Episodios

  • Ep 70 - No Farms. No Food. CEO John Piotti. American Farmland Trust. Farming done right is critical to our future.

    Ep 70 - No Farms. No Food. CEO John Piotti. American Farmland Trust. Farming done right is critical to our future.
    Apr 29 2025
    On this episode we are grateful to have John Piotti, President and CEO of American Farmland Trust. John has worked at the forefront of sustainable agriculture since the early 1990s. Under John’s leadership, AFT has engaged in the most comprehensive study of American land use ever conducted, helped secure billions of dollars in funding to protect farmland and promote climate-smart agriculture, and launched initiatives that advance regenerative farming practices and support next generation farmers. Prior to joining AFT, John served as President of Maine Farmland Trust and as House Majority Leader of the Maine State Legislature. eatbetterfoodtoday #localingredients #longevity #health #foodasmedicine #localfarmers #climate #planethealth Please visit our website https://eatbetterfoodtoday.com for this week's recipe, interviews, books, research, videos. Look for information on John Piotti at https://farmland.org Other Mentions: https://www.nature.org/en-us/ https://www.audubon.org What’s In Season https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/ Cleveland Kitchen: https://www.clevelandkitchen.com/ Segment Notes: Breakfast 1:42 Journey to CEO of American Farmland Trust (AFT) 4:23 - Started by Peggy Rockefeller - Regenerative & Climate Smart Agriculture Roots in 1985 - The conservation title of the 1985 Food Security Act was Title XII. This title included provisions for highly erodible land conservation, wetland conservation, and the Conservation Reserve Program. - AFT works worked with 20K farmers and ranchers in 2024 - Stone Barns at Blue Hill donated by Peggy Rockefeller’s estate - John developed local markets for farmers in the 1990s after growing up in a fishing family - Mentor – farmer Dick Perkins - Partnering with Jeff Tkach at Rodale and Apricot Lane Farm’s John Chester Organic and Regenerative Farming 18:31 - Organic has a USDA standard - Regenerative for building soil health - Improves Climate by pulling Carbon out of atmosphere - Better absorption of water, better pest protection - Cover crops, no till, crop rotation, animal grazing/rotation - No or minimal chemical use - Increases farmer profitability - Human Health: Better, more Nutrient dense Food Why Isn’t Regenerative Farming Growing Faster 26:43 - Average age of farmers is 60 Helping Young Farmers get into Farming 31:42 - Land costs are up to $7K to $20K per acre plus equipment - Low margins with price volatility - 900 million acres of US farmland (estimated) - 300 million acres in next 15yrs will be in transition due to the age of the farmer - Agriculture Conservation Easement to keep farmland prices 40-60% lower - Peer learning – seasoned farmers with young farmers - Business planning assistance - Working with retiring farmers to party for land over time - More state programs - Give them local market opportunities: homeowners, restaurants, hospitals, schools - Food Hubs for small farmers - Seeing Local Food Becoming a Driver for Local Economic Development Brighter Future Fund, Emergency Resiliency Grants 45:36 - Provided small grants to farmers ($4.8M so far) AFT’s Biggest Challenge 49:45 - Farming done right is critical to our future - Need to look at Farming as a System Success Story, A Young Farmer Starting, Better Food Access 51:44 - Apple Farm success through an easement program sale, reinvested in the farm and local community - Volunteer on a farm - Food Deserts, Local Farm Production can Help The Recipe: Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce 59:07 This podcast is about giving back. A portion of our profits supports initiatives combating child hunger in underserved communities like East Cleveland, Ohio. Join me every week as we redefine wellness one plate at a time. Let’s make healthy eating accessible for everyone while supporting local sustainable farmers, chefs, businesses, and organizations. Subscribe to “Eat Better Food Today” for weekly inspiration on living a healthier, happier, more meaningful life! This Podcast is a production of Sante Strategies, LLC. Sante translated is - Health Means Everything. This is the company I have started to begin this health and longevity journey, focused on food. Disclaimer: We are sharing our experiences on this Podcast. Please be sure to consult a medical professional.
    Más Menos
    1 h y 5 m
  • Ep. 69 - Health, Hunger and Hope. As a Guest on Boomer Banter with Wendy Green.

    Ep. 69 - Health, Hunger and Hope. As a Guest on Boomer Banter with Wendy Green.
    Apr 22 2025

    On this Episode, I am a guest on Boomer Banter with Wendy Green. Wendy as host asks very insightful questions on the orgins of this Podcast (Health), what I've discovered from my interviews over the past year-and-a-half (Hunger), and the new Center we've just started in the poorest suburb in America, East Cleveland, OH (Hope). Wendy is a great Host and led an exceptional conversation. Wendy can be found at wendy@heyboomer.biz. This was recorded Live and released by Wendy last week.
    Más Menos
    38 m
  • Ep. 68 - From Washing Crates to CEO. I want to Invest Dollars into Stories Like Mine. Relentlessly Pursuing the Best.

