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“Nobody wakes up wanting to waste food, it’s just a matter of having the right information at the right time.”   Dana Gunders (19:34-19:41)   When it comes to food waste around the world, the statistics are staggering. We all know it’s a problem and almost every country is fighting it. What can we do to effectively decrease our food waste (and the carbon emissions that come with it), decrease food insecurity, and create the food system we desire? ReFED is the leader in data-driven solutions to fight food waste, working across the food system to cut food loss and waste in half by 2030.   Dana Gunders, Executive Director of ReFED says they can only accomplish this with massive participation. It’s estimated that over 400 billion dollars worth of food (about 2% of the GDP) is wasted, and if the food waste in America was eradicated alone, it would feed our country’s food insecure population three times over! That’s why ReFED is working in multiple ways to educate and inform, and assist the individuals and companies who want to put their dollars towards efforts that are going to implement the most change in the quickest manner.   “When folks allocative financial resources for a macro issue like food waste, they need the guidance of an institution like ReFED to make sure that investment is going towards a noble cause.” Lori Taylor (10:16-10:30)    The first pillar of work ReFED is focused on is collecting accurate data. No one’s collecting data when they’re throwing the garbage out, so a lot of estimating is still required. ReFED wants to paint an accurate picture of what’s going on so people know where to focus their efforts. One way they do this is through a data platform on their website that’s analyzed 42 solutions and their efficiency rate. Their second pillar of work is in the investment space, where they also have a capital tracker that monitors investment on their website. There’s been quite a recent explosion of innovative startups and investment directed towards food waste and ReFED wants to catalyze investment through public, philanthropic, and private dollars.   Did you know about 35% of food grown in the United States ends up in the trash? 37% of that food waste is created at the household level, with the number one product of that waste being produce, and the number two being leftovers.   Even though ReFED doesn’t work to reach consumers directly, their role in connecting companies, small businesses, stakeholders, researchers, and local governments with one another has a greater impact. For example, there’s over 200 companies globally who have made some sort of commitment to helping eradicate food waste, but they need ReFED’s help in understanding how to reach that goal. They’re also working to encourage federal agencies to create a consumer awareness campaign to spread this information further. Grocery retailers, like Kroger and their Zero Hunger Zero Waste commitment (which has already seen a 19 reduction in waste), have been doing a great job at driving forward sustainability initiatives, like educating consumers on how to use produce once it’s wilted or bruised.   “There’s a great opportunity to help people use their products better and that helps them use their food budget better.” Dana Gunders (16:25-16:37)   Considering the average family of four is spending $2,000 on food they aren’t actually eating, implementing changes that help reduce waste should be high on everyone’s list! Outside of ReFED, Dana has written her own book called The Waste Free Kitchen Handbook, which you can learn more about on Episode 79, that offers strategies, references, recipes and a directory of produce which shows you how to use food items up in a clever way when you might’ve just thrown them out. For example, Dana’s book has a delicious berry avocado chocolate mousse recipe that uses overripe berries and avocados that are brown!    There’s plenty of action for us to take across the entire food supply chain, and starting with Dana’s book or learning more on ReFED’s website is how you can make a major difference in your kitchen at home. Visit ReFED’s website at www.refed.org and listen to Episode 79 to learn more about the actionable strategies you can start implementing today with Dana’s book.%   How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“To do good is in our DNA.” Johnathan Sutton (16:41-16:43)   Westfalia Fruit is known around the world for their incredible, healthy, fresh avocados. They have the largest avocado-growing footprint in the world, plus grow fruits like mangoes, kiwis, limes, oranges, litchis, clementines, grapes, coconuts, pomegranates, cherries… the list goes on and on! What’s most phenomenal about Westfalia other than their extensive range of produce is their commitment to sustainability. The company aims to be 100% carbon-neutral by 2049, which is also their 100th birthday.   Westfalia was founded over 70 years ago by Dr. Hans Merensky, who acquired an almost irreparable estate in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. “Dr. Merensky was a very gifted prospector, an acclaimed and dedicated humanitarian, and a huge part of the good we do today… it’s in our fiber and our heritage,” Raina Nelson, President and CEO of Westfalia Fruit USA says.   Dr. Merensky was dedicated to improving his Westfalia Estate’s resources by conserving water and revitalizing the soil. These regenerative farming practices are the foundation for what Westfalia lies on today, and at the time helped the local economy by providing community relief thanks to growing avocados and using water conservation infrastructure.   “The concept of regenerative farming and regenerative agriculture practices is the foundation upon which Westfalia has been built on.” Lori Taylor (6:05-6:15)   Not familiar with the term regenerative farming? Regenerative farming comes from indigenous wisdom and offers a framework to grow food in harmony with nature while restoring the land from depletion, exploitation and harmful farming practices. Those that follow regenerative farming principles understand what the natural resource availability is, aim to eliminate the use of harmful chemicals, work to integrate animals back onto their agricultural land and prioritize soil health. Keeping the soil healthy is what ensures growers produce nutrient dense, great tasting produce while helping heal the Earth.   Westfalia is focused on using as little water as possible, keeping the rest of the plants and animals on the planet in mind who need water which is a finite resource we’re quickly running out of. They’re also focused on reducing waste by ensuring their byproducts are used to create healthy ones, specifically in the cosmetic industry.   One way Westfalia does this is by creating health products using the skins and the stones (the pit) of their avocados. These stones are ground up and used to replace microplastics that are found far too often in cosmetics. At the end of the day, it costs more money to throw things away, not just for the company but for the rest of the world who has to deal with landfills and the energy expenditure that comes with. Plus, consumers are hungry for cosmetics that have as little plastics in them as possible.    “We can’t hide behind the facts of where avocados are grown and where avocados are sold. The distance is huge and the transport routes are challenging from an environmental perspective and a water use perspective.” Johnathan Sutton (14:34-14:50)   Westfalia is certainly on track to hit their 2049 target of being carbon neutral! They’re looking at how to reduce their carbon footprint within their shipping partners and any other ways to use their resources as efficiently as possible. Recently, Westfalia found that five of their business units were carbon neutral and they are pushing for everything from the fertilizer, the packaging, the supply chain and more to become completely carbon neutral. Plus, in France, all of their products are supplied in cardboard and they’ve gotten rid of plastic! Add in Westfalia’s efforts to use biological pesticides instead of chemical ones and you’ve got one of the most impactful, sustainable, healthy companies in the produce industry making a massive dent in saving our planet.    Enjoy Westfalia Fruits’ amazing avocados at your local grocery retailer and visit www.westfaliafruit.com to learn more about their sustainability efforts!    How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“We went from working with one band to working with hundreds of musicians and artists like Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, Michael Franti, The Dead and so many others!”   Justin Levy (5:11-5:23)   It all started when Justin Levy had an idea 20 years ago to teach young people how to fight against hunger by hosting a food drive at a concert. He was attending University of Colorado at the time and as a part of his senior thesis he held a food drive at Fillmore Auditorium in March 2002 at a String Cheese Incident concert. In exchange for donating, concert goers received a limited edition poster to commemorate the experience and they ended up bringing in over 4,000 pounds of donations. Now, Conscious Alliance is a movement of artists, musicians, food makers and music lovers on a mission to end hunger in underserved communities nationwide with over 119 festivals and concerts under their belt.   The first drive benefited the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota where 40,000 Oglala Lakota Native Americans live. Pine Ridge Reservation is one of the most economically isolated communities in the country and is about the same size as the state of Connecticut. For 40,000 people it only has one grocery store! Conscious Alliance has since opened a food pantry and started working with all 15 schools on the reservation to make sure kids going to school have plenty of healthy food to eat.   “We started developing relationships with schools knowing that where the kids go every day we can reach a lot of families with the backpack program approach.” Justin Levy (14:16-14:39)   Along the way, Conscious Alliance has met plenty of “hungry heroes”, many of whom are in the natural food community, like Justin Gould from Justin’s Peanut Butter. These brands helped shine a light on the huge amount of food waste going on in the United States, which triggered Conscious Alliance to work out logistically how they can go to different brand’s warehouses as they tour with musicians throughout the country and pick up food before it hits the landfill… food that grocery stores won’t buy or will throw out because it’s, for example, within 90 days of hits shelf life, the brand is getting crowded out or is going through a reprint. Great brands like Applegate, Conagra, Hormel, and many more you know have all partnered with Conscious Alliance.   Think your kids are obsessed about trading cards? Try concert goers and their posters! At every event, an attendee can make a food or monetary donation and receive a limited edition screen printed poster with the band, venue and date on it. It’s a special reminder of the opportunity the concert goer had to give back, make a difference, and of course a memory of the amazing time they had.   Conscious Alliance was still able to make an impact during the pandemic when, of course, live music events were on pause. At the beginning of lockdown, one of CA’s board members (who happens to own a restaurant) asked Justin if he had a way to distribute meals if the restaurant made them. Justin connected with a kindergarten teacher on the Advisory Board and ended up working with three teachers who were going to their kids’ doorsteps and dropping off dinners made from various restaurants in Boulder, Colorado. This way, the teachers could check in on their students and make sure their family’s were okay, and everyone was receiving quality nutrition during this scary time.   “One of the first days of the lockdown in March 2020 we had a board member who owns a restaurant and say, ‘If we prepare meals, do you have an outlet to give them away?’” Justin Levy (16:01-16:20)   This caught the attention of the World Central Kitchen, a non-profit that sets up mobile kitchens in areas that need them most, like war zones for example. When partnering with WCK, Conscious Alliance went from serving around 160 restaurant meals a week to almost 2000, making for about 2.6 million meals total in 2020.    Now that restrictions are removed and we’re “coming back to life”, Conscious Alliance is back at it again with concerts, festivals and music events. How can you get involved or find out where they’ll be next? Simply visit their website and find a listing of upcoming events or a way to donate virtually. You might see a band or event you’ve been dying to go to, or some of your favorites like Jack Johnson, The Dead, Umphrey’s McGee and many more that you can now see live again!   How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“We want to see farms like yours be very successful and profitable because your profit directly relates to our ability to create a more sustainable, healthy planet and continue to access and grow food.”   Lori Taylor (16:12-16:37)   Beth Bocock went from saying, “I’ll never marry a farmer!” to becoming one of the second owners of Bumbleberry Acres with her husband, working for Naturipe and being the head of Bumbleberry’s agritourism. The farm, originally 600 acres and now 44, had been around since 1857 and caught Beth and her husband’s eye when they were driving and saw a “for sale'' sign. Immediately after buying, they asked their kids, “what would you want to do if you came here to work? If this was a vacation destination, what would you want to see?”   This helped inspire the Bococks’ to add a petting zoo of miniature animals to the farm, opening the door for Bumbleberry to become a wonderful, family-friendly destination. When visitors arrive at Bumbleberry, they’re taken care of by the “Bumbleberry Girls” who are specifically trained to interact with customers and treat them like family. The girls know every inch of the farm, from the dirt, to the berries and how they are grown. Beth’s focus with the girls (they hire three every year) is to empower them to learn where things on the farm come from, so visitors too can always be learning every step of the way through their experience.    “It was important for us that families do not feel like they’re going to a farm and getting nickel-and-dimed to death.” Beth Bocock (7:41-7:48)   What’s it like spending a day at Bumbleberry Acres? Visitors can enjoy activities like the U-pick for blueberries, a corn maze and wagon ride around fall, delicious food with ingredients straight  from the farm, and plenty of blueberry pies during their Blueberry Festival in August. Beth really wants visitors to understand where food really comes from, how we’re helping take care of the planet, and the responsibility and respect to her kids that comes with providing these products to consumers.    Did you know more than half of the world’s profits from produce items are not getting back to growers? Farmers are dealing with profit crunches the same way we’re dealing with a sudden rise in all of our expenses, and to not have the amount of profit they deserve hitting their pockets could damage our entire agricultural supply chain.    Beth also works with Naturipe Farms, who you know from past episodes is a great place full of empowered women! Beth says there are many more women involved at the company and farming in general than there were 20 years ago. She used to go to meetings with her husband and there’d only be a few other women in there, and women speakers were unheard of. But today you’ll even see women running a farm after their husband has passed away, completely uninhibited and capable of performing any of the tasks on a farm.   “We pay particular attention to the girls because we want to give them a stepping stone to be empowered women. We look at girls not like they’re unemployable by someone else, but that they’re not going to get the same education we’re going to teach them to be strong women.” Beth Bocock (27:03-27:13)   Beth wants Bumbleberry to empower women just as well as Naturipe has. Every girl they interview to work on the farm is looked at for their potential for future leadership, not just their personality and resume. Beth takes note of how they interact with people, how compassionate they are, and it’s paid off. Of the 36 girls they’ve hired, each have gone into a position of leadership in or outside of farming.    Whether it’s empowering consumers to understand where their food comes from and how to support farmers, empowering women to accomplish anything they want in agriculture (from the field to CFO), or empowering farmers to make the profits they deserve, Beth Bocock, Blueberry Acres and Naturipe Farms all are doing incredible things to create empowered opportunities for all.   How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“NatureSweet is the brand people really know and trust.”   Lori Taylor (13:22-13:31)   Amit Patel is the Marketing Director at NatureSweet, the company behind those delicious, favorite Cherub, Glory and Cherry tomatoes we all love! Whether you leave them on your counter to snack on all day like Lori, or use their packaging as a colander to wash in, NatureSweet’s tomatoes are a convenient, versatile way to add healthy nutrients to your whole family’s diet.   NatureSweet is a great testament to consumer trust and brand loyalty, especially during a time where the produce section at grocery retailers is fighting private labeling and during a time when we want to learn more and more about where our food is coming from. Amit has a background working for CPG (consumer packaged goods) companies like Pepsi, Cheetos and Rice-a-Roni. The benefit to those companies is “you can always make another product” if something goes wrong, whereas with produce, you’re reliant on weather and harvesting, which doesn’t always go as planned. That’s why it’s so important for NatureSweet to share their purpose of transforming the lives of agriculture workers in North America with customers, and their commitment to providing continuous, guaranteed, high quality, fresh produce.   As a part of their mission, NatureSweet has expanded beyond tomatoes and are moving into being a full, single solution for customers looking for greenhouse grown vegetables. They’re expanding into greenhouse grown cucumbers, mini cucumbers, bell peppers, mini sweet peppers, larger tomatoes and more! As Amit says, “we take the same care in delivering quality every single day of the year and having it available all year round for consumers.”   “Our purpose is to transform the lives of agriculture workers in North America.” Amit Patel (6:55-6:59)   Another way NatureSweet is dedicated to their purpose is by being one of the first brands to participate in the Equitable Food Initiative, which, if  you’ve listened to some of our previous podcasts, you know is an initiative focused on creating transparency in the produce supply chain. EFI certified companies adhere to the best practices in food safety, ensure their farmworkers are treated fairly, listen to workers’ issues and create solutions to make processes more efficient, and make sure the supply chain is sustainable.   One of the first things people start to realize when understanding the farming economy and supply chain is that, no matter what kind of delicious product you have, there’s a great farming story and heritage behind it. For example, a fourth-generation family farm that’s sustained incredible economic and environmental setbacks. There’s a big interest in knowing more about our food, the stories behind what we’re putting in our bodies, and the people making it all possible.   Speaking of farmworkers, NatureSweet has started a program called Associates Under the Label which helps share the stories of NatureSweet’s workers with consumers. Votes are taken internally as to which associate is featured and if you lift up the seal on a NatureSweet tomato package, you’ll see a spotlight of information with a QR code that takes you to the featured agricultural worker’s full story. This is another great opportunity for you, the consumer, to connect with the brand you love and for farmworkers to get recognized for all their incredible work.    “You want to feel good about picking up a package of produce and not having to worry about looking and making sure everything is perfect and that’s one thing NatureSweet offers is quality you can trust.” Amit Patel (31:13-31:31)   When it comes to enjoying NatureSweet’s delicious, healthy tomatoes, one thing the company is working on helping you with is taking them on the go! You might wish you had a more convenient way to take these healthy snacks with you, whether it’s to throw in your bag for lunch, a snack while commuting or even eating at your kids’ sports tournaments (which we all know can last forever!). NatureSweet has now made this easy and convenient in washed, ready-to-eat, smaller packages that are – drumroll please – crush-proof! Think of all the unhealthy, “convenient” snacks you can replace now by taking your favorite NatureSweet tomatoes on the go with you.    How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“The Produce Moms would not be B Corp certified if it weren’t for Kerrie.”   Lori Taylor (2:57-3:01)   You’ve heard us share about the exciting process of becoming a B Corp Certified business, but you’re probably wondering why this is so important. Kerri McDevitt is a Senior Consultant at Impact Growth Partners, a small consulting firm working with businesses across the world to become B Corp Certified who care about (as Kerri says) the “three P’s”: people, purpose and profit.   The B Corp Certification is given to businesses meeting high levels of standards that show they are global leaders in inclusivity, equitability and helping create a regenerative economy. Companies must go through a rigorous, long process of providing an application and documents that are analyzed and scrutinized to ensure only companies meeting a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above pass. The B Impact Assessment allows you to create a plan for your business and is broken down into five sections: governance, workers, community, environmental and customers. Companies must also legally change their corporate governance to be accountable to all stakeholders, and be transparent in their performance level on the B Lab’s website.    For Lori and The Produce Moms, this was an opportunity to become more structured and strategic in business operations and, as Lori says, “it was a huge graduation for my business to become B Corp certified.”   The beautiful part about putting your company through the B Corp certification process is it allows you to embed your values into your business so they’ll last generations to come. The Produce Moms worked on getting certified for over 15 months and was under assessment from a specific person at the B Lab. How did TPM stack up? Well, even though the minimum score needed to pass the assessment is 80, we had a total of 117 points!  “The B- Corp journey makes one more mindful of decision making and more conscious as to what you’re doing at your company. You are going to think a little bit more through a decision than you might have otherwise when you’re looking at the bigger picture and considering all of your stakeholders.” Kerri McDevitt (18:12-18:29)   A great example of how TPM operates with a B Corp level standard happened recently when one of the team members took off work for a family member’s medical leave. It was a tough call as to what to do for Lori. This team member is unique in her gifts and skill sets with some of our publications and we couldn’t ask anyone else for the same level of creative output. At the same time, we had partners waiting for these deliverables and couldn’t delay. Lori took into consideration all of our stakeholders, farming partners, internal team members and audience to figure out how to serve everyone. She decided to slightly change the creative deliverables and when our team member came back, Lori looked at what work could be shifted back on her plate so she didn’t  lose out on pay from the time she was gone.   