Have you ever been to a flower farm? I sure haven’t! It’s an often overlooked part of the agriculture industry, but flowers are a huge part of horticulture and account for billions of dollars every ear across the US. Today on the show, I’m interviewing Sarah Shoffner with Sweet Thistle Farms, a cut flower and pumpkin farm in the Central Valley in California. In our interview, Sarah and I chat about her background, how she grows flowers and pumpkins, the fall rush with customers, and a loooot more!
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Can we fix our food supply chain? Yes, we can! And companies like SIMPLi are going to be at the front of that fight. Today, I’m joined with Matt Cohen, co-founder of a company called SIMPLi that is revolutionizing the food supply chain. Learn more how Matt and everyone at SIMPLi are working directly with farmers to bring better products to consumers while also helping those farmers as much as possible.
SIMPLi, an ingredients company whose mission is to bring the best, most nutritious and delicious single-origin ingredients (quinoa, extra virgin olive oil, beans, etc.) from around the world to your kitchen.
SIMPLi, an ingredients company whose mission is to bring the best, most nutritious, and delicious single-origin ingredients (quinoa, extra virgin olive oil, beans, etc.) from around the world to your kitchen.
Eliminate fraudulent activity in the supply chain + create sourcing transparency on a global level. Food fraud is estimated to cost the industry between $30-40 billion per year. By working directly with growing communities in Peru and Greece to consolidate all the middle parties (co-ops, broker, exporter, importer, distributor, etc.), they have been able to create a fully vertical supply chain for getting products from farms to consumers, preventing 100% fraudulent supply chain activity.
Combat climate change. Agriculture emits an estimated 10.5% of greenhouse gases. SIMPLi’s partners use regenerative organic farming in order to grow the most nutritious ingredients possible and to minimize the harmful effects that conventional agriculture has on our environment. Simpli has helped 560 farmers and 1,060 acres transition from traditional to regenerative organic working farms.
Supporting global farming communities. After harvest, ingredients will touch about seven steps in the supply chain before landing in the hands of a business or consumers. These middle players can trigger a number of transaction fees, taking money directly away from farmers. Because of SIMPLi’s simple supply chain of “Farmer – SIMPLi – You”, they are able to pay above market price and improve the livelihoods of their farmers.
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Can agriculture and the environment FINALLY live in harmony? I believe they can and so do many experts. One such way is by agroecology which is combining the knowledge of ecology with the science of agriculture. Our guest today is Evan Marks from The Ecology Center in California. Evan has an expansive background in agroecology and permaculture and he has spent time working in California, Hawaii, Mexico, and Nigeria in learning and developing agroecology practices. In our interview, Evan explains the background of agroecology, how regenerative agriculture is the future, and how farming can build better relationships with farmers, consumers, chefs, and communities.
Working extensively in permaculture and agroecology in California, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico, Ghana, and Nigeria
What are Permaculture and Agroecology?
Ecological experiences: berry picking classes, farm stand and CSA program (which also donates 100 CSA boxes per week to food-insecure folks in the area), as well as a new six-month Apprentice Program for young adults to learn about regenerative agriculture.
Current food systems and policy, and his vision for
How to expand regenerative farming on a mass scale
How do we minimize our industrialization and harm to the planet, and therefore take better care of each other, either as farmers or as consumers?
How to implement regenerative agriculture practices
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Let’s learn about how fruits are grown and harvested. Specifically, apples, pears, peaches, and much more from McMullin Orchards in Utah. Angie McMullin from McMullin Orchards will give us a glimpse of what it’s liking working for a family owned and operated orchard. Angie will explain how the orchard was started, managing multiple harvest times, educating consumers, and much more!
Listen to the episode on the apps below:
Don’t forget to check out McMullin Orchard at the links below:
Process of growing apples, pears, peaches, cherries, and many other fruits
Planting fruit trees and planning out crops
Organic vs conventional
Harvesting fruits
Processing and Shipping to stores or consumers
Education consumers
Utah agriculture
Common misconceptions
Call to Action:
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I’ve just started to invest in actual stocks and man, is there a lot to learn! But, I didn’t know that investing in farmland is a thing and sometimes sees higher returns than traditional stocks. One such company helping both investors and farmers is Acre Trader. Today on the show, we sit down with Ben Maddox to learn about AcreTrader, their mission, and how investment platforms like this help farmers as well as investors. Check it out if you want to learn more about how stuff like this works!
Listen to the episode on the apps below:
Don’t forget to check out ACre Trader at the links below:
How investing in farmland differs than investing in stocks
Returns and investment rates
Long-term crops vs short term crop investments
How this helps first-time farmers
Investing in sustainable agriculture?
Can you invest in organic crops?
Call to Action:
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Tessa Pacion works at Ludwig Farmstead Creamery that produces great milk and even some cheeses. In our interview today, Tessa will talk about how her animal science degree and working with dairy cattle in college. Tessa will also address many misconceptions consumers have about milk production like the frequency milk is tested before consumption and why dairy calves are separated from their mothers. This is a full episode of great information on all things dairy, as well as what showing dairy cattle is all about.
