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...

So you want to start a farmers market and you find yourself asking countless questions; some of which should be the following:

• Do we need another farmers market? If so, where?
• What items will vendors be allowed to sell?
• When should the farmers market be held?

The first thing everyone must know about farmers markets is that best practices exist in theory but ultimately there is no tell-tale way of doing anything! Markets are at the mercy of two distinct yet complicated groups of people: producers and...

·      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

·...

·      Insecticide ‘unacceptable’ danger to bees, report finds http://bit.ly/13CGhHo

Campaigners say the conclusion by the European Food Safety Authority is a ‘death knell’ for neonicotinoid pesticides

o   EFSA identifies risks to bees from neonicotinoids http://bit.ly/VZPY0k

·      Farmers hope to plow the way for sustainable US hemp http://bit.ly/13AVs44

·      The Edible House in the Netherlands http://bit.ly/ZLXmzI

·      20-foot Urban Farms: Compact, Versatile, Aquaponic Systems http://bit.l...

·      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...

·      4 Lessons for Growing a Family Farm Across Generations http://bit.ly/WNPsTg

Breaking our families into nuclear units has an ecological and emotional cost. Could the multigenerational farm remind us where to turn for a viable future?

·      Iceland’s Mass Herring Deaths Prompt Investigation By Government Officials http://huff.to/TKKNBX

·      Healthy Restaurant Meals Boost Chain Sales, New Study Says http://huff.to/V1I5Y6

o   Hudson Institute: Lower-Calorie Foods: It’s Just Good Business ht...

·      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...