Growing cranberries and sustainability: Episode 66
10/27/20 • 25 min
Cranberries! One of the stars of autumn tables evokes beautiful images, wonderful scents, and a distinct taste. We discover how cranberries are grown and harvested sustainably in this episode, plus why we shouldn’t be afraid of the “sugar” in these nutritious berries. We also learn how a cranberry bog in Massachusetts looks different than a cranberry bog in Wisconsin.
Michele and Eliz are joined by Dawn Gates-Allen, a fourth generation cranberry grower, who believes that the future of agriculture is through continuing education. Collaborating with schools, realtors, universities and stewardship is a foundation; culminating these while not being afraid to embrace things that are tough will help raise awareness of what agriculture offers to our environment and at your table. Ultimately food education and good decision making is what makes us healthy and well balanced.
Key points:
How are cranberries grown?
- What you see on the commercials is a glamorized version of harvest. Cranberry bogs are flooded for harvest, but aren’t grown in water.
- Cranberries don’t like to have “wet feet.” Cranberries are grown on a vine with shallow roots.
- Durning growing season the cranberry bog looks like a lovely golf course with ditches for irrigation.
- Water is recycled and stored in reservoirs and ponds - It is very scenic.
- One of the largest managers of water in the state.
How does technology help make the farm more sustainable?
- Remote control irrigation is used to provide the right amount of water at the right time.
- Everything is done by satellite through solar powered sensors.
- Sensors report the temperature and soil moisture conditions in the bog.
- Water is used to protect plants from both frost and heat.
How does a cranberry bog in Massachusetts look different than a cranberry bog in Wisconsin?
- When cranberries farms in Massachusetts started in the 1880s, they were built in the wetlands around rocks and trees. They are unevenly shaped and require more labor to harvest
- Farms in Wisconsin are more open and rectangular. They are built with dykes around them so that machinery can be used to harvest.
What about all the sugar in cranberries?
- As with any food, portion control is important.
- Cranberries have lots of health benefits.
- Lots of recipes call for whole, unsweetened cranberries.
Much of Dawn’s work with realtors is educating them and new home owners about what to expect living near a working farm.
Three tips to overcome Food Bullying:
- Keep an open mind.
- Know your sources.
- Freeze cranberries. They keep up a year! Don’t let the sugar thing worry you.
Links:
Dawn Gates-Allen Website: www.cranberries.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MassCranberries
Twitter: twitter.com/MassCranberries
Food Bullying Podcast’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/foodbullyingpodcast
Food Bullying with Michele Payn: http://foodbullying.com
Embrace Your Heart with Eliz Greene: http://www.embraceyourheart.com/
Cranberries! One of the stars of autumn tables evokes beautiful images, wonderful scents, and a distinct taste. We discover how cranberries are grown and harvested sustainably in this episode, plus why we shouldn’t be afraid of the “sugar” in these nutritious berries. We also learn how a cranberry bog in Massachusetts looks different than a cranberry bog in Wisconsin.
Michele and Eliz are joined by Dawn Gates-Allen, a fourth generation cranberry grower, who believes that the future of agriculture is through continuing education. Collaborating with schools, realtors, universities and stewardship is a foundation; culminating these while not being afraid to embrace things that are tough will help raise awareness of what agriculture offers to our environment and at your table. Ultimately food education and good decision making is what makes us healthy and well balanced.
Key points:
How are cranberries grown?
- What you see on the commercials is a glamorized version of harvest. Cranberry bogs are flooded for harvest, but aren’t grown in water.
- Cranberries don’t like to have “wet feet.” Cranberries are grown on a vine with shallow roots.
- Durning growing season the cranberry bog looks like a lovely golf course with ditches for irrigation.
- Water is recycled and stored in reservoirs and ponds - It is very scenic.
- One of the largest managers of water in the state.
How does technology help make the farm more sustainable?
- Remote control irrigation is used to provide the right amount of water at the right time.
- Everything is done by satellite through solar powered sensors.
- Sensors report the temperature and soil moisture conditions in the bog.
- Water is used to protect plants from both frost and heat.
How does a cranberry bog in Massachusetts look different than a cranberry bog in Wisconsin?
- When cranberries farms in Massachusetts started in the 1880s, they were built in the wetlands around rocks and trees. They are unevenly shaped and require more labor to harvest
- Farms in Wisconsin are more open and rectangular. They are built with dykes around them so that machinery can be used to harvest.
What about all the sugar in cranberries?
- As with any food, portion control is important.
- Cranberries have lots of health benefits.
- Lots of recipes call for whole, unsweetened cranberries.
Much of Dawn’s work with realtors is educating them and new home owners about what to expect living near a working farm.
Three tips to overcome Food Bullying:
- Keep an open mind.
- Know your sources.
- Freeze cranberries. They keep up a year! Don’t let the sugar thing worry you.