Listen to the episode on the apps below:
Don’t forget to check out Tessa at the links below:
Animal Science degree and working with dairy cows in college
What is homogenization and pasteurization
How many times milk is tested before it gets to the consumer
Cheese production
Misconceptions with dairy cattle
Why dairy calves are separated from their moms
Cow comfort
Showing dairy cattle
COVID-19’s impact
Switching production from restaurant to grocery stores
Experience with farm tours and showing consumers how milk is produced
Call to Action:
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Matt Griffin and I met during our time at the University of Florida, pretty much everyone in the college of agriculture knew everyone. While we never shared any of the same classes, we both were active in various student organizations and share a love for all things Florida agriculture. Matt is a seed product development manager by day and a Seminole war reenactor by night. Our interview will cover a wide variety of topics, like how Matt develops certain plant varieties for his customers, some Florida agriculture history, as well as why he portrays a Black Seminole Indian for various war reenactments. This is a great one! Be sure to check out Matt at the links below as well as another podcast interview he was on, The Millennial Salesman.
Working with seed companies vs working with farmers
History of Florida Agriculture
Importance of remembering our history
Seminole Indian Reenactments
Call to Action:
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Imagine the pressure of carrying on your family business. Or better yet, imagine being the 4th generation to work on the family farm, which one day, will be yours. That’s the challenge and course taken by our guest today, Derek Thom from D & D Thom Farms in Michigan. Derek will cover the history of his family farm as well as what they grow including wheat, soybeans, cattle, and much more.
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Don’t forget to check out D&D Thom Farms at the link below:
Crops production methods (organic or conventional)
Difference between cash crops and cover crops
Beef side of the farm, what type of cattle, daily care, etc.
Thoughts on the farmer/consumer relationships
What are some misconceptions you think consumers have of farmers.
Organic vs Conventional
Thoughts on farmer/consumer relationship
Call to Action:
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Eileen Warburton is a dairy farmer at Sunset Ridge Warburton Farm in Pennsylvania. Her son has a health condition where he can’t drink regular milk without having severe side effects. Determined to find a solution for her son, Eileen found that some of her dairy cows can produce A2 milk, which her son can enjoy with no side effects. So what exactly is A2 milk? You’ll find out in this episode.
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Don’t forget to check out sunset Ridge at the links below:
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Do you like coffee? I love coffee. Today, my guest is Ben Weiner of Gold Mountain Coffee Growers a specialty coffee farming group that is aimed to connect coffee roasters with coffee farmers. Ben is going to educate us on the coffee trade, why coffee has risen in popularity, and how Gold Mountain Coffee Growers is working to bring high quality coffee to coffee lovers everywhere.
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Don’t forget to check out Gold Mountain Coffee Growers at the links below:
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Dillon Hancoop is the host of the Real People, Real Food podcast, aimed at discovering real stories of the people behind our food. Today, Dillon and I talk about his podcast, Washington state agriculture, and why animal rights groups are actually really nuts.
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Don’t forget to check out Dillon and his podcast at the links below:
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Home meal kits are on the rage, especially now during COVID-19. One company is making a dent in the meat delivery services and offers products like beef and lobster to even the most famous beef out there, wagyu. Joe Heitzeberg, co-founder of Crowdcow is our guest today on the podcast. Joe and I will talk about the history of Crowdcow, how they strive to be different by working with farmers to bring tasty and sustainably raised beef and other meat products straight to your door.
Listen to the episode on the apps below:
Don’t forget to check out crowdcow at the links below:
Improving quality of beef and quality of production
The story behind wagyu beef
No unnecessary antibiotics?
How COVID-19 has impacted sales
Interview on YouTube:
Call to Action:
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Ryan Smith and Sean Short are the co-founders of Blooming Health Farms, a Colorado-based business focused on educating students on STEM as well as supporting mental health. On today’s show, I talk with Ryan and Sean about the programs offered at Blooming Health Farms, what their aquaponic system is like, and how they are helping kids focus on positive mental health.
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Don’t forget to check out Blooming Health Farms at the links below:
Training job skills while working with mental health
Getting at-risk students out of the streets and learning about STEM
Working with restaurants
Fitting a niche
COVID-19’s impacts on students mental health
Call to Action:
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I LOVE cranberry juice. Growing up, my dad always rationed his supply of cran-grape juice and would call us out anytime we drank more than we should have. Fast forward to my first day out on my own as a college student, I bought a gallon of cranberry juice. I called him bragged that I have a gallon all to myself. It really is all about the little things in life.
Today on the show, we have Amber Bristow, a 5th generation cranberry grower in Wisconsin. Amber will talk to us about the growing and harvesting behind cranberries, which is a lot more difficult that I originally thought, and what it’s like working with OceanSpray, the leading cranberry growers co-op. She’ll also answer a burning question, why do farmers flood cranberry fields and how do they prevent frost damage on their crops. Be sure to check out Amber over on Instagram as well as her new podcast, Forward Farming Podcast with co-host Becca.
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Don’t forget to check out Amber at the links below:
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Shay Myers, a 3rd generation farmer, is our guest today on Farm Traveler. Maybe you’ve seen Shay on Instagram or even on TikTok as her creates quick but super educational videos on farming, specifically on onion production. Today on the show, Shay will talk more about why he started his videos, why it’s important to get the message out there, and how the industry is battling COVID-19. Be sure to follow Shay at the link below to see his awesome videos!
Listen to the episode on the apps below:
Don’t forget to check out Shay at the links below:
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