Tasting Terroir

Sara (Hessenflow) Harper

Tasting Terroir explores the regenerative agriculture movement, unveiling the link between nutrient-rich food and a healthier planet. Join us in discovering how soil health enhances food flavor through growers' and makers' captivating stories. Ready to go further into regenerative, join our online community: https://Member.GlobalFoodAndFarm.com read less
Health & FitnessHealth & Fitness
NutritionNutrition

Episodes

Why Regenerative vs Organic Is the Wrong Focus: Case Study: Canadian Beef Producer Craig Cameron
Feb 27 2023
Why Regenerative vs Organic Is the Wrong Focus: Case Study: Canadian Beef Producer Craig Cameron
Have you heard about the lover’s quarrel between organic and regenerative food?  In this episode, we explore how binary battles like this contribute to the problems advocates are trying to solve and how the work of a Canadian forage-finished beef producer, Craig Cameron of Peony Farms in Alberta, can help highlight a better path. If you haven't heard about the emerging rift between organic and regenerative farming, that's understandable.  It’s mainly an insider’s game at this point – although, you do see it spill out into various social media posts here or there about which system is better and who is the true apostate.As regenerative agriculture becomes a more popular, and widely-used term, you will likely see more of this food fight -- so in this episode, we take some time to explore this topic and perhaps provide some insight into how to navigate it.As Craig Cameron explains in our feature interview, outcomes should be the focus instead of the process used to get there.  After all, it is what happened that matters – not what was tried or what was or was not done.Plus, get your latest brief soil health lesson from Dr. Jill Clapperton.  Learn about the rhizosphere and how it can help us understand the importance of embracing connectedness as a precursor to solving tough problems.Finally, learn more about the forage-finished beef being created by Craig Cameron of Peony Farms and how this way of creating beef is bringing better, proven outcomes for us, the cows, and the surrounding environment.-----If you are looking for information and support to help further your regenerative journey, consider joining our private online network: the Global Food & Farm Community.  Questions?  Contact Sara HarperSupport the showBrought to you by the Global Food and Farm Online Community Click here to subscribe on your favorite platform or click here to listen on our website. Support the show through Patreon -- Patreon.com/TastingTerroir
2023 Food Trend: Buying Direct from the Farmer
Feb 13 2023
2023 Food Trend: Buying Direct from the Farmer
One of the top trends in food for 2023 is buying foods that have a simple ingredient list with a transparent supply chain.  Turns out....that's exactly what you get when you buy your food directly from the regenerative farmers that made it!Check out an article talking about top trends that we refer to in this episode by clicking here. ---In this episode, we go back to some of the farmers and food companies in our online network – The Global Food & Farm Community – and hear from them about their top-selling products and more about what makes them so unique in today’s food systemYou can learn more about these awesome food providers and get to their online stores through our website: globalfoodfarm.com/betterfood  ---We are excited to help get you started on this ‘finding better food’ journey by connecting you with farmers and food companies who are delivering on this trend.Our feature interviews for this episode come from part of a webinar we held with the public…….It’s a discussion that includes a whole wheat pasta maker from North Dakota – DeAnna Lozensky of Guardian Grains, a forage-fed beef producer in Alberta, Canada –  Craig Cameron of Peony Farms, and a gluten-free flour miller and pizza crust maker in Ohio – Jennifer Kocher of Around the World Gourmet.–--Learn more about these awesome food providers and get to their online stores through our website: globalfoodfarm.com/betterfood Support the showBrought to you by the Global Food and Farm Online Community Click here to subscribe on your favorite platform or click here to listen on our website. Support the show through Patreon -- Patreon.com/TastingTerroir
Just How Healthy Is GrassFed Beef? Depends on the Grass!
Jan 30 2023
Just How Healthy Is GrassFed Beef? Depends on the Grass!