Businesses get credit under the B Corp Assessment for having an “impact business model”. The Produce Moms was recognized for their contributions giving back to 1% for the planet, giving back to organizations that support the Earth, and being involved in the beautification of Indianapolis. TPM was also recognized for being advocates for the produce sector and farmers, and educating the public about healthy eating and nutrition.   The beautiful part about the B Corp community of other certified businesses is how collaborative it is. Everyone seems to be focused on how to help each other out, lift one another out and welcome new businesses, like TPM, through sub-committees and forums. Lori’s entrance into the B Corp community has been extremely warm and welcoming thus far!    Wondering why businesses are looking to become B Corp certified, or if there’s been an uptick in interest? COVID was certainly a catalyst for many businesses to turn in their B Corp applications. It really gave us all an opportunity to pause, reflect and open our eyes to how major of an impact climate change is making on our world, along with the inequity and injustices we may have been ignoring. A lot of companies started to reflect on how they could do better and help our community be better… like Kerri says, “businesses trying to be the best for the world, not just the best in the world, and the best for everyone.”    “This generation is looking for products and services that benefit the world, whether it’s looking for secondhand items versus firsthand, slow fashion versus fast fashion… There's a consciousness going on and it is crossing all generations.” Kerri McDevitt (27:23-27:41)   All of us are focused now more than ever on creating a positive impact – whether it’s in how we treat the environment, how we treat our employees, how we include one another, and becoming B Corp certified is one of the best ways a business can ensure this. The Produce Moms’ score is now public on the B Corp directory and you can see other businesses who are certified too. The process to become certified is lengthy, and although that can be a major setback for a company (finding the time), Kerri says you can achieve a “pending B Corp certification” first, which can benchmark your mission and make the process later on easier!   If the B Corp certification should inspire anything in all of us it’s to focus on working together for a greater purpose and the common good for us all! It’s an honor to become a part of this prestigious community and The Produce Moms will continue to strive to be a force of good, bringing you the education, information and connection you need to help support our farming and agricultural industry workers, supply chain, women, environment and more.   How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“We’re trying to understand how different foods and different eating patterns impact anxiety and psychosis disorders.”   Dr. Monique Aucoin (5:44-5:51)   Dr. Monique Aucoin is a naturopathic doctor and senior research fellow at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, and also one of the leading North American researchers in the field of nutritional psychiatry (the use of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of mental illness).    Not familiar with naturopathy, or confused on what it actually means? Dr. Aucoin says, “naturopathic medicine is a system of healthcare that combines scientific evidence with natural and traditional approaches like nutrition, herbal medicine and lifestyle counseling. Naturopathic wellness aims to address the root cause of illness and to promote wellness.”   Sure, we already have social treatments like therapy for mental health, but some people don’t find the type of treatment we have available helpful or tolerable, so we need to have other approaches available. Our current medical system isn’t reflecting the huge role diet plays in mental health. Offering dietary counseling to people experiencing mental illness is an opportunity to truly improve their health outcomes rather than just using medicine or social therapy. The problem also with our current clinical research is that it doesn’t tell us if, for example, someone became depressed because they’re eating poor quality nutrition, or they became depressed and as a result started eating poor quality nutrition.    “On an intuitive level, most people know when they eat better, they feel better, both physically and emotionally.” Dr. Monique Aucoin (7:08-7:15)  Dr. Aucoin is working with Dr. Laura LaChance to bring scientific evidence to the real world in a way that’s understandable and actionable. Most recently, they’ve put together a patient handout that talks about nutritional factors important for mental health and used lived-in experiences from those that struggle with mental illness in the process. These handouts are helping them speak to healthcare providers and train them on dietary counseling that can only further help their patients.    Ever heard of the term “emotional eating”? It’s not just a phenomenon we joke about – it’s backed by science, too. A study was performed on animals where they caused the animal a small amount of stress and gave them foods high in sugar and fat, which resulted in a reduction of their levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This may be a great, short-term fix, but long-term the foods we choose when “emotionally eating”, for example, can negatively impact our mental health.   Another clinical trial is being performed now to find out whether or not a food is causing a worsening or an improvement to mental health issues. A study called “Smiles” recently showed a large decrease in depression symptoms after 12 weeks of dietary counseling, with a quarter of individuals in the study no longer having depression at all. Dr. Aucoin and Dr. LaChance just received funding to perform their own similar clinical trial with those who have anxiety!   So, if you’re struggling with depression, anxiety or other mental health issues, what does Dr. Aucoin suggest you do with your diet? The top three nutritional factors in supporting brain and mental health are eating enough protein, eating anti-inflammatory foods and choosing complex carbs instead of simple sugars. Why? The brain is sensitive to the amount of sugar in our blood. Ever felt “hangry” before? That’s because your blood sugar is low (there’s a huge overlap between low blood sugar symptoms and mental health sugars). If you then eat something that’s high in simple carbs or sugars, it’ll disrupt your blood sugar balance even more.   “Steering away from simple carbs and choosing foods that have more fiber can have a huge impact on mental health outcomes.” Dr. Monique Aucoin (19:17-19:25)   When you eat complex carbs like foods that are high in fiber, it helps your blood sugar stay stable and well regulated. For example, Dr. Aucoin had a patient struggling with anxiety who had a diet high in foods like white bread, pasta, cookies and candy. By adding more protein and fiber, the patient’s anxiety improved tremendously. Protein is important, too, because it breaks down into amino acids which are the building blocks of our body. Most medications we use to treat mental illnesses are focused on increasing serotonin, something your body can make on its own with enough building blocks.   Lastly, people with mental illnesses have increased levels of inflammation in their brain or their body, and one of the significant factors that impact inflammation in the body is our diet. Eating more fruits and vegetables is important because they have a large amount of anti-inflammatory compounds. Getting enough healthy fats, like the omega-3’s found in flax and chia seeds, and walnuts, is important. Don’t like the taste or have picky eaters? Try hiding them in smoothies! Fish are a great source of healthy protein and healthy fats, too.    Making small adjustments to your diet can help improve your mental health drastically, whether you’re someone who struggles with depression and anxiety, or just want a “pick me up” when you’re feeling a bit down. Eating healthy and the right nutrition isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. You have to also implement other tools and support, if needed, to boost your mindset.    How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“Sometimes we think, ‘I’m not sleeping, I’m not exercising, I need to eat healthier, I’m stressed’, and then we’re just even more overwhelmed. Overwhelm does nothing for us.”   Dr. Christopher Mohr (24:07-24:17) Dr. Christopher Mohr, PhD R.D., is one of the world’s leading nutrition and mindset experts and he’s got a lot to say when it comes to “Minding your Melon”. He’s consulted for clients like Under Armour, Reebok, Clif Bar, Gatorade, and was the consulting Sports Nutritionist for the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s even spoken at the White House and to the CIA thanks to his incredible expertise!   Dr. Mohr is no stranger to mental health. Sure, you can practice all the “wellbeing” steps in the world, but if you aren’t handling stress properly, you won’t reap the benefits of all your “wellbeing” hard work. One thing Dr. Mohr is concerned about in regards to stress is our children. Not only have they grown up in an era of constantly being connected digitally, they’ve experienced a large amount of radical changes in a short period of time with the pandemic and virtual schooling, causing a heightened sensitivity.    Even as adults, we’re always connected to a device and lack the quiet time we need to refresh, relax and reenergize. If you’re mentally stressed out, it’s going to impact all other areas of your life and can turn into a vicious cycle of burnout. As we know, stress can turn into not being able to sleep well and get the rest you need, eating foods that aren’t healthy for you, which turns into weight gain, which can cause self-esteem issues, and then the cycle just continues.    “If we’re not making sleep a priority (in quality and quantity), that can play a big role in overall stress and mental health struggles.” Dr. Christopher Mohr (11:15-11:26)   Whether we like it or not, stress is unavoidable. There’s constantly different shoes we have to fill, hats we have to wear, and uncontrollable variables being thrown at us (like a pandemic) that we have to deal with. Now, we’re living in an era where it’s common to work from home or have a hybrid work situation, on top of always being connected through a device, there’s never enough time to shut down, disconnect and decompress from the day.    Did you know 60% of people say their stress level is at an all-time high, and many of those people were claiming to be at the level of burnout?   This is why boundaries are important, which can be difficult if you’re in a field like farming, for example, where your job truly is 24/7. Farmers’ boundary issues with work go beyond receiving an email at 11 p.m. and choosing to answer or ignore it. Farmers have to deal with their profit growing in the ground almost all year round, while fighting unforeseen variables Mother Nature throws at them. Plus, there’s labor issues, diseases, and so many other things out of a farmer’s control. Dr. Mohr likens farmers to first responders – they’re both always working and if they don’t work, we don’t eat!    