    Ep. 68 - From Washing Crates to CEO. I want to Invest Dollars into Stories Like Mine. Relentlessly Pursuing the Best.
    Apr 15 2025
    On this episode we are grateful to have Anna Shields, CEO of Snowville Creamery. Snowville was founded in 2003 and is based south of Cleveland in Pomeroy, OH, just outside of Athens, OH. Anna began her career in the dairy industry at the age of 16, becoming CEO of Snowville in Nov 2022. I’m excited to discuss her journey, what Snowville means to its consumers, its workers, and the local community. I have their delicious yogurt every morning after my workout in the gym. I reached out to Anna for this conversation, and she was gracious enough to allow me to visit Snowville and talk with her today. #eatbetterfoodtoday #localingredients #longevity #health #foodasmedicine #local #farmers #milk #ohiouniversity Please visit our website https://eatbetterfoodtoday.com for this week's recipe, interviews, books, research, videos. Look for information on Anna Shields at https://www.snowvillecreamery.com/ Other Mentions: https://www.ohio.edu https://www.buckeyecountrycreamery.com/ What’s In Season https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/ Cleveland Kitchen: https://www.clevelandkitchen.com/ Segment Notes: Breakfast 1:24 Journey from Dairy Farm to CEO 1:54 - I want to Invest Those Dollars into Stories Like Mine. What Makes Snowville Products Special – A2/A2 8:03 - The A1 protein has been linked to autoimmune disease, digestive discomfort - Milk is Perfect the Way it was Made. Our Job is to Not Mess It Up. - Sterile Food vs Local Alive Food - Local Makes Soil Stronger, Farmers Stronger, Your Health Stronger, the Community Stronger - Were Never Done Learning, and Every Connection is Valuable - Joel Steiner, Buckeye Creamery, a great partner - Sustain Their Business by taking care of their employees, pay, benefits, customers The Value of Buying, Making and Eating Good Food 20:28 - Importance of Community: Every $1 spent creates $2.86 in social value - On the Mission to Enrich the Planet, The Lives of our Customers, Farmers, Employees by Producing Premium, Wholesome products - Getting involved with Children: created a second grade pilot, will expand to K-12 Educating Consumers on Snowville Products 32:56 - The value of local dairy protein - Foundation of Really Good Milk, So Very Little Processing - Less added Sugar because of naturally occurring Lactose - Keeping the Naturally Occurring Enzymes Alive - Milk as a SuperFood - Great for Hydration: Milk is 86% Water, Full of Naturally Occurring Electrolytes, Calcium, Protein Innovation and Keeping Traditional Values 40:50 - By listening to consumers Biggest Challenges 43:00 - Sustaining and Attracting Value vs Affordability o Social values, being a good neighbor - 70% of the Ohio manufacturers are under 50 people Long term Vision 47:24 - To be sustainable it needs to encompass all the things that are important to people and Snowville Positive Impact Stories 50:10 - So many customers expressing their gratitude: individuals to food banks to marathon runners to kids - Give kids an opportunity to see what good food tastes like Which Product Start with First - Chocolate Milk 55:32 Final Thoughts – Support Local. Choose Better 58:22 The Recipe: Lemon Posset 1:00:04 This podcast is about giving back. A portion of our profits supports initiatives combating child hunger in underserved communities like East Cleveland, Ohio. Join me every week as we redefine wellness one plate at a time. Let’s make healthy eating accessible for everyone while supporting local sustainable farmers, chefs, businesses, and organizations. Subscribe to “Eat Better Food Today” for weekly inspiration on living a healthier, happier, more meaningful life! This Podcast is a production of Sante Strategies, LLC. Sante translated is - Health Means Everything. This is the company I have started to begin this health and longevity journey, focused on food. Disclaimer: We are sharing our experiences on this Podcast. Please be sure to consult a medical professional.
    Más Menos
    1 h y 6 m
  • Ep. 67 - A Stanford Medical School graduate now Integrating Food based Interventions into Healthcare. Treat, Prevent and Reverse Chronic Conditions with Medically Tailored Meals.