You’ve probably heard that grass-fed beef is better for you than corn-finished beef.  But….it turns out that the benefits that come from grass-finished beef depend a lot on what’s in “the grass” they were finished on…..If the cows that became beef were eating a wide variety of different plant species….they were not just a lot healthier than corn-finished beef – they are significantly healthier than beef raised on only one type of grass!These and many other fascinating facts are being learned from the work of Dr. Stephan van Vliet - a researcher at Utah State University leading the biggest nutrient density survey of beef to date.In this episode, we will learn all about this work and the implications it has for consumers and the planet during our feature interview with Dr. van Vliet.—---But first, following our new format, I’d like to share with you a clip from one of Dr. Jill Clapperton’s talks to our private online network: The Global Food & Farm Community.  In this clip, Jill explains how ranchers add biodiversity to their pasture – the kind that results in this much better beef……..-----Want to go further on this topic?  Join our private online community and watch several videos on creating multi-species pastures and understanding their benefits in our digital streaming library: RegenFlix.Support the showBrought to you by the Global Food and Farm Online Community Click here to subscribe on your favorite platform or click here to listen on our website. Support the show through Patreon -- Patreon.com/TastingTerroir
How Regenerative Agriculture Lets You Love Grains Again!
Nov 3 2022
How Regenerative Agriculture Lets You Love Grains Again!
Discover a world of “oddball grains” like millet and sorghum.  It turns out that these gluten free ingredients can offer us all a lot – from a flavor and texture boost in our bread and crackers…..to health benefits….and also…..positive contributions to the health of the soil that grows our food. This week - we are taking a closer look at some of the lesser-known ingredients being embraced by the natural food industry by continuing our conversation with Snacktivist Foods co-founder, Joni Kindwall-Moore.  We also discuss the role these ingredients play in enhancing both soil and human health…..and talk frankly about the supply chain and food processing challenges her brand is working to overcome……Links:Joni Kindwall-More Snacktivist Foods --- This podcast is brought to you by:The Global Food & Farm Community - a private, supportive, ad-free, global social network and soil health streaming service that provides information and connections to help you apply and communicate the science, practice, and outcomes of improving soil health.  Rhizoterra - an international food security consulting firm owned by Dr. Jill Clapperton that provides expert guidance for creating healthy soils that yield tasty and nutrient-dense foods. Rhizoterra works together with producers and food companies to regenerate the biological and environmental integrity of the land.AND by . . . Listeners like you who support us through Patreon at Patreon.com/TastingTerroirPatrons receive access to our full-length interviews and selected additional materials. Patrons also have the ability to submit questions that we will answer on the podcast.Support the showBrought to you by the Global Food and Farm Online Community Click here to subscribe on your favorite platform or click here to listen on our website. Support the show through Patreon -- Patreon.com/TastingTerroir
Can A Brand Be Regenerative Without Knowing the Farmer?
Oct 15 2022
Can A Brand Be Regenerative Without Knowing the Farmer?
Can a brand be authentically regenerative if it doesn’t know the farmers who grow its ingredients?If regeneration of the land is different from one place to another……….if it really is a mindset and not a simple checklist…….then, don’t you have to know the farmers implementing it?  If that's true, can regenerative ever really be a commodity?  But instead, isn't it something unique……something able to preserve the uniqueness of the place and way it was grown……..the flavor, the health…….all of it??Is a trait alone….like organic or nonGMO.....even a good one……is that the same as being regenerative???If you’d like to share your thoughts, please send an email to hello@globalfoodandfarm.com To help you think through these questions….our episode this week features two interviews – one from an up-and-coming food company and the other from a top chef.–-- First, we hear from Joni Kindwall-More - co-founder of Snacktivist Foods, a food company working to bring regenerative farmers into their supply chain to create everyday favorites like waffles, cookies and pizza.Next, we will hear some perspectives from Chef Bastien Guillochon, a top farm-to-table chef at the Stone Barns Center in New York.  ---This podcast is brought to you by:The Global Food & Farm Community - a private, supportive, ad-free, global social network and soil health streaming service that provides information and connections to help you apply and communicate the science, practice, and outcomes of improving soil health.  Rhizoterra - an international food security consulting firm owned by Dr. Jill Clapperton that provides expert guidance for creating healthy soils that yield tasty and nutrient-dense foods. Rhizoterra works together with producers and food companies to regenerate the biological and environmental integrity of the land.AND by . . . Listeners like you who support us through Patreon at Patreon.com/TastingTerroirPatrons receive access to our full-length interviews and selected additional materials. Patrons also have the ability to submit questions that we will answer on the podcast.Support the showBrought to you by the Global Food and Farm Online Community Click here to subscribe on your favorite platform or click here to listen on our website. Support the show through Patreon -- Patreon.com/TastingTerroir
The Farm Robots Changing the Food System....For the Better!