For farmers and anyone else dealing with stress, Dr. Mohr suggests making a list of controllable stressors and uncontrollable stressors. There are always going to be things we deal with that are out of our control, but what is in our control is how we respond to those stressors. When it comes to your health, you do have control over what you put in your body, how and when you move it, and taking baby steps in the right direction.    “Worrying about things that we have no control over does nothing more than increase our stress and worry when we can’t do anything about it anyway.” Dr. Christopher Mohr (20:33-20:42)   It’s important to identify the pieces in your life you can control and the things you can’t, so you can then decide how to respond to them. Knowing the harmony that’s created between taking care of your sleep, diet and exercise habits in conjunction to mental stress, take just one baby step in the right direction with any area you’re struggling with. That might mean you commit to eating one piece of fruit a day, or making it a non-negotiable that you’re in bed by 9 p.m. (with your phone off!) every night.    Also, don’t hesitate to talk to someone like a licensed therapist or counselor about your stress. There are plenty of professionals who will understand your unique situation and can help you discover improvements you can make to better your mental health. Boundaries, non-negotiables and understanding what you can and can’t control are all great takeaways to “Mind your Melon” and take care of your mental health! For more great tips, advice, coaching and beyond, find Dr. Mohr’s website at www.mohrresults.com.    How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“My dad had the mindset that this isn’t just a profession, this is my identity. If I’m not a farmer, what else am I going to do?”    Marshal Sewell (15:19-15:28)   For the month of May, we’re doing a special series called “Mind Your Melon” and focusing on mental health awareness for the agriculture industry. Marshal Sewell, Strategic Account Manager and Mental Health “AG-vocate” for Bayer Crop Science, and fifth generation farmer, knows first hand the compounding stressors that deplete a healthy mindset while working on a farm.   Fall of Marshal’s senior year of high school was one of high stress. Like most seniors, he was trying to enjoy his last year of school, but also figure out what to do with his life. At the same time, his family and other local farmers were seeing issues with the plant quality of their winter strawberries. Local college researchers identified that there might have been diseases in the fields from the nursery the plants originated from. Marshal’s family tried to stay positive, but hardly got any strawberries out of that winter’s harvest.    “With no clue what to do and faced with this nursery borne disease, my dad didn’t see a way out and chose to take his own life. That was my indoctrination into mental health,” Marshal says.   After going through this tragedy and seeing his family struggle to overcome, plus knowing the regular farm-related stressors they had to deal with, Marshal was set on trying to identify ways to overcome this and help farmers manage their stress before it’s too late. After Hurricane Georgia hit, the Georgia Farm Bureau reached out to Marshal and asked him to share his story, hoping it will help raise awareness and show there’s hope after difficult times and tragedy. This turned into a catalyst for him to do more advocacy work and of course, after COVID-19 hit and things became even more stressful, Marshal’s been on a mission to get farmers talking honestly and openly about their mental and emotional state.   “How do we, on a farm level, manage risk and mitigate stress and difficult times, and what can we be doing more proactively even outside of the farming community to prepare ourselves for challenging times?” Marshal Sewell (10:17-10:35)   People who aren’t in the agricultural industry don’t understand the insurmountable amounts of stress on farms. There’s disease, weather changes, regularly occurring contagion, financial issues and so much more that can happen when running a farm, and there’s never an end in sight. Farmers don’t have the opportunity to pause, take a break to recharge or go on a “vacation” from these stressors. It’s compounding and only comparable to what someone in law enforcement or a Navy SEAL might go through.   Not only is there the issue of trying to be proactive in handling these issues, but getting farmers to talk about their mental health stressors openly and freely. Marshal was recently speaking to a potato farmer who deals with stress all day and doesn’t want to unload it on his family when he comes home – he wants to spend time with them. He goes to the farm the next day and deals with a brand new set of stressors, compounding on the day before. But eventually, he needs to open up to someone, whether it be his family or an outside resource.   Marshal likes to relate this to farm equipment. You wouldn’t go spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a brand new John Deere tractor just because your current one needs some TLC. Instead, you’d do routine maintenance on it, and the same thing goes for our minds and bodies which are the only things capable of operating the tractor in the first place. If we take care of ourselves actively and regularly with simple habits like getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, eating plenty of healthy, fruits and vegetables, and getting in daily, active movement, we can stay health physically, mentally and emotionally which helps us better handle stress when it happens.   “What’s the difference between a piece of equipment and our bodies and our minds, which are arguably the most valuable resource and piece of equipment at that operation, whether you’re a farmer or not. We’ve got to do routine maintenance.” Marshal Sewell (21:32-21:46)   Another important key to our mental health is some form of “mindfulness”, a taboo word in the agricultural industry. Journaling, meditating, prayer… all of these are ways to give yourself the silent reflection needed to bring peace to your mind and come back to the present moment, rather than letting stress ruin your mental health. Lori recommends the book Miracle Morning and former Produce Mom’s guest Sarah Frey’s book The Growing Season – both which we’ll be giving away on our Instagram! Do what you can each day to create these healthy habits and, if you know someone in the agriculture industry, pass along this episode so they can feel encouraged to take care of their mental health.    How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“If we’re robbing these neighborhoods of those green spaces, we’re robbing them of their health as well.”   Bryan O’Donnell (9:31-9:38) What does planting trees have to do with helping reduce the daily food insecurity 38 million people around the world experience? Not only is there a huge correlation between communities that are low-income food deserts and a lack of trees, but just by planting one fruit tree you could be feeding families healthy produce for over 50 years!    Kroger’s public charity called the Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation (founded in 2018) supports organizations and innovators across the country who share the same vision of helping everyone around the world have access to affordable, nutritious food. They’ve connected with the Arbor Day Foundation, who’s helped plant and distribute 500 million trees in over 50 countries to help bring shade, food and beautify communities who need it most. The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation is also on the same mission, planting fruit trees in communities around the world with the goal of planting 500 million trees in the next five years.   Arbor Day may not be something you pay too much attention to, but trees can help solve so many of our issues, from sustainability challenges, carbon emissions, creating communities free of hunger, eradicating heat waves, developing resilient communities, beautifying spaces and so much more! An issue that correlates to food insecure or food desert communities are “heat islands”, areas of cities that lack trees or green spaces. As we know, heat waves exacerbate other natural disasters and increase health issues (even death). With enough trees in these areas, some cities cool down by up to 10 degrees, and the trees also clean air, provide oxygen, absorb carbon and clean the water where it’s needed most.    “More and more we’re having the conversation about climate changes and all the different things trees actually have solutions for. We’re seeing where once trees might have been a ‘nice to have’ in the neighborhood and we’re realizing they’re actually a ‘must have’.” Bryan O’Donnell (5:51-6:04)   The work the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation is doing is making incredible strides towards reducing food insecurity by planting fruit trees around the world. Arborist James Kaechele, part of the FTP, reminds us just how incredible it is to think how someone, for example, brought fig tree seeds all the way from their home in Italy, immigrated here, and planted a fruit-producing tree in his backyard of Queens, New York that has been feeding people for decades. The FTP has worked with the Havasupai Tribe located at the base of the Grand Canyon to help create the first town in the country where every family has a fruit tree in their backyard.   “We’re able to work with these awesome, local community folks who are hungry, literally, for more fresh produce, and they’re going to do all kinds of things to make sure those trees get watered and cared for for the decades to come.” James Kaechele (22:39-22:53)   James mentions the most difficult part of creating orchards or AgriParks (like in Fishers, Indiana) is the initial step of transporting and planting trees to these communities. The funding and partnership work from Kroger’s Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation is playing a huge role in making this movement possible. Customers who shop at Kroger are able to donate to the foundation which is helping develop urban orchard projects and ensure the communities that need trees the most are receiving them. Trees provide essential shade, beautification, food, resilience and are a great way to educate and bring people together, enjoying nature and each other.    “I think what’s so cool is that for years and years to come, way past my time on this beautiful Earth, we will be able to see the benefits of this project and see the importance of something that we have taken for granted – trees.” Ali Berman (27:13-27:30)   It’s incredible to realize all the problems that can be solved simply by planting, nurturing and growing more trees! From climate change to natural disasters, to food insecurity and bringing communities together, the work each of these organizations is doing to create clean, healthy, natural spaces around the world is essential to our livelihood for generations to come. Think about how incredible it would be if food insecurity was no longer an issue and gorgeous orchards or gardens were available in every single community, no matter where they’re located? Planting trees that are culturally-native to each area is important too, as well as educating people on how to take care of their green spaces so they keep giving back.    You can donate to the Zero Waste Zero Food Foundation at your local Kroger checkout or visiting https://zerohungerzerowastefoundation.org/! Celebrate the 150th Arbor Day with your friends and family by enjoying your local park, finding a way to get involved with a community garden and hugging a tree (even if you never have before)!   How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“This is an amazing liquid that’s often misunderstood in our supply chain.”   