    Ep. 67 - A Stanford Medical School graduate now Integrating Food based Interventions into Healthcare. Treat, Prevent and Reverse Chronic Conditions with Medically Tailored Meals.
    Apr 8 2025
    On this episode we are grateful to have Dr Steven Chen, a board-certified family medicine physician and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University and Stanford School of Medicine. Steven is currently the Chief Medical Officer at Recipe4Health at Alameda County Health, outside of Oakland, CA. Recipe4Health is a nationally recognized, award-winning "Food as Medicine" initiative that brings together healthcare, agriculture, food systems, and community to integrate food-based interventions into healthcare settings. Steven and I met from a mutual friend, Jeff Tkach, CEO of the Rodale Institute. And we have a mutual friend in Ismail Samad. #eatbetterfoodtoday #localingredients #longevity #health #foodasmedicine #recipe4health #ismailsamad #reversechronicconditions Please visit our website https://eatbetterfoodtoday.com for this week's recipe, interviews, books, research, videos. Look for information on Steven Chen at https://recipe4health.acgov.org/our-staff-story-partners/ Other Mentions: Andrew Weil School for Integrative Medicine https://awcim.arizona.edu, Paul Berg https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2023/02/nobel-paul-berg-obit.html, Farm Fresh to You https://www.farmfreshtoyou.com What’s In Season https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/ Cleveland Kitchen: https://www.clevelandkitchen.com/ Segment Notes: Breakfast: None – Intermittent Fast 2:49 Relationships in the Regenerative, Community Spaces 3:41 Journey to Recipe4Health 5:08 - After Paraguay trip relaxed there’s a lot to be done on the US - Integrating Social Justice into Medicine - Putting a Teaching Kitchen into a Clinic Chronic Health Conditions 10:00 - Every Time we Eat, we’re Giving Information to our Body, our DNA - Food Choices influenced by where you live, what you have access to - Currently 73% of Our Food System Being Ultra-processed Food - Paul Berg of Stanford in 1996 said in 30yrs, the future of medicine will be nutrition What is Food is Medicine 13:26 - Discussion of What is Ultra-Processed Food - Medically Tailored Meals, Groceries, Produce Boxes – Treat, Prevent, Reverse Chronic Conditions Designing Food-as-Medicine through Local Programs 19:24 - Recipe for Health is Integrated into Healthcare - Always asking: Where did the Food come from, How was it Grown, Who Grew it? - The Health Multiplier Effect: Human Health, Economic Health, Climate/Soil Health (organic/regenerative) - Rockefeller Foundation Support The Five Ingredient Recipe 25:52 - Safety Net Health Centers - Food Farmacy – partnered with Farm Fresh to You (95 farms) - Behavioral Farmacy – Group Sessions on movement, food education, social support, mindfulness - Financial Support for the most vulnerable - Recipe4Health Team as a Resource, Platform to make this all Easy on the back end Biggest Challenges 33:29 - Food as Medicine Funding, Healthcare Spending $4.5T with 90% for Chronic Conditions Teaching Kitchens 38:58 - Teach because No home economics anymore - Community-as-Medicine – support for Food as Medicine – learning from each other Healthy Hearts 42:32 - Need a System Solution to Be metabolically healthy: managing insulin and inflammation o Impacts your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, fatty liver Success Stories - An Over 60 Diabetes Patient – from 72 insulin units to near Zero – Over Nine Mths 44:08 Take the First Step 48:35 The Recipe: Chia Seed Pudding 52:04 This Podcast is a production of Sante Strategies, LLC. Sante translated is - Health Means Everything. This is the company I have started to begin this health and longevity journey, focused on food. Disclaimer: We are sharing our experiences on this Podcast. Please be sure to consult a medical professional.
    Más Menos
    57 m
  • Ep. 66 - Two Decades Supporting Local Schools with Fresh, Nutritious, Delicious Organic Produce. Citrus for a Healthier Heart. Old Grove Orange.

    Ep. 66 - Two Decades Supporting Local Schools with Fresh, Nutritious, Delicious Organic Produce. Citrus for a Healthier Heart. Old Grove Orange.
    Apr 1 2025

    On this episode we are grateful to have Anna Knight. Her family has farmed citrus trees, and now berries and vegetables for five generations in Redlands, CA. Their farm has partnered with School Food Professionals to support local students for two decades. For Anna, the large purchases schools make from her farm enabled her family to pay for her and her brother’s college education. Her mission is to ensure that small family farms in her community can continue to operate and thrive in perpetuity.

    We are having this conversation at Anna’s Orange Grove outside of LA. Anna and I met when she was a guest speaker at Alice Waters Farm to School event last October at the Smithsonian in Washington DC.

    eatbetterfoodtoday #localingredients #longevity #health #foodismedicine #oldgroveorange

    Please visit our website https://eatbetterfoodtoday.com for this week's recipe, interviews, books, research, videos.