Oct 6 2022
The Farm Robots Changing the Food System....For the Better!
What if the health of a LOT of soil could get a LOT healthier......pretty quickly???  What would that do to the health and flavor of our whole food system?  What would it do to help combat climate change?   This soil health revolution might be closer than you think.----We’ve talked about the important role that no-till farming plays in creating healthier soil…..and the fact that this is a challenge for organic as well as conventional farming systems……….since both of them rely on tilling up the land to control weeds ahead of planting. With the help of some amazing robots that mechanically can cut the weeds in-between the crop rows on the farm, regenerative agriculture at scale is on the horizon.This amazing breakthrough was created by Greenfield Robotics…..a company located in Cheney, KS and co-founded by my good friend, Clint Brauer, who is also the CEO.In this week’s episode – we will hear more from Clint both about how his robots are about to bring forth a regenerative agricultural revolution…..and how he is applying regenerative principles in on his own farm……and as part of building a regenerative supply chain for a top pet food company.In my discussion with Clint, we also talk about the flavor differences that come from growing vegetables in many different mediums.....and how the flavor of food can have some surprising connections to health of the soil.About Our Show:Our show gives conscious consumers like you –  a deeper understanding of what it takes to create healthy soil – and the link that soil health has to both the flavor and health of your food.Go Further!Follow and Support our guest: Clint Brauer & Greenfield Robotics on the following sites:Watch the robots go!  https://vimeo.com/742388439Greenfield Robotics website:  https://www.greenfieldincorporated.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/greenfieldrobotics/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/greenfieldroboticsSupport the showBrought to you by the Global Food and Farm Online Community Click here to subscribe on your favorite platform or click here to listen on our website. Support the show through Patreon -- Patreon.com/TastingTerroir
Changing the "Messy Middle" of the Food System
Sep 29 2022
Changing the "Messy Middle" of the Food System
In this episode….. We are featuring an interview with Derek Azevedo of Bowles Farming Company in Central California…….Derek is one of those rare gems of a person who has had experiences in many different parts of the same industry – in this case, the food supply chain.  As a result, he understands deeply the challenges, trade-offs, and pressures that affect each part of the chain……  So, if we are going to have a chance to change something as big as the food supply chain…… we really need the insights of people like Derek who understand both the pressures on the system to change……the pressures on the farmer to react to conform to the supply chain – and even – the barriers from the processing and distribution sectors that he has dubbed the “messy middle” — which connect the farmer to the consumer. —--This conversation is almost too rich to summarize…..we talk about so many valuable things in this interview……including:How the processing system prevents some of the most flavorful foods from getting to the grocery storeWhy the food supply system is so slow to change even with strong consumer demand pushing it to do soWhy the medical system needs to change as much as the agricultural system if we are to reap the benefits of healthier food….. The importance of chefs in helping to connect people to the food trends they craveAnd of course, some discussion about the kinds of positive soil health practices they take on a very diverse farm that grows root vegetables – among other things –  which are almost impossible to do in a no-till system__________Go Further:Support & Connect with Derek and Bowles Farming CompanyWebsite:  https://bfarm.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-azevedo-2a94a817/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BowlesFarming Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bowlesfarming/ Support the showBrought to you by the Global Food and Farm Online Community Click here to subscribe on your favorite platform or click here to listen on our website. Support the show through Patreon -- Patreon.com/TastingTerroir
The Flavor of a Better World: The Ohio Pizza Company You Will Love
Sep 22 2022
The Flavor of a Better World: The Ohio Pizza Company You Will Love