Melissa Martinelli (6:06-6:11)   When you hear the word “whey”, you probably think of whey protein powder, right? There’s so much more to whey than that, which is why Melissa Martinelli created Superfrau, a sparkling, bubbly, functional whey beverage made from fresh, upcycled whey that comes from the greek yogurt fermentation process. Superfrau drinks are jam packed with vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, amino acids and so much more!    Melissa got her start as an immigration lawyer focusing on deportation defense and asylum law. Her husband introduced her to Austria’s second most popular drink, where he’s originally from, that’s made of liquid whey and fresh juice. Skeptical, Melissa tried the drink and was shocked at how refreshing and invigorating it was. Intrigued to learn more, she found out that 90% of milk from cheese and 66% of milk from yogurt ends up as liquid whey.    It was about 40 years ago larger cheese makers started manufacturing dry powder and concentrate of whey protein, but smaller cheesemakers haven’t had an outlet for their liquid whey. On top of it, because the pH of yogurt is lower and more acidic, you can’t dry it and turn it into a powder. Melissa founded Superfrau in 2018, creating her first prototype by the summer of 2019, and with the help of a Pepsi grant in early 2020, she made the drink shelf-stable (decreasing waste and making it more sustainable) and you can now purchase it at select Whole Foods and Urban Outfitters in the New England region and online.   “I think our timing is quite good because I’m not sure the consumer would have been ready for our products if kombucha hadn’t come out before.” Melissa Martinelli (10:33-10:44)   Melissa’s on a mission to redefine her whey as a “coproduct” rather than a “byproduct”, which is a term often associated with waste. Since one of the biggest causes of forced migration is climate change and contributors to climate change, it’s no surprise Melissa leaped into creating something that’s upcycled and focused on sustainability. Melissa is part of the Upcycled Food Association, an association that is focused on the impact we make on the environment and reducing the food waste in our supply chain. Upcycled Food Association also certifies entire products and singular ingredients, so if you see the UFA Certified seal on a product, you know the company is doing a great job at reducing food waste and using upcycled ingredients. Melissa’s Superfrau certainly makes the cut since 98% of her product is upcycled whey!   Even Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine” was prescribing his patients to drink liquid whey 2,400 years ago, which goes to show how powerful and historically healthy liquid whey is.   The great thing about Superfrau is it doesn’t have the often vinegar-y taste health drinks like kombucha have, and is still a great, healthy alternative to soda or cravings for something bubbly. Melissa describes Superfrau as slightly sweet, slightly tart, and the only sugar included are naturally occurring sugars. Superfrau adds a lactase enzyme to the drink, so if you’re lactose intolerant you don’t have to worry! Each bottle has 3 grams of protein, is filled with vitamins like Zinc, Vitamin B12, B6 and B3, and electrolytes like sodium, magnesium and phosphorus. Superfrau is a great recovery drink and comes in three, delicious flavors: cucumber lime, pineapple ginger, and peach mango, with a fourth flavor launching this summer.    “The first thing you’ll say when you pop open a can of Superfrau is, ‘wow that smells good!” Melissa Martinelli (11:47-11:54)   Not only is Superfrau a great alternative to soda, sugary recovery drinks, alcoholic beverages, or not-so-palatable health drinks, it’s great for the environment too. Being certified by the Upcycled Food Association, a certification process that rigorously analyzes the entire supply chain process of a product or ingredient lets you, the consumer, play a major role in reducing food waste in our supply chain and having a positive impact on the environment. You can enjoy your next bottle of Superfrau from select Whole Foods in the New England region, or shopping online at www.drinksuperfrau.com.    How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“Beko is the Tesla of home appliances! The way you have brought technology and sustainability into real time solutions for homeowners and moms like me is amazing.”   Lori Taylor (32:43-33:02)   In 2018, we started the tradition of celebrating a brand that’s doing a remarkable job of making sustainability a priority and more accessible for all of us in our home kitchens for Earth Day. There’s no better company to celebrate this year than Beko Home Appliances, a company awarded as the Most Energy Efficient in 2022 and Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award (for the third time) from Energy Star! One of the fastest growing brands in Europe and fresh into the U.S. market for four years, and the first home appliance brand to be honored by the EPA every year since, Beko has everything from nutrient-saving kitchen appliances, refrigerators that preserve food for longer, and dishwashers that actually clean the corners of your casserole dishes.   Beko prides themselves on “already having done what others are talking about” when it comes to sustainability and energy efficiency. For example, their dishwasher uses less water than any other dishwasher on the market today, creating a new, revolutionary way of washing dishes. Their dishwasher has a self-cleaning filter (did you know you were supposed to clean your dishwasher’s filter!?), a casserole dish “section” to clean those pesky, caked-and-baked casserole dish corners, and a height-adjustable third rack so you don’t have to waste water hand-washing your pasta pots!   As if their dishwasher wasn’t incredible enough, their refrigerators, EverFresh and HarvestFresh technology will blow your mind. The Beko refrigerators have a proprietary crisper drawer technology that sucks out the ethylene gas (naturally occuring gas by all fruits and vegetables) using just air filtration. They also have created their own, unique lights that mimic sunlight, completely tricking your fruits and vegetables to continue photosynthesis, keep the vitamin content and protect the nutrient value!    “Just how cooking your fruits and vegetables can change the nutrient makeup, you can have nutrient loss as your fruits and vegetables age and get closer to the rotten stage.” Sazi Bugay (18:06-18:16)   Beko has been a household name for decades in Europe, where it’s common to always buy produce fresh and frequently, but in the USA, our purchasing habits veer towards doing our grocery shopping once a week, which is where part of our waste problem comes from. Beko wanted to find a way to tackle this issue without using additives, which is where their HarvestFresh and EverFresh technology came from. HarvestFresh is available in their current appliances and EverFresh will be on the market later this year, along with updates to their dishwashers and washing machines which use steam to save water!    Did you know the average family throws away $1,600 worth of food on an annual basis? On top of that, 40% of everything that’s harvested on the farm goes to waste and the lion’s share of that occurs at the household level.   One of Beko’s main focuses is to reduce their carbon footprint which is why, for example, the plastic tub in their washing machine is made with reused, crushed or recycled bottles. That combined with many of the pain points we have as homeowners in our own desire to be sustainable makes Beko one of the best-in-class, energy efficient companies to date. Beko’s oven is another great example of this, which they are launching later this year. The double-wall oven uses proprietary air movement technology along the width and cavity of the oven that reduces preheat time.    “Beko is a purpose-driven global company and our focus is all about creating a healthier planet. We know that with the health of our planet we have health and wellness for all. Our focus will remain to bring forth products made with sustainable materials, to continue to have best-in-class energy efficiency judged by the EPA, and to continue to bring products that help eliminate water waste.” Zach Elkin (36:31-37:06)   As moms and leaders of our household, it’s hard to feel like you’re doing a “good job” at being sustainable when things like your appliances add to our carbon footprint in a way you can’t control. With Beko, not only will your food last longer and your dishes will be cleaner, you’ll be reducing waste (and your water bill) without having to do anything at all! Plus, who doesn’t want fresher, crisper, healthier, more vitamin and nutrient-packed produce you don’t have to throw out in a few days!? Beko is also focused on making sure all of their appliances are affordable, which is why you’ll never see them head-to-head price-wise with other top of the line appliances out there. Find out where you can purchase on of Beko’s incredible refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, washing machines or appliances at: https://www.beko.com/us-en/in-stock and make your home as sustainable as possible.   How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“You should feel proud that this is the county you live in and these are the incredible things we bring to the market.”   Anna Genaschi (23:03-23:10)   Anna Genaschi, Director of Communications for the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, is always looking for opportunities to educate farmers, ranchers, growers and consumers alike about their local food sources and, while getting a salad one day with her coworker from a local fruit stand, she said, “wouldn’t it be great if we could take an inventory of all the restaurants in our county and see who is sourcing locally and find a way to give them a shout out?”    From there, the Farm Bureau Foodies video series was born! The Farm Bureau Foodies’ series is released every other month and highlights local farmers, growers and ranchers in Stanislaus County and the restaurants that support them. Their first episode highlighted the local dairy farmstead Fiscalini Cheese (this is where cows stay alive, are milked and delicious cheese is made right on the property) that’s over 100 years old!    This might not sound that important, but it’s educational resources like this that help diminish the spread of misinformation that’s one of the biggest threats to our domestic agriculture. For example, Anna’s mom gave her a call after watching a news story that claimed harvesting almonds kills bees. Anna explained to her mom that bees aren’t even in the almond orchard at the time of harvest! Instead, bees join the orchard during bloom in February and almonds aren’t harvested until late August to early September. The second episode of Farm Bureau Foodies even talks about how bees leave almond orchards healthier than before, and the interesting science behind why.   “The number one thing in my opinion that’s a threat to our domestic agriculture is the misinformation that’s out there and the misunderstanding of what life and the practice is on the farm.” Anna Genaschi (24:23-24:37)   Organizations like the Farm Bureau serve as a catalyst for change and improvement, as well as a safe space for their members (our farmers) to share their ideas, best practices, assembly task forces, and decide how to make the necessary changes and improvements to our agriculture industry. Creating a series that speaks to consumers is extremely beneficial for this because there are a lot of regulations farmers are up against that affect their ability to attain and sustain the labor they need to thrive. Labor laws and water regulations are the two top issues both Anna and Lori agree our farmers and growers are fighting against, and we need more voters to use their voice and advocate for what’s going to keep our farmers, growers and ranchers successful.   “Farm security and food security is national security and the only way we have food security is if we have profitable farmers.” Lori Taylor (15:28-15:35)   The goal of the Farm Bureau Foodies’ episodes is to, of course, entertain and educate consumers, but also instill a sense of pride. When you find out what your local county grows, the incredible history and hard work that goes into production and the unique, delicious meals local restaurants can create because of it, how could you not feel proud? Many people don’t know that their favorite restaurant meals are sourced locally, or what goes into making that sustainable process possible.   “We have transparency. We have nothing to hide, we are doing things in a way that we believe are our best practices and we’re not trying to hide anything about what’s happening on the farm.” Anna Genaschi (24:06-24:17)   The Farm Bureau Foodies’ series is just getting started and has already created some great episodes you don’t want to miss! Your mouth will be watering when you watch the first episode of some delicious shrimp and grits made with Fiscalini bandage wrapped cheddar cheese. Their second episode features Roberts Ferry Gourmet with a delightful milkshake that uses almond (or as the locals say “ammon”) butter. Watch and subscribe to the Farm Bureau Foodies’ series at: https://www.facebook.com/FarmBureauFoodies/.   How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“It’s a safe assumption to make that [sexual harassment] is happening in your workplace.”    LeAnne Ruzzamenti (14:05-14:09) The Equitable Food Initiative is raising awareness for sexual harassment prevention in the month of April and, thanks to them, all companies across the Agriculture industry have access to a phenemonenal sexual harassment prevention training and toolkit that’s helped transform company culture at businesses like GoodFarms, one of the brands under Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce.    Sexual harassment is an uncomfortable issue to talk about, but thanks to initiatives from the EFI (which started decades before Hollywood’s “#MeToo” movement), more and more business have the tools to create trust, build open lines of communication and properly handle cases of sexual harassment that previously were never spoken about.    Not yet familiar with the Equitable Food Initiative? The EFI is a skill building and certification organization that focuses on workforce development to create healthier workplaces and safer food by engaging farm workers in new and different ways in their work. They help train growers and workers to create new forms of communication and collaboration that’s most conducive to a healthy working environment. The EFI also works with retailers by helping them understand what those industry requirements are that growers like Good Farms are meeting and exceeding those. This ends up helping consumers so have a barometer for comparing fresh produce brands and grocery retailers.   Some studies show that 99.8% of people who experience sexual harassment at work never file a sexual harassment charge, and in the farming industry that can be especially true. Because of the nature of the work, employers and employees can be left at risk because workers are spread out and can be easily isolated. Many workers are under the supervision of just one person and that person might have the majority power in the working relationship, like controlling shifts in the quality of work. Plus, a large majority of the worker population speaks a different language which can make it difficult for them to know about certain policies and how to get help if they need it.    “You see women who will leave jobs. You see both men and women who are reluctant to refer family and friends to work in an organization that has harassment issues. When you’re in an industry like food and agriculture where we have a dire labor shortage, you really want to ensure your working conditions are safe and healthy and have a reason to be attracting and keeping talent, not driving them out the door.” LeAnne Ruzzamenti (12:19-12:47)   Amalia Lommel, Director of Social Responsibility at Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce (or as Lori likes to call her “the OG of the social responsibility space for fresh produce”), started the social responsibility program at Andrew & Williamson first by taking the partner owners of GoodFarms out into the field sand speaking to every different crew about EFI. Each crew was asked to nominate a representative to be the liaison for learning about the EFI program. The workers were skeptical, wondering things like if they had anything to gain from this, or if they’d be retaliated against by a supervisor, for example, if they volunteered for this program.    “We needed to teach everybody within the sexual harassment standards and the labor laws what their rights are, what their responsibilities are, and that it’s your responsibility to report and your right to be safe and not harassed.” Amalia Lommel (19:22-19:41)   At first, Amalia would ask women “how are you doing? How are you feeling?”, and their response was always “fine”. No news is good news, right? Amalia soon realized she wasn’t communicating and building trust with workers in the right way so she could break the barrier and offer a safe space for them to speak up about what they were encountering. Eventually she began to hear about sexual harassment issues and claims after consistently using the communication tools from the EFI training.    Since putting the EFI program into place, there’s been a great shift culturally at Andrew & Williamsons GoodFarms. More and more women are in decision-making roles, and women are arriving to the farm through their H2A program, a guest worker program where people from Mexico are invited to come work in the United States. Women now feel more comfortable to ask for promotions, volunteer for leadership positions and are speaking up about harassment issues they used to keep quiet about.   “If you take away the shame and retaliation and fear and you applaud people when they come forth with an issue, I think that’s a beautiful first step.” Amalia Lommel (39:51-40:01)   What can other businesses in agriculture address sexual harassment in their own organization? The EFI partnered with a University of Washington professor to create a sexual harasment prevention curriculum designed specifically for the Agriculture. The training took six years to develop and 72 stakeholders in the process including human rights organizations, state and federal agencies, grower associations, legal experts and more. This program is now free and completely available online! The course is self-guided through videos to watch, and available to order as an in-person hard copy as well! Find out more about this free program at www.equitablefood.org/harassment.   How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“Produce waste is a trillion dollar problem.”   Lori Taylor (13:58-14:00)   Food waste is something we’re all guilty of here in the United States. Have you ever tasted an apple from your recent trip to the grocery store and felt it tasted tired? You probably threw out the rest of them without a second thought. But did you know in the United States, 40% of fruits and vegetables grown end up in the garbage?   This is something that Seth Shumate, CEO and co-founder, and Andy Tudor, Director of Marketing and Business Development of Yumbrella are working hard to change. Yumbrella is a company replacing the wax covering we’re used to seeing on our fruits and vegetables with an all-natural, transparent, odorless, tasteless coating that uses only common food ingredients and extends shelf life by protecting fruits and vegetables. Even better and what sets the Yumbrella liquid coating apart from wax is it dissolves in two seconds under running water!   How did Yumbrella get started? Seth’s co-founder Richardos was taking a cab from school in Beirut, Lebanon and the driver, who happened to be an apple farmer, was complaining that he had to throw his apples out that year because cold storage was too expensive (Lebanon’s electricity rates are often higher than Hawaii’s because they need to import their fuel). A month later, Richardos was looking at the film form around the edge of his mom’s casserole dish and got the idea to create a food-based coating, using nature’s natural processes, to slow down spoilage and preserve fruits and vegetables when they’re at their best.   “We envision Yumbrella being a truly global solution because the energy payback is what’s so extraordinary. That means it’ll be more affordable for smallholder farmers up to big packing groups in the United States.” Seth Shumate (15:09-15:13)   Why haven’t consumers heard about this technology yet? Yumbrella's first focus was to work with growers and packers and make sure they saw the value in it. They wanted to show growers the quality of preservation Yumbrella’s product provides, but also that it slows down the respiration of fruit so growers won’t lose 30% of what they purchase to weight reduction and produce shows up to retailers already being hydrated. Yumbrella’s team is doing what they can to be transparent by sharing their incredible story on their website and going on podcasts like The Produce Moms, but considering consumers will spend less than one second looking at an information placard on display, they’re leaving it up to retailers to inform the consumer how they’d like.   “We think Yumbrella is a very exciting story to tell with its sustainability aspects and washability and the fact that you’re getting a better tasting piece of fruit which means you’re going to end up throwing away less of what you actually buy. These are all super positives. We love telling this story.” Andy Tudor (17:20-17:41)   Oftentimes when someone hears about something being sustainable, they think it’ll be more expensive, which isn’t the case with Yumbrella. For example, when packers repackage apples, they use new boxes and new materials, which is costly and wasteful. Each apple takes up its own water and own energy, so with less throwaway happening, the ROI for everyone across the produce supply chain is phenomenal.     “This is a tool for us. This is great, it helps us manage our inventories and the apple is just as if it came off the packing line to the consumer so there’s no degradation over the supply chain.” Andy Tudor (7:52-8:09)   Remember, you’re automatically getting a better product when you purchase one that’s sprayed with Yumbrella instead of wax. When your produce is “covered by fresh”, it’s covered in something completely natural that has locked in the condition of the fruit or vegetable from the time it was applied. The shelf life is extended, your produce will taste better and it washes off in two seconds under running water!   Healthy, organic, safe, sustainable… What's not to love about Yumbrella? You can find out more about this powerful solution to ending food waste by visiting www.yumbrella.com. How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!  

