the systems that get coffee from crop to cup, ethically and responsibly. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery.

"You can have fair trade coffee that is commercial grade, and fair trade coffee that is super high quality. It can be both things, and it's not a prerequisite one way or another. It's about the individuals in the supply chain." [07:00]
"What I'd like to see is greater levels of research and investigation to increase productivity on rural Latin American farms." [32:00]
--Todd Caspersen, Director of Purchasing for Equal Exchange on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 160 - Beyond the Peel, Fair Trade Banana

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:13:46 -0000

We're going beyond the peel on this week's episode of The Farm Report as Erin Fairbanks hosts the Banana Coordinator at Equal Exchange, Nicole Vitello. Did you know the banana is actually an herb? Nicole discusses all things banana from organic farming to transport and sale. There's a banana revolution afoot and Nicole shares her knowledge about the radical turn towards fair trade exchange and the market's reaction to this push. The banana has been a staple of the kitchen table for as long as anyone can remember and Nicole talks about the process that brings each banana to our home. Tune and learn everything there is to know about the banana because Nicole really knows her stuff! This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard and Winery.

"Bananas are a genetic clone...the plant is constantly reproducing from itself.. the plant can't evolve." [5:50]
"It's a man - over - nature process to get the perfect banana...I cant think of any other product that actually trades that way." [7:34]
"Fair trade was designed as tool to link producers with importing companies and also open up that line of trade to have certain securities. Fair trade sets a minimum price for bananas which no importer can pay below. On top of that, one dollar per 40lb box goes back to the producers coop as a social premium." [21:10]

--Nicole Vitello, Banana Coordinator at Equal Exchange on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 161 - Mary Berry

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:10:43 -0000

In 1977, Wendell Berry published The Unsettling of America, a book that started a national and international conversation on the state of agriculture in our country. The Berry Center’s mission is to continue his work by bringing focus, knowledge, and cohesiveness to the work of changing our ruinous industrial agriculture system into a culture that uses nature as the standard, that accepts no permanent damage to the ecosphere, and that takes into consideration human health in local communities. Tune in to The Farm Report, as Erin Fairbanks is joined by Mary Berry who describes some of the work the center is focusing on and some of the problems we face as a nation made up of small communities in our quest to improve the agricultural landscape in this great country. This program was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards and Sons.

"I just read a speech my grandfathers gave to congress in the 1940s and with a few minor changes the same speech could be given today and be completely relevant." [10:50]
"If I think about the whole world - I don't matter all that much. If I think about America, what can I really do? I took it down to the state, to the county, to the town and then to the farm that I live. At that point, then you find out that everything you do matters. So you start there, you start on the ground." [17:45]
"Too often the local food movement thinks only of fruits and vegetables. We've got to think about calories and grain is an essential piece of this." [26:00]
"We need a flourishing rural America to make our food secure." [31:40]
--May Berry on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 162 - Alex Young of Zingerman's Roadhouse

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:57:06 -0000

Alex Young grows food at Cornman Farms, and cooks it at Zingerman's Roadhouse! On this week's episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is chatting with Alex about running a farm and a restaurant. What inspired Alex to grow the food for his restaurant himself? Listen in to hear more about the menu at Zingerman's Roadhouse, and their affinity for heritage breeds. What are some of the biggest problems that the restaurant and farm face regarding animal slaughter? Tune in to hear Alex and Erin talk about land access in Michigan, and the juxtaposition of sprawl and farmland in the Midwest. Learn more about Alex's vision of farm-restaurants on this week's episode of The Farm Report! This episode has been brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery.

"I try to pick items to farm that aren't grown in large quantities, so I'm not taking business away from other farmers." [5:05]
"Now, we are actually producing all of the food for the plants ourselves!" [19:15]
-- Alex Young on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 163 - George Weld & Evan Hanczor

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:57:42 -0000

George Weld and Evan Hanczor truly embody the farm-to-table movement through their enterprises: Goatfell Farm, Parish Hall, and Egg. This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks digs deeper into the connection between restaurants and farmers with George and Evan. Learn why Parish Hall operates seasonally and locally, and how that affects the consistency of the menu at the Williamsburg restaurant. Find out why George decided to start his own farm, and how visits to the farm remind the staff at Egg and Parish Hall about the sanctity of food. Hear George and Evan talk about sustainability in terms of the environment and business, and why it's important to consider all elements of the waste stream in trying to create an efficient model of operation. Tune into this week's episode of The Farm Report to learn how chefs and farmers cooperate! This program has been sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. Thanks to EULA for today's music.