    Look for information on Anna Knight at https://oldgroveorange.com

    Other Mentions www.ecoliteracy.org www.farmpreneurs.org www.edibleschoolyard.com www.caff.org

    What’s In Season https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/

    Cleveland Kitchen: https://www.clevelandkitchen.com/

    Segment Notes:

    Breakfast 1:46


    Five Generations 2:18


    - Many decades ago farmers markets were illegal


    - 115 Year Old Trees in the Grove – sweeter


    First Career was Not Farming – by Design 7:24


    - College then Investment Banking for 10 years


    - But “that work did not fill my cup”


    What is Farm to School 11:26


    - San Bernardino County 80% of farmers make $50K or less


    - Farmer paid $1 for 50lbs that sell retail for $70


    - Eliminate distribution time and cost and your picking oranges, strawberries at peak ripeness, flavor, nutrition and delivering to schools the next day


    - Dealing with seasonality


    - Universal School Meals – it takes time to get to local


    - Place for small, medium and large farms – hopefully all producing regeneratively some day


    Center for Eco-Literacy, Farmpreneurs 26:31


    - Partnering with the Community Alliance for Family Farms, the Alice Waters Institute


    - Farmpreneurs is like business school for farmers, especially small and medium farms


    Vegetable SuperPowers: Citrus for a Healthier Heart 33:24


    Regionalized Food, Farmer Food Hubs 36:07


    - Old Grove Orange is the name of her farm and the local Food Hub of 27 farmers


    o Variety of produce with Shared resources – invoicing, cold storage, pickers, truckers


    Growing Interest in Healthy Food – Visit a Farm! 40:48


    - Nutrition, farming, economics, taste and being disconnected from our food origins


    First Step to Healthier Food 45:00


    - Support Your Farmers Market, Weekly


    - Know Your Farmers, Visit their Farms


    - Support CSAs


    - Show up at School Board meetings and ask for local


    Local supports Better Climate 49:51


    - Adapted and pulled out 14 acres of Kiwi fruit and replaced with blackberries


    - Oct-2023 to Aug 2024 not allowed to sell produce from the farm due to Oriental Fruit Flies


    o Small farms had to close


    - Small organic, regenerative farm can help improve them climate


    The Recipe: Citrius Salad 55:27


    This Podcast is a production of Sante Strategies, LLC. Sante translated is - Health Means Everything.


    This is the company I have started to begin this health and longevity journey, focused on food.

    Disclaimer: We are sharing our experiences on this Podcast. Please be sure to consult a medical professional.
    Más Menos
    1 h
  • Ep. 65 - Why Cleveland Deserves Multiple 2025 James Beard Awards

    Ep. 65 - Why Cleveland Deserves Multiple 2025 James Beard Awards
    Mar 25 2025

    We’re recording this episode from sunny southern TX, where my wife and I are visiting our daughter, son-in-law and my two newborn twin grandchildren. I’m recording this in my grandson’s quiet room, since he is currently at daycare.

    Rather than releasing part two of the California series, I wanted to discuss one more time the James Beard Nominations, since the Finalists are being announced next week on April 2nd.

    00:00 Introduction, Breakfast


    01:27 Cleveland's Culinary Scene and James Beard Nominations


    04:44 Community Impact and Food Insecurity


    06:11 Recipe of the Week: Grandmother's Meatballs
    Más Menos
    9 m
  • Ep. 64 - A Blue Zone Educated Sharon Palmer on Affordable Plant-Forward Diets. Avoiding Chronic Disease.

    Ep. 64 - A Blue Zone Educated Sharon Palmer on Affordable Plant-Forward Diets. Avoiding Chronic Disease.
    Mar 18 2025

    On this episode we are grateful to have the Plant-Powered Dietician, Sharon Palmer. Sharon is an RDN (Registered Dietician Nutritionist) in Sustainable Food Systems and is an award-winning blogger, author, speaker, professor, and media expert. Sharon has authored over 1000 articles and has four books; The Plant-Powered Plan to Beat Diabetes, The Plant-Powered Diet, Plant-Powered for Life, and California Vegan. Sharon is the co-founder of the non-profit organization Food+Planet, and she blogs every day for her popular online social community at The Plant-Powered Dietitian (450,000 members strong).

    We are having this conversation at Sharon’s beautiful home north of LA. Sharon and I met when she was a guest on my 30th Podcast, where we talked with Corbett Nash at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

    eatbetterfoodtoday #localingredients #longevity #health #foodismedicine #plantpowereddietician

    Please visit our website https://eatbetterfoodtoday.com for this week's recipe, interviews, books, research, videos.

