May 3, 2010 1

How does that tomato taste now?

tomato The news that Barry Estabrook won a James Beard Award last night for his thorough, damning expose of the Florida tomato industry, prompts me to… Continue reading

May 2, 2010 0

Local produce: Can it be supersized?

Last month the Atlantic published a thought-provoking piece on Walmart's move into not just organic and sustainably farmed food, but locally grown products as well. Is it possible, wondered writer Corby Kummer, that the… Continue reading

Apr 25, 2010 0

CSAs are everywhere

Monica Eng has a great piece in Saturday's Chicago Tribune on the city's booming interest in CSAs. It honestly gave me a little thrill to read. With mainstream success come all sorts of new… Continue reading

Apr 19, 2010 0

Should grass-fed beef be finished on … grain?

cow File under "better late than never:" The USDA is considering adopting a three-tier system for categorizing organic beef, and today's the last day to send them… Continue reading

Apr 7, 2010 1

Fresh Picks = Best CSA?

We found out yesterday that Fresh Picks is a finalist for a Reader's Choice award in the "Best of Mindful Chicago" round-up being pulled together by the good people over at Mindful Metropolis
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Apr 2, 2010 0

March newsletter highlights

Are you signed up for our newsletter? If not, you're missing out on interviews with our farmers, recipe tips and more. This month we talk with Jenny and Rob Borchart, of Harvest Moon Farms… Continue reading

Mar 29, 2010 2

TED talks food

The website Civil Eats is a terrific clearinghouse for all flavors of food news, from analysis of the latest doings at the USDA to tips for helping your rooftop garden thrive. Now, the… Continue reading

Mar 24, 2010 0

Time to start talking organics again

As spring peeks around the corner and farmers coax shoots from seeds in the greenhouse, the great "organics" debate -- dormant over the winter -- rears its head again. The relative nutritional benefits of organically-produced foods… Continue reading

Mar 17, 2010 3

Fun at FamilyFarmed

We're back! We -- or, rather, Irv and Shelly -- spent a long, hectic three days at last weekend's FamilyFarmed Expo. Now they've gotten some sleep and are back to tell the tale. Held at the… Continue reading

Mar 7, 2010 0

The celery root solution

img_0050 I admit it. I was anxious about celery root. Until today I  had never cooked it before, and – as I've done in the past with… Continue reading