Links:
Dawn Gates-Allen Website: www.cranberries.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MassCranberries
Twitter: twitter.com/MassCranberries
Food Bullying Podcast’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/foodbullyingpodcast
Food Bullying with Michele Payn: http://foodbullying.com
Embrace Your Heart with Eliz Greene: http://www.embraceyourheart.com/
Previous Episode
Food bullying in the pet aisle: Episode 65
We’ve all seen the ads for pet food featuring happy dogs with happy owners who buy the very best food for their furry family members. But is that food better? How do you know what is best for your pet? Does grain-free dog food make sense or are you being food bullied into buying a boutique brand that offers less nutrition? Our guest, veterinarian Tammy Lons, gives us the scoop on the facts about pet food.
Tammy Lons is a small animal veterinarian. She has two degrees from Michigan State University, a B.S. in animal science, and a D.V.M. She is a wife, mom, practice owner, hobby farmer who raises Dexters.
Key points
How to choose the right food for your pet:
- Talk to your veterinarian:
- What your pet needs depends on their stage of life, size, and activity level
- Most pets are overfed - 75% are obese
- Dogs often get the wrong kind of food
- Cats don’t need the carbs in kibble and should get canned food most of the time
- Vets don’t receive kickbacks from pet food manufacturers and will recommend what is best for your individual pet
- Tammy recommends Science Diet, Royal Canine, and Purina as the top three brands.
- Stick with food companies that do research (feeding trials)
- Look for the AFFCO label which gives feeding instructions, calorie counts and a statement about life stage
- Ingredient lists are a source of misinformation and bullying
- Dogs and cats like grain. It tastes good
- By-products and left-overs from people food and are fine
- High-protein, grain-free diets are causing heart disease in animals (UC-Davis Study)
- Ignore the ads for pet food:
- Ads are all marketing and are not required to provide real nutrition information
- Companies have big budgets for ads to appeal to your senses
- Companies sent people to train staff at PetCo and other retailers to recommend their products to customers using misleading claims such as:
- Meat should be the first ingredient
- By-products are bad
- Pets need grain-free diets
Three tips to overcome Food Bullying when buying pet food:
- Feed one of the top three brands
- Talk to your vet
- Ask questions
Links:
Website: www.Tekonshaanimalhospital.com
Facebook: facebook.com/tekonshaanimalhospital
Instagram: instagram.com/tekonshaanimalhospital
Resources: https://www.aafco.org/
Food Bullying with Michele Payn: http://foodbullying.com
Embrace Your Heart with Eliz Greene: http://www.embraceyourheart.com/
Food Bullying Podcast’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/foodbullyingpodcast
Next Episode
How do you listen to hunger? Episode 67
Our November hunger series kicks off with one of our favorite guests, anti-hunger advocate Diane Sullivan. She shares how COVID-19 has impacted people who are experiencing food insecurity. For example, did you know people who use SNAP benefits aren’t able to use grocery delivery services that have been essential to many who are at high risk?
Diane Sullivan is a mother and a grandmother with lived experience and hunger and is currently a SNAP recipient. She is an anti-hunger advocate focused on food affordability working to ensure everyone has access to safe, affordable, nutritious food or regardless of income.
Key points:
COVID-19 has presented new challenges for people who need food assistance:
- SNAP (formerly Food Stamp) recipients cannot use grocery delivery services which forces people with underlying conditions to go to the store.
- SNAP recipients could not stockpile food as we were advised to do at the beginning of the pandemic.
- Unemployment payments put people over the income cap to receive SNAP benefits, but then when the payments stop they have to reapply. This created an administrative nightmare.
The pandemic highlighted inequities:
- People were already living with limited housing, food, and healthcare resources.
- Many people found themselves needing resources but didn’t know where to find them.
- People deserve a choice in the food they receive, but the demand for food support during the pandemic has removed much of the choice. People wait in long lines to receive a random bag of food.
- People still have to leave home to receive food.
- People deserve choice and safe access to nutritious food.
Where to find resources:
- Look online to apply for SNAP benefits.
- Feeding America is a great resource for immediate needs from Food Banks (that buy food to distribute) and Food Pantries (that distribute food).
We haven’t solved the problems of hunger and poverty because we aren’t listening to the people who have lived experience:
- People with lived experience need to be treated like experts and reimbursed for their time and travel.
- We need to solve the problems that exist, not those that don’t.
- We need to advocate for efficiency.
Three tips to overcome hunger and food insecurity:
- Keep educating yourself.
- Don’t fall victim to the manipulation of clever food marketers. Don’t sway the market toward more expensive food.
- Learn to engage people with lived experience in hunger.
Links:
Diane on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoodChoices4All
Food Bullying book by Michele Payn: http://foodbullying.com
Embrace Your Heart with Eliz Greene: http://www.embraceyourheart.com/
Food Bullying Podcast’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/foodbullyingpodcast
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