"When I'm thinking about dishes, visiting the farm lets me know when we are going to get a certain product." [9:45] -- Evan Hanczor on The Farm Report
"When you bring certain items into the kitchen, you realize what an illusion consistency is." [21:10] -- George Weld on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 164 - Food Law with Jason Foscolo

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:03:19 -0000

Jason Foscolo knows food law. On this week's episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks invites Jason into the studio to talk about the legal considerations of farming. Tune in to hear why every farmer, whether a beginner or a veteran, should always have a good lawyer on call. How do professionals like Jason help beginning farmers gain access to land, and represent lifelong farmers in contractual selling situations. How did Jason's time as a judge advocate in the Marine Corp. prepare him as a lawyer and a food enthusiast? Learn how food-borne illness can be a threat to farmers' livelihoods, and how the Food Safety Modernization Act is changing the way Jason practices law. Thanks to our sponsor, Whole Foods, and thanks to Jade for today's music.

"From the moment before a farmer starts to plant, they should start thinking about some sort of access to legal expertise. You can't plant without land. If you're going to buy or lease- that's a threshold issue right there." [2:30] -- Jason Foscolo on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 165 - Chipotle's Food with Integrity

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:47:47 -0000

Fast food on The Farm Report? On this week's episode, Erin Fairbanks is joined in the studio by Joshua Brau of Chipotle to talk about 'Food with Integrity'. Tune in to learn about the restaurant chain's stance on GMO crops, and how they are working to remove them from their menu. Why did founder and CEO Steve Ells decide to source his pork sustainably? Find out how availability and price dictate the amount of organic beans and vegetables that Chipotle can purchase. Find out how the consistency of certain products proves to be a problem for an alternative fast food company like Chipotle. What is Chipotle's stance on animal genetics? Find out on this week's episode of The Farm Report! Thanks to our sponsor S. Wallace Edwards & Sons, and thanks to Pamela Royal for today's musical break.

"90% of the corn produced in this country is a GMO crop." [8:05]
"If we can't find pork that was raised without sub-therapeutic antibiotics and in humane conditions, we just won't serve pork." [11:55]
"Fast food is an important component of the food landscape, and I don't think it's going anywhere... We're proving that fast food can be cooked in the restaurant, and that you can use good ingredients." [25:10] -- Joshua Brau on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 166 - John Sharpe and the Churro Lamb

Thu, 02 May 2013 21:05:00 -0000

John Sharpe is a world-renowned chef at The Turquoise Room and a churro lamb enthusiast. This week on The Farm Report, John calls in to talk with Erin Fairbanks about his storied history in the restaurant business, and how he ended up in Arizona. Learn about the local and organic farm landscape in Arizona, and how it's different climates make it a surprising terroir. Later, hear John talk about the importance of the churro lamb to Arizona and its indigenous cultures. Find out why the meat of the churro lamb contains very little lanolin flavor and fat content! This program has been sponsored by Heritage Foods USA, and music has been provided by Pamela Royal.

"Primarily, this breed was used for weaving, but was also a major food source and uses in ceremonies. This sheep (the churro lamb) is extremely iconic to the Navajo people." [23:00]
-- John Sharpe on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 167 - Sidney Phelps of Bonnie Plants

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:10:51 -0000

Spring is near and you know what that means - time to get that home garden into shape! Tune into a plant-based episode of The Farm Report as Erin Fairbanks is joined by Sidney Phelps, Directing Manager of Bonnie Plants. Bonnie Plants is a national plant wholesaler based in Alabama that supplies retail stores all over the United States. Bonnie Plants is a leading provider of plants for your vegetable garden or herb garden. Tune in and learn more about how Bonnie makes sure to source plants as locally as possible and makes sure that what you buy is meant to be grown where you live! Also get some great tips for starting your own home garden including where and how to plant the produce you're interested in. This program was sponsored by Rolling Press. Thanks to Obey City for today's music.

"We have more than 60 greenhouses in the lower 48. The consumer is getting the freshest most locally grown plants possible. They're adapted to the lifestyle of the gardens they will be grown in." [8:00]
"Right now herbs and peppers are really becoming more and more popular. We added a grapefruit mint this year that actually tastes like you're eating a grapefruit!" [26:00]
-- Sidney Phelps on The Farm Report

The Farm Report - Episode 168 - Cows Save the Planet

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:35:03 -0000

How do livestock protect the environment? This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks calls up Judith Schwartz, author of Cows Save the Planet to discuss erosion, carbon, and the health of the planet. Tune into this program to hear Judith talk about the natural grazing habits of herbivores like cows, and how these tendencies help keep the ecosystem in check. How do animals contribute to the biodiversity of plant species? Learn more about topsoil; what is topsoil, and how is it created? Listen in to hear how Judith hopes her book will inspire the future of consumers, and influence producers to adopt alternative land management practices. Tune in and learn how proper holistic land stewardship is a political issue, and how you can affect change. This program has been brought to you by Bonnie Plants. Thanks to Idgy Dean for today's music.

"The livestock functions as biological accelerators- they move this process forward. They keep the carbon cycle, the water cycle, etc. from getting out of whack." [13:50]
"For every ton of grain produced, seven tons of topsoil are lost." [17:50]
-- Judith Schwartz on The Farm Report