UC Food Observer

The UC Food Observer is your daily serving of must-read news from the world of food, curated by the University of California.

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Climate and conservation, olive oil boom in Texas, beer shortages in Venezuela -- these and other stories are in today's daily food news wrap.

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Q&A: LaManda Joy, Peterson Garden Project, Chicago

“Learning together in the garden, and kitchen, does much more than put fresh, nutritious food on the table. It helps build stronger communities, connect us to cultural heritage, improve public health and create a more sustainable, resilient city.” - LaManda Joy

LaManda Joy wants to inspire everyone she meets to grow their own food (seriously). She is an author, national speaker and master gardener who was voted the “Best Urban Farmer in Chicago” by readers of the Chicago Reader in 2013. Inspired by the World War II Victory Garden movement, Joy founded the Peterson Garden Project in 2010. Read about her award-winning community garden in our latest Q & A.

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Daily Wrap: 7/29/15

A restaurant holds a Mississippi town together, farms and fisheries are the frontier of human trafficking -- these and other stories are in today's daily food news wrap.

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‘Wage Justice Is on the Menu’

In just a few years, the issue of labor in the food industry has gone from being largely ignored to drawing the attention of the entire country.

Watch the latest nytimes video in the #CAmatters series as Mark Bittman chats with ucberkeley‘s Saru Jayaraman about living wages for restaurant workers. 

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Q&A: Lucia Kaiser and Dorina Espinoza, nutrition researchers and educators

"The people who indicated that stigma was a reason for not enrolling in SNAP had the highest rates of food insecurity among all respondents…those who held back in applying for SNAP for reasons of shame may really be suffering quite a lot." - Lucia Kaiser, Ph.D.

Read the full Q & A at the UC Food Observer.

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Daily Wrap: 7/27/15

Americans’ eating habits are improving, an interview with Temple Grandin and recommended reads -- these and other stories are in today's food news wrap.

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The Center for Land-Based Learning is dedicated to creating the next generation of farmers and teaching California’s youth about the importance of agriculture and natural resource conservation. Read our latest Q & A with Mary Kimball, who serves as its executive director.

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Friday Wrap: 7/24/15

The cost of eggs, groundwater's impact on almonds, food science and other stories are in today's daily wrap of food news.

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Daily Wrap: 7/23/15

U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R. 1599, the GMO labeling legislation, avian flu, minimum wage advances -- these stories and others are in today's daily wrap of food news.

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World War I poster art holds food messages

UCFO's Rose Hayden-Smith writes about three historic posters used to promote a gardening program for youth (the USSGA) during World War I.

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Daily Wrap: 7/22/15

Several fascinating pieces about food culture, GMO labeling legislation -- these and other stories are in today's daily food news wrap.

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Video: What Oysters Reveal About Sea Change

Mark Bittman braves the elements off the coast of California and learns how researchers are helping local and regional seafood producers monitor the effects of ocean acidification.

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Daily Wrap: 7/21/15

GMO regulations, hospital farms and food waste -- these stories and others are in today's daily wrap of important food news.

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Friday Wrap: 7/17/15

On the menu for today's food news wrap: a Smithsonian exhibit that celebrates American business, includring food-related enterprises; sugar taxes; urban food security in Uganda and more.

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Opinion: "No child left behind" should also apply to education about the nation's food system

Read a new op-ed from our editor Rose Hayden-Smith: "Equipping and empowering young people to ask critical questions about the food system is vital."

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Daily Wrap: 7/16/15

California State Fair food, climate change, the ‪#‎GlobalFood‬ Initiative and more are in today's wrap of important food news.

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UC Global Food Initiative marks first year

The initiative is off to a fast start as faculty, students and staff from across the 10-campus UC system focus their collective power on food issues.