While access to fresh, local produce and other products is increasing in the U.S., so is the variety of labels on our food. What does the cage-free, grass-fed, or free-range mean and why should we care? Here is your cheat sheet for some of those fancy labels in an effort to make us more educated, healthy shoppers.

• Free-Range is used in reference to poultry. All birds have unlimited access to food, fresh water, and the ability to go outdoors. Free range chickens are not confined to overcrowded...

I think we can all agree that the demand for organic fruits, veggies, and other food products has been through the roof the past couple of years and shows no signs of stopping. Some people are genuinely concerned about where their food is coming from while others have adverse side effects of pesticides and chemicals used on crops while in the fields, orchards, greenhouse, etc. So what is the hype all about? Let's tackle some of the more common questions regarding organic products in the U.S.

What...

What: The Greenfield Farmers Market

When: May 18th - October 26th, 8:00a-2:00p

Where:

The new Greenfield Farmers Market is shaping up quite nicely! As farmers across the state, whether they be large or small scale, rural or urban are sowing their seeds for the upcoming season, we are hard at work procuring the best local producers to participate. If you are an Indiana-based producer, specializing in any of the following items, please go here to apply to be a part of the...

·      Study: Global Food: Waste Not, Want Not http://bit.ly/VR1dWu

o   Rich Countries Trash Up To Half Of All Food: Report http://huff.to/13lrQY6

o   The Independent: Letters: End the scandal of edible food going to waste http://ind.pn/ZT48Uk

o   Dumpster Diver TV: Austrians Cook Up Food Waste Reality Show http://n.pr/ULzlVb

o   Fine dining’s trash-to-table movement http://wapo.st/13eWsM0

·      Food produced globally is enough to feed almost double the existing population http://bit.ly/XtkMp6

·...

This post is available online here: http://local.farmersmarket.com/blog/chef-jenny-hustons-blog and here http://fertilegroundusa.com/index.php/organic-matter

Twitter: @chefjennyhuston

·      Food as Weapon http://bit.ly/Y0ZNu4

Dr. Vandana Shiva Brings Earth Democracy to Hawai’i

·      Peasant Leaders Stage Hunger Strike Against Genetically Modified Corn http://bit.ly/Wgepa4

Planting of GM corn would be ‘coup de grace to food sovereignty for the Mexican people.’

·      McDonald’s Sustainable Fish:...

·      Force-fed: How corporate sponsorship poisons nation’s top group of nutritionists http://bit.ly/T0Lt5I

·      This 15-year-old helped convince PepsiCo to stop putting flame retardant in chemical in Gatorade http://bit.ly/XN2X2M

Now can we get the stuff banned and off the GRAS list?

·      26 States to Consider Toxic Chemicals Legislation in 2013 http://bit.ly/145p8r0

Despite intense industry opposition and Congressional inaction, state governments continue to defend the vulnerable...

·      Fewer bees in US a threat to world’s almond supply http://yhoo.it/Z5MIjM

·      Tuna’s Last Stand http://bit.ly/WiWsI3

In early January, scientists released jaw-dropping data showing that bluefin tuna in the North Pacific to be “functionally extinct.”

·      US Food Industry Battles Against Regulation http://bit.ly/Y9xRnn

·      Quinoa: To Buy or Not to Buy… Is This the Right Question? http://bit.ly/Wu4H2Q

·      Swedes Consuming Low-Fat Dairy Products Gain More Weight http://bit.ly/12KQx...

Twitter: @chefjennyhuston

·      Create a Fruit Map of Your Neighborhood http://bit.ly/W1viSR

·      Are Young Native Americans Changing the State of Food in Indian Country? http://bit.ly/W2uvRC

Diabetes and food insecurity are rife in native communities, but research suggests tribes are now turning to sustain able agriculture.

·      Report: Farmers Markets as a Strategy to Improve Access to Healthy Food for Low-Income Families and Communities http://bit.ly/Vx5yRa

·      Shiitake DIY: How to...

·      India’s rice revolution http://bit.ly/Yo0Nbq

In a village in India’s poorest state, Bihar, farmers are growing world record amounts of rice (22.4 tonnes per hectare)  – with no GM, and no herbicide. Is this one solution to world food shortages?

Using a system called System of Rice (or root) Intensification (SRI)

o   Miracle grow: Indian farmers smash crop yields records without GMOs http://bit.ly/15ApQgO

·      Baltimore Food Hub: $10M campus for food related businesses, job training...

·      Indian man single-handedly plants a 1,360-acre forest http://bit.ly/UrpfG3

·      UN Report: Women’s rights and the right to food http://bit.ly/13A1tR2

·      Domesticated and wild bees are both in trouble http://bit.ly/Zsb5rl

o   “Promiscuous” Bees and Vanishing Insects Mean Less Food For Us http://bit.ly/108EyLL

·      Fixing Food: Seed Solution Models for a New Agricultural Paradigm http://bit.ly/Y4D29M

·      Sorry, Michelle, but cheerleading isn’t enough to make Big Food Change http:...