Welcome back to our podcast, Tasting Terroir ––  a journey that helps you cut through the marketing claims of “better for you food” by understanding the link between healthy soil and the flavor and health of your food.————As you may recall from our episode last week, …..the big brands you have heard of are not really bringing regenerative ingredients to your door.  To find them, you need to think small….and local.  Like the farmers we have interviewed in the podcast so far…..who are not only growing food in a regenerative way, but also, creating ways for the public to buy directly from them.This week, we explore how a small food manufacturer sees the issue……and how her dedication and perseverance are almost single-handedly bringing you an opportunity to taste the difference regenerative rice can make.Jennifer Kocher is one of those people who just never quits.  A finance major turned baker and then small business owner……Jennifer has been making some of the best gluten-free pizza crusts on the market. In this episode…..I want you to really absorb just what it takes to bring better ingredients into the products you buy…….and HOW MUCH power you have to really shape the course of the food industry by supporting dedicated true-believers like Jennifer and the others we are profiling on this podcast.For sure if you are in the Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, OH areas…..and you care about better food, the planet – or both…..you are going to LOVE this brand and this woman……just like I do.__________Go Further:Support & Connect with Jennifer Kocher & Around the World Gourmet on these sites:Website:  https://aroundtheworldgourmetmarketplace.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkocher/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/aroundtheworldgourmet Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kocherfoods/ Support the showBrought to you by the Global Food and Farm Online Community Click here to subscribe on your favorite platform or click here to listen on our website. Support the show through Patreon -- Patreon.com/TastingTerroir
The Flavor of Your Food’s Philosophy
Sep 8 2022
The Flavor of Your Food’s Philosophy
Your food is guided by a philosophy . . . it just may not be one that you agree with . . . or the one that you think you are supporting.Regeneration of depleted soil doesn't come from a food company sending out an edict that the farmers in their supply chain will now add a cover crop to what they are already doing…..or even from them offering to pay for a regenerative farming course and then taking credit with consumers for expanding regenerative agriculture.Regeneration arrives as an outcome of a restorative mindset that focuses on  “What to grow rather than what to kill," as farmer Gail Fuller puts it.Our ability to taste terroir is linked to the health of the soil . . . and as a result, to the ways of farming that restore life in the soil……..understanding the philosophy that guides that practice is critical.  But you can't do that if you don't even know where your food comes from.  This episode is called “The Flavor of Your Food’s Philosophy” – As you will see, if you are buying food directly from regenerative farmers, you are able to understand the holistic way of thinking that goes into what and how they make your food.  And this could be why it often tastes so much better.But taking a piece of land from depleted and artificial to full of natural life doesn’t happen overnight……..as we will hear more about from my interview with master farmer, and member of our Global Food & Farm Community – Gail Fuller of Circle 7 Farms in KansasMore ResourcesLearn directly from our speaker on the farm at the Fuller Field School:https://www.fullerfieldschool.com/ Watch the documentary by Farmer's Footprint featuring Gail Fuller:https://farmersfootprint.us/gail-fuller/ Follow Circle & Farms on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049284982883****************This podcast is brought to you by:The Global Food & Farm Community - a private, supportive, ad-free, global social network and soil health streaming service that provides information and connections to help you apply and communicate the science, practice, and outcomes of improving soil health.  Rhizoterra - an international food security consulting firm owned by Dr. Jill Clapperton that provides expert guidance for creating healthy soils that yield tasty and nutrient-dense foods. Rhizoterra works together with producers and food companies to regenerate the biological and environmental integrity of the land.AND by . . . Listeners like you who support us through Patreon at Patreon.com/TastingTerroirPatrons receive access to our full-length interviews and selected additional materials. Patrons also have the ability to submit questions that we will answer on the podcast.Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform:https://tastingterroir.buzzsprout.com/share — Or — Listen here:  https://tastingterroir.buzzsprout.com Support the Show to ask us questions and access video intSupport the showBrought to you by the Global Food and Farm Online Community Click here to subscribe on your favorite platform or click here to listen on our website. Support the show through Patreon -- Patreon.com/TastingTerroir
What IS Regenerative Agriculture? Find Out from Farmers!
Sep 1 2022
What IS Regenerative Agriculture? Find Out from Farmers!