“I really want the consumer to understand the true cost of producing a product. I think with more education they’ll know what they’re investing in and will be willing to pay more for a quality product they know has a positive impact in the world.”   LeAnne Ruzzamenti (14:09-14:26) The annual Farm Worker Awareness Week, which falls along Caesar Chavez’s birthday and along the same time when fresh fruit and vegetable production moves back to the U.S., is an important week to honor the daily contributions that farm workers make to our food system. We truly wouldn’t have access to the quality supply of products we enjoy without our farm workers who are invisible to us as consumers.    LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Equitable Food Initiative, was raised on a family-owned apple farm in the Hudson Valley and has been in agriculture her whole life. Joining the Equitable Food Initiative in 2016 was an opportunity for her to share her passion for sharing stories that highlight the people behind our food. The EFI is a certification organization focused on workforce development and engaging with farm workers directly to create healthier workplaces and safer foods.   For example, the EFI works with growers like Misionero (the company behind Earth Greens, Garden Life and Green Wave Farms) to help train workers and create communication and collaboration that works across the entire team, and they also work with retailers so they can understand different levels of social responsibility. It’s the small, unnoticed tasks that happen every day the EFI is shining a light on for the agricultural industry and consumers.   “We know what it takes to get fresh and healthy food on our table, but most consumers probably don’t think too deeply into the supply chain. It’s really important to show our appreciation for these men and women who are the backbone of our food system and also to call on the agricultural industry as a whole to better educate consumers about where their food comes from and all the hands that are responsible for it.” LeAnne Ruzzamenti (9:51-10:17)   Nicole Minnich-Zapata works as the Marketing Director for Misionero, the company that brings you your favorite organic and conventional salads and salad kits, lettuces, bagged vegetables under brands like Earth Greens, Garden Life and Green Wave Farms. Nicole attests to what a huge part EFI plays in all areas of the business. For example, one of the concerns Misionero was hearing from employees was that the parking lot was too dark at night when they left from their second shift. This led the company to putting in new lighting in the parking lot, and making other changes like adding more paid time off and new bathrooms.   “I think Farm Workers Awareness Week should be spent dedicating and honoring the hard-working people that support getting food from the farm to the table, which is essential especially in the hard times we’ve gone through recently.” Nicole Minnich-Zapata (12:17-12:28)   Misionero has been EFI certified for over three years and just recently has started a new pilot program called The Producing Reduce Program, a zero waste initiative that launched six months ago, and a Work Process Skills pilot program which focuses on the upskilling of employees, reviewing all operation processes and  adding input for areas of improvement – specifically around professionalizing agriculture workers and identifying areas of leadership opportunities for new and current employees.    “As we think about sustainability, how we treat our people and take care of that human capital is a huge part of a sustainable movement in a sustainable agriculture system.” Lori Taylor (18:20-18:31)   You can support the Equitable Food Initiative as a consumer by looking for third party certification labels on the goods you buy like fruits, vegetables, seafood, coffee and tea. When you do your part by buying these products that are verified by audits to meet labor standards, you’re making a huge difference! You can also get involved through social media and follow updates through the EFI website (www.equitablefoodinitiative.org) to start learning about each brands’ process and companies you’re buying from. Learning about each of these farmworkers’ stories and how they’re contributing to our greater food system will warm your heart and give you the valuable connection to your food resources that we’re all looking for.   How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“We are encouraging women to bring their capabilities to the table in a way that’s unapologetic.”   Jill Overdorf (25:15-25:24) Jill Overdorf is one of the first women who had the “boss lady” mentality and reputation in the produce industry and rightfully so! She’s strong, powerful, unapologetic and a key stakeholder in the empowerment of women across the board. She’s technically been in the industry since “starting her own culinary business” at the age of 13! From pushing hand carts, picking produce, driving box trucks and working 20 years as an executive chef, Jill has done it all without letting anything get in the way of her confident drive.   Now the Director of Business Development at Naturipe, Jill never expected to dive into the produce industry. After graduating with a major in film and communication, she went to the Culinary Institute of America and was offered two jobs directly after graduating – one in New Zealand and one opening a restaurant in Manhattan. Jill recalls, “I was terrified of Manhattan. I grew up in Boston and Manhattan scared the bejeezus out of me, so that’s the job that I chose.”   From there, Jill has worked as an executive chef at exciting locations like Dreamwork Studios and the Getty Museum, while living on every single continent as a way to embrace all of our different cultures and the way they utilize food to come together in harmony. Jill eventually came aboard Naturipe to join the already strong roster of powerful women and was wowed by Naturipe’s focus on “our ability as individuals – our strengths, our intellect and our capabilities as a person,” not gender.   “To have somebody say, ‘I need your help’, is really empowering because that means your voice has been understood and appreciated… and then to be able to say to those same people that you need help offers a reciprocal opportunity that is so important in any relationship, but especially when you’re elevating women.” Jill Overdorf (11:50-12:12)   Naturipe does an incredible job at giving everyone the ability to be as autonomous as they need to be, while also supporting one another to elevate each other and the entire industry. There’s plenty of women who reach out to one another for help and support, which Jill appreciates because it shows her/your voice has been understood and appreciated. It’s incredibly important to have that reciprocal support, especially when elevating women, and a safe environment to ask for help.   Even though COVID was challenging for Jill especially because of the lack of connectivity we all had, she loves that Naturipe made it a point to have regular team calls and a transparent line of communication. It takes a team to be successful and Naturipe is a great example of valuing everyone as an individual for their capabilities and strengths, regardless of their gender.    Lori and Jill both recall the days of attending produce industry conferences just 20 years ago where there were hardly any women there. Cat calling was prominent, cursory glances and getting “looked up and down” on the market floor by men. Now, there’s a long line to wait for the women’s restroom at these conferences and certainly less of a fight to “prove yourself” as a woman. It’s no surprise Jill has received comments of, “who do you think you are!?” because she’s never been afraid to walk in a room and ask questions without qualifying who she is or why she deserves to be there.    “Confidence is disarming. Confidence in men and strong women is disarming.” Jill Overdorf (23:56-24:10)   Whether you’re a woman just entering the produce industry looking towards the future, or one who’s been experiencing the same transformation for years, Jill reminds all women that “it’s okay to be smart, it’s okay to ask questions, and it’s okay to push the boundaries if you’re doing it in a way that’s sincere.”    We all want to better the system regardless of race, religion, creed or gender. Bringing your voice to the table to be heard (with confidence) is a must in the produce industry, and using your intelligence with apology. Your ideas, questions, observations and thoughts are needed to keep the industry evolving for the greater good. If you’re a woman who’s been in the industry for years, when you see a “rising star” or “new kid on the block”, help them out! Introduce them to their next potential job or boss, help them understand the “unwritten rules”, lift them up, empower them, and ask them for support on things you might not know too!    Jill’s last remarks are a must read. She shares with us that “it’s my personal mission to have all of my interactions be positive and impact that person’s life in a way that is memorable and important. Whether it’s the checkout woman at the grocery store or someone who’s harvesting for us in the fields, we have a responsibility as individuals to acknowledge other sentient individuals as human living beings. Be kind, be respectful, acknowledge their presence and hope that it’ll impact that person’s day in a way that’s positive.”   How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“If you don’t have the next generation of kids going back to their family business or starting new farming operations, we’re going to have a problem in 20 or 30 years.”   Walt Dasher (20:24-20:35)   Walt Dasher is the proud owner of third-generation, family-owned G&R Farms where they do more than just grow delicious Vidalia and Preuvian onions, they are fostering the Future Farmers of America (FFA) through a program Walt started called Growing America’s Farmers. G&R Farms has always hired local kids in or just out of high school to do additional work during the summer, like driving tractors, for example. But in 2015, not one single application came Walt’s way when in years prior they’d always have an immediate and great response.   On top of it, many of the applicants that Walt interviewed had time restrictions, couldn’t work the hours required, and weren’t seeing this work as the great opportunity it is. Walt reached out to Katrina Jones, Executive Director of The Georgia FFA Foundation, and asked if she could help connect him to local high schoolers and teachers. Her response? Walt’s search was like looking for a needle in a haystack.    “We’re seeing that the kids who grew up on a farm or are associated with a family farm aren’t choosing to go back into the family business. They are electing to move out into other careers. Nobody wants to do what you do anymore,” said Katrina.    Walt experienced this first hand when visiting a local high school to speak and a high school boy who could inherit his family’s (very successful) local farm wanted to go into a career in accounting. Walt was stunned to find out this boy believed that “true American farming companies are going to be a thing of the past because the retail industry could care less where the product comes from, whether it’s from America or Asia or somewhere else”. Walt had to explain that the reason companies buy products in other countries is because they can’t source enough of the product domestically! If they could find everything locally in America, they would buy everything that’s available.   “I’m sitting here thinking to myself that other kids in his same position around the country have the same mindset that they feel like the American retail industry or American consumers don’t truly support American agriculture.” Walt Dasher (30:00-30:17)   Inspired, Walt shared this information with one of his retail partners and wanted to do something to change the overall perception of retailers and farms in America. Walt started Growing America’s Farmers in 2015 to raise awareness through the retail industry. They created their own packaging and point-of-sale material, put it in stores, and embarked on a fundraising program to raise awareness and help young American farmers continue on legacies that are becoming a thing of the past.    In 2015 the average age of an American farmer was 58 years old. Today it’s 60, which shows the average age of an American family farmer is still declining because grandchildren in their 20s and 30s aren’t coming back to the farm.    