Information about the Aspen Ideas Festival is here. I am scheduled for a session, The American Wellness Paradox, currently scheduled from 11:00-11:50 a.m., at the East Lawn Tent. This will be a discussion with senior HHS policy advisor, Calley Means. Here’s the blurb on it: “Americans are spending more than ever on healthcare, supplements, wellness trends, and “clean eating,” yet rates of chronic disease and metabolic illness continue to climb. As skepticism fuels the rise of movements like MAHA, debates over what Americans should eat have become deeply cultural, political, and economic. Two influential voices with sharply different perspectives on nutrition and food science explore how food systems, farming practices, consumer culture, and the wellness industry collided to create one of the defining public health debates of our time.”
by Marion Nestle
Aug
6
2024
It’s National Farmers Market Week! Support your local farmers market!
USDA has proclaimed August 4 – 10 as National Farmers Market Week. I love farmers markets and I’m glad USDA is trying to promote them.
USDA publishes a directory of US farmers markets—7,033 listings.
It also lists
- Agrotourism sites (12,763)
- CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture (1,011)
- Food hubs (230)
- On-farm markets 1,937)
Farmers markets have a long history in the U.S. The National Agricultural Library has a report on them published in 1948.
Its got all kinds of interesting information.
Here’s the most recent information I can find on growth in numbers.
This is progress. Farmers markets are well worth support.
The Farmers Market Coalition provides resources and toolkits.
It also makes clear why they deserve support. Famers markets:
- Preserve farmland
- Stimulate local economies
- Increase access to nutritious food
- Support healthy communtiies
- Promote sustainability
Besides, it’s fun to know your farmer, know your food.