    Look for information on Sharon Palmer … https://sharonpalmer.com/

    Other Mentions – MealTrain – Meals for the Community https://www.mealtrain.com/

    What’s In Season https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/

    Cleveland Kitchen: https://www.clevelandkitchen.com/

    Segment Notes:

    Breakfast 1:49


    The Journey to a Plant-Powered Dietician 3:30


    - A Blue Zone Education - Loma Linda University


    Food + Planet - combining Sustainability with Nutrition 6:24


    - Healthy, Affordable, Cultural Identity


    - Only 10% of Medical Schools have Nutrition Courses


    Are Plant-Based Diets Healthy? 10:49


    - Vegetarian, Vegan, Flexitarian, Pescatarian


    Healthy Ingredients 15:35


    - Buying Local means Increased Nutrition


    California Setting Trends 20:05


    - the diverse plant-based cuisine of California


    - a Flexitarian Diet and Meatless Monday


    Eating for a Healthy Heart, Lower Weight 24:54


    - With Exercise, Stress reduction


    - The Blue Zones – Centenarians


    Industrialized Agriculture 33:02


    - Buy, Demand More Local


    - Eat a Variety of Foods


    Food Insecurity in 13% of US Households 39:34


    - MealTrain website to help


    How Do We Get More People Interested? 45:07


    - Possible to have an 85% reduction in chronic diseases
    With a healthy Diet, Exercise, Not Smoking


    First Place to Start Down a Healthier Eating Path 49:01


    - Biggest Barrier: Time


    - Start Simple: Meatless Mondays


    The Recipe: Chickpea Cauliflower Tacos 52:45


    - From her book “The Plant-Powered Plan to Beat Diabetes”


    This Podcast is a production of Sante Strategies, LLC. Sante translated is - Health Means Everything.


    This is the company I have started to begin this health and longevity journey, focused on food.

    Disclaimer: We are sharing our experiences on this Podcast. Please be sure to consult a medical professional.
    Más Menos
    58 m
  • Ep. 63 - James Beard Nominees - From Fire to Flavor: Highlighting Your Senses, Sourcing Locally, Great Hospitality while Doing Things Honestly with Integrity. Doug Katz. Todd Thompson. Cameron Pishnery.

    Ep. 63 - James Beard Nominees - From Fire to Flavor: Highlighting Your Senses, Sourcing Locally, Great Hospitality while Doing Things Honestly with Integrity. Doug Katz. Todd Thompson. Cameron Pishnery.
    Mar 11 2025

    On this episode we are grateful to have Chef Doug Katz, Todd Thompson, and Chef Cameron Pishnery, who together work under the umbrella organization Edgewater Hospitality and have been together for over a decade. Since the closing of Fire, after 20 years, in 2020, they experimented with several concepts during the pandemic and have now opened 3 restaurants: Zhug, Amba and most recently Kiln. Doug also consults with the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Clinic and Monterey Bay Aquarium. Doug and Todd, with Cameron by their side, have been named a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist for best restaurateur.

    eatbetterfoodtoday #longevity #health #foodismedicine #jamesbeard #local ingredients #hospitality #foodallergies, #travel #uniquediningexperiences

    Please visit our website https://eatbetterfoodtoday.com for this week's recipe, interviews, books, research, videos.

    Look for information on Doug, Todd and Cameron at https://edgewaterhospitality.com

    Other Mentions – Allergies - https://allisonrosefoundation.org/

    What’s In Season https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/

    Cleveland Kitchen: https://www.clevelandkitchen.com/

    Segment Notes:

    Breakfast 2:30


    The Journey: Personal Stories, Inspirations 3:11


    Navigating Challenges: Growth Amidst the Pandemic 5:36


    Diverse Concepts: The Unique Flavors of Each Restaurant 7:21


    - Crafting Atmosphere: The Experience of Dining


    The Food. Sourcing Ingredients: The Importance of Local Produce 11:00


    Dietary Trends: Adapting to Customer Needs 18:54


    A Food Allergy Commitment 22:17


    Cooking at Home: Encouraging Simplicity and Freshness 23:35


    Travel and Culinary Inspiration 29:46


    The Role of Hospitality in Dining 32:45


    The Recipe: Quick, Simple, Healthy Chicken 36:47

    This Podcast is a production of Sante Strategies, LLC. Sante translated is - Health Means Everything.


    This is the company I have started to begin this health and longevity journey, focused on food.

    Disclaimer: We are sharing our experiences on this Podcast. Please be sure to consult a medical professional.
    Más Menos
    43 m
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro768_stickypopup