The majority of larger retail companies east of Texas have embraced Growing America’s Farmers, which brings FFA kids into retail locations to interact with customers. Oftentimes there are lines of 15-20 consumers waiting to talk to the FFA students, ask them questions about their family’s history, the farm’s history, their future plans, facts about growing and more. A large percentage of the kids Growing America’s Farmers was able to financially back are now continuing on into the field.   COVID-19 changed the way Growing America’s Farmers had to operate – from packing, to shipping, to transportation, to how products were being displayed, because retailers and consumers alike were terrified of what the coronavirus might bring. Walt used this as an opportunity to change their core marketing message and further drive home the point of needing to be informed of where your food is sourced and is coming from, especially with the heightened concerns COVID-19 brought us.    “You’re dealing with a pandemic that nobody’s ever even imagined. If you’re concerned about the safety of the food stores, this is why it is so critical to know more about your food source and where it comes from.” Walt Dasher (40:27-40:51)   What would you rather eat? A piece of produce grown in a country you aren’t familiar with, have no idea when it was harvested or any of the safety procedures taken when transporting it here, or a piece of produce grown right here in America, where you know the date it was harvested and from what field, and where you can meet the kids or the family who grew it?   There’s a need for the American consumer to be comfortable and know where their food source comes from and the Growing America’s Farmers program can help you with that. Their onion program is on shelves now and will be operating in three retailers east of Texas from May to June, and then west Texas from June to July. Consumers can go to their local retailer, enjoy the customized packaging which tells a story about where their food came from. Growing America’s Farmers also has the goal of getting FFA kids back into stores in front of consumers (which was ceased because of COVID-19 restrictions) so they can interact with one another and educate buyers on their farm and produce.    Find out more about G&R Farms’ delicious onions by visiting www.grfarmsonions.com and where to connect with Growing America’s Farmers next at www.growingamericasfarmers.com.    How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“We fight through the growing pains because that’s what we love to do. We see it as failure not being an option because this is our life. It’s truly empowering.” Carley Parsley (5:57-6:12) Carley Parsley’s family are fifth generation farmers and third generation blueberry growers at Brookside Farms (they’ve been growing since the early 50s). Even though Carley is the Direct of Food Safety, being a part of a family owned business means you do a little bit of everything! Growing up helping out on a farm, Carley has always known this is where she belonged and she’s seen the industry go from male-dominated to one that’s welcoming and empowering of women across the entire supply chain.   Spending her summers working on her family’s farm side-by-side her dad, uncle and mom sparked a passion inside Carley that made her feel innately like that’s where she was meant to be. She interned with Natureripe Farms before graduating with a marketing and management degree in hopes it would benefit the farm. Even as a young girl involved in 4H, Carley always felt empowered by her supervisors and family with access to the tools and encouragement she needed to succeed, while growing and learning along the way.   So much has changed for Carley along her career in the blueberry industry. For example, 12 years ago, food safety used to be an afterthought whereas today it’s evolved into a full time job! And up until a few years ago, it’d be rare to see a woman attending a blueberry growers’ conference. Now? Let’s just say the last conference Carley went to only had one man that attended! Thanks to a push by leadership and a desire by women to get more involved, there are more and more job opportunities for women in the blueberry industry, even at the farm level.    “[My family] gave us the tools that we needed and the encouragement until we figured it out. We did whatever it took to get the job done.” Carley Parsley (5:35-5:45)   Carley sees a deep meaning to Women’s History Month, especially when applying it to agriculture. Women have been side-by-side male farmers and growers doing their role for centuries. During that time, women were the silent voices in farming operations and behind the scenes. Their day-to-day role was often taken for granted and now we get to honor these women!    “My grandpa was the face of our farms for a long time, and then it was my dad, and then my uncle. Now that roles and changing opportunities for women are changing, they’re taking the step to take advantage of opportunities to have a voice and say in where the industry is headed.” Carley Parsley (13:57-14:19)   The role women play in food in agriculture goes back centuries and has alway been important, but now today we can empower women even more with the unique opportunities available to be a part of the changes we’d like to see in our industry. Carley’s mom started out in the marketing office for Michigan Blueberry Growers, a co-op, and she worked with just a few other women in the accounting side of the business, but it was predominantly males. It’s changed significantly now, and Carley considers her mom a trailblazer as a woman leading the industry.    “I hope opportunities will continue to be available to women as time continues to progress and that they’ll be able to play vital roles.” Carley Parsley (19:42-19:55)   Who is Carley’s role model? Her mom. Carley says, “She’s the example of sacrifice and the sacrifice it’s taken to get our farm. She’s worked two jobs for most of our farm’s growing years just to support my dad and my uncle. She sacrifices her time and she’s never let me have the thought that there’s something I can’t do. She’s always empowered me to do whatever I set my mind to.”     Her grandma, who passed away last year, is also a role model of Carley’s and a woman who was a part of the change we’ve seen in the blueberry industry. Her grandma wanted to share blueberries with everyone and that passion and desire to educate people on where the food they enjoy has come from, which Carley credits to being one of the greatest impacts of her life.   It’s clear that across the blueberry and produce industry, we’ve evolved greatly into a space where women have opportunities to be heard, take on the roles they desire and are empowered to create the change we want to see for many years to come. You can find out more about Carley and the delicious blueberry products her family farm has to offer by visiting: https://www.brooksidefarmsmi.com/.  How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“The system is not set up to facilitate wellness and health. My goal is to help connect regular people with the current research and help make a difference in their lives and help reduce the global burden of Alzheimer’s.”    Tamara Claunch (34:51-35:18) Tamara Claunch had a first hand experience with Alzheimer’s that left her feeling hopeless. Her grandmother passed away in 2008 from Alzheimer’s related complications and, after watching her get sicker and sicker over many years with no way to help, it left Tamara worrying about how she would end up (both her great-grandmother and grandmother had it).   Her concern drove her to start reading the latest international Alzheimer’s research and was surprised to find out how many things you can do to reduce your risk of getting the disease. She started working for The Center For Applied Research and Dementia where she helped individuals with late-stage Alzheimer’s use a therapeutic rehabilitative approach that enabled them to re-learn how to eat, communicate and perform other basic functions we don’t usually see someone late-stage be able to do again.    Tamara went on to work with other organizations like Dementia Alliance International and Apollo Health, which further showed Tamara all that’s available for us to do to prevent and protect ourselves against Alzheimer’s. Now with her Brain Beautiful Method, taught through digital courses and one-on-one coaching sessions, Tamara teaches people how to transform their body into a Living Laboratory, cultivating a garden of brain-supportive habits unique to yourself. Her four micro-courses, Nourish, Move, Calm and Rest, focus on the core essentials of defending against Alzheimer’s (proper nutrition, exercise and stress management).    “If I had a magic wand and could make everybody eat in a Brain Beautiful way, half of their plate would be green leafy vegetables, it would incorporate probiotics or prebiotics bacteria, and include non-starchy vegetables and eating a rainbow seasonal produce.” Tamara Claunch (26:14-26:54)   We all know proper nutrition and physical activity is essential for health, but how does it affect your risk for Alzheimer’s? By following the Brain Beautiful Method and eating properly, getting the right kind and right amount of exercise, not smoking, not having unhealthy alcohol habits, and engaging in cognitive stimulation activities, you can cut your risk for getting Alzheimer’s by 60%! When it comes to fitness, what’s most important is getting your blood flowing because when blood pumps through your body, it’s bringing vital nutrients to your brain. A minimum of 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity a week is standard, and exercise like high intensity interval training (HIIT) has proven to be highly effective. Even if you or someone you know doesn’t have that ability for such vigorous exercise, Tamara suggests walking! Our bodies are designed for it and if you start tracking your steps, you can do just a little bit more each day.   “One of the most important functions of sleep is cleaning out the brain at night. When we go to sleep at night and we get into deep sleep, cerebrospinal fluid washes across the surface of the brain and carries away detritus which is essentially [the] brain’s trash litter. Every thought you had, everything you read, every word you spoke [and so on] is a chemical reaction in the brain which is left behind like trash that needs to be washed.” Tamara Claunch (15:21-15:50)   Sleep is also vital to Alzheimer’s prevention and something that (as Lori admitted on the podcast) most of us aren’t getting enough of. But without getting enough sleep, which is about seven to eight hours per night, your brain can’t clean itself and your body struggles to step out of stress and into the rest, relaxation and recovery it needs. If you’re a chronic late-night phone scroller… stop! Blue light is emitted from our screens and is what stops the production of melatonin in the brain. When blue light enters the eyes, it stops the reaction of melatonin which is what helps us sleep and maintain healthy sleep-wake cycles. This is a tough habit to break for most of us, but Tamara recommends plugging your cell phone in to charge at night in the bathroom or kitchen… anywhere that’s close enough to get to it in an emergency, but not easy to grab and scroll when you should be sleeping.   Lastly, stress is something that we can never get rid of, but can learn to manage more effectively. Our natural fight-or-flight stress response was create for our ancestors to (literally) stay alive, but since we don’t have that life-threatening danger anymore, we need to learn how to turn this response off and get our body back into homeostasis, rather than hyperactivity (which raises our risk for Alzheimer’s). One way to teach your body to switch out of its sympathetic nervous system and into the parasympathetic ‘rest and digest’