Follow the Food

As promised, in the hopes of staying well informed on green issues, here are some of the food-related websites and blogs I follow on a regular basis.  You won't find too many of the yummy recipe or travel and eat blogs here -- there are plenty of them, that's for sure.  I do tend to read these the way I read novels -- for escapism rather than real cooking -- although I can attest to the good and functional recipes on Gluten-Free Girl,  No Gluten Required, and Chocolate and Zucchini.  The Accidental Hedonist is definitely not organic, but the recipes are so interesting, you can translate them into sustainble gems easily enough,.  I've also got a fascination with Japanese bento lunch boxes (more on that another day...) and always check one or two blog to see what the bento folks are making this week.

But on to the real work of thinking about sustainability, food, and news.  First and foremost, the person whose writing always teaches me something new --- and debunks any food industry myths I might be inclined to believe -- is the incomparable Marion Nestle.  Her work as a nutritionist, food policy analyst, and tireless public advocate combine at her site, Food Politics.

The Sustainable Table is also a great news source, especially for different locales around the US.  I particularly like the main site for shopping information and unique insights that are not time-dependent. Local Harvest provides a great directory of what's happening in specific regions.  The blog at Yale's Sustainable Food Project also is worth checking every so often, as it offers a great combination of research and practice. In the same vein, Slow Food's main site has exciting programs and news. 

With a more hard-edged news focus, Sustainable Food News is aimed at professionals in the organic food service industry, but it's a great place to learn about new trends.  One of the most under-appreciated source of news is our government: the USDA's newsroom is full of interesting summaries of new research, trends in agriculture and food production, and consumer behavior. If you're willing to sort through even more factual data, try ScienceDaily's site.   The Organic Consumer's Association always has good food activism information.  For up-to-date information on sustainable seafood, check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium's site.

Just remember: sometimes the most interesting information comes from sources that don't have beautiful photographs of vegetables and cakes...