If food can likely get its flavor and certainly it's nutrient density from the health of the soil, then of course consumers need to be able to understand just what makes soil healthy!That is a process you may have heard about called Regenerative Agriculture.....But just what IS regenerative agriculture?  What does it look like on a real farm?  And what effect could it have on your food and the planet?  In this episode, we begin a deep dive into these topics and more by bringing you real farmers and emerging food companies on the front line!********************Episode Summary:How does regenerative farming play out on the farm?  What kind of difference do these regenerative principles make in the food they create?  How do food brands incorporate regenerative into the ingredients they use?And of course, can you taste the difference?These are some of the questions we are going to be exploring over the next several weeks as we bring you interviews with farmers and emerging food brands in our online community – the Global Food & Farm network.In this episode, I’m going to share brief clips from a few of the folks you will be learning more about in future episodes – and then, we will dive into a full interview with some of my favorite regenerative farmers – Canadians Derek and Tannis Axten.To get us started, let’s first hear from my co-host, Dr. Jill Clapperton – a top soil scientist and plant physiologist……__________________________This podcast is brought to you by:Rhizoterra - an international food security consulting firm owned by Dr. Jill Clapperton that provides expert guidance for creating healthy soils that yield tasty and nutrient-dense foods. Rhizoterra works together with producers and food companies to regenerate the biological and environmental integrity of the land.The Global Food & Farm Community - a private, supportive, ad-free, global social network and soil health streaming service that provides information and connections to help you apply and communicate the science, practice, and outcomes of improving soil health.   Find out about upcoming events on our blog. AND by . . . Listeners like you who support us through Patreon at Patreon.com/TastingTerroirPatrons receive access to our full-length interviews and selected additional materials. Patrons also have the ability to submit questions that we will answer on the podcast.Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform: — Or — Listen here!Support the Show! Support the showBrought to you by the Global Food and Farm Online Community Click here to subscribe on your favorite platform or click here to listen on our website. Support the show through Patreon -- Patreon.com/TastingTerroir
Making Soil Healthy Again – Why Organic Might Not Be Enough
Aug 25 2022
Making Soil Healthy Again – Why Organic Might Not Be Enough
What's the challenge to soil health that even organic production isn't yet able to master? Just what does it take to restore unhealthy soil?   How can understanding regenerative agriculture empower you to find the flavorful, healthy food you are looking for despite a sea of misleading marketing?**********************Last week we discussed what we mean when we say Tasting Terroir.  My co-host Dr. Jill Clapperton,  a soil scientist and plant physiologist, explained how the flavor of food is connected to many factors –  including most likely, the way it was grown and the health of the soil the food was grown in.This week,  we dive into understanding what makes soil healthy and what it takes to restore unhealthy soil.  To start, I will give you an overview of the principles of regenerative agriculture -  a way of farming that restores and renews the health of the soil by working with nature instead of against her. Finally, we will hear more from my interview with Dr. Jill Clapperton about a challenge to soil health that is widely used in both conventional and organic farming systems – tillage – or plowing up the land to plant a new crop – and how this practice compares to the use of applying chemicals.Support the showBrought to you by the Global Food and Farm Online Community Click here to subscribe on your favorite platform or click here to listen on our website. Support the show through Patreon -- Patreon.com/TastingTerroir
Tasting the Terroir of Your Food with plant scientist Dr. Jill Clapperton
Aug 18 2022
Tasting the Terroir of Your Food with plant scientist Dr. Jill Clapperton
Have you ever tasted a really great blueberry and wondered why it was better than a different batch?  Maybe it was the way it was grown?  Maybe it was affected by the health of the soil and the farming practices used to build it up?Building up soil health isn't just a topic that should interest farmers.  It should interest anyone who enjoys flavorful food!  In this episode, hear from soil and plant scientist and my co-host, Dr. Jill Clapperton as she shares insights she has gathered about the link between soil health and the flavor and health of our food.    Tasty examples Jill shares in this episode include the flavor differences that can be detected in pasture-raised beef and dairy, grains turned into bread and pasta and blueberries!  Love this show?  Please give us a 5 star rating and share it with your friends.  You can connect with us on Patreon! This podcast is brought to you by:Rhizoterra - an international food security consulting firm owned by Dr. Jill Clapperton that provides expert guidance for creating healthy soils that yield tasty and nutrient-dense foods. Rhizoterra works together with producers and food companies to regenerate the biological and environmental integrity of the land.The Global Food & Farm Community - a private, supportive, ad-free, global social network and soil health streaming service that provides information and connections to help you apply and communicate the science, practice, and outcomes of improving soil health.  AND by . . . Listeners like you who support us through Patreon at Patreon.com/TastingTerroirPatrons receive access to our full-length interviews and selected additional materials. Patrons also have the ability to submit questions that we will answer on the podcast.Support the showBrought to you by the Global Food and Farm Online Community Click here to subscribe on your favorite platform or click here to listen on our website. Support the show through Patreon -- Patreon.com/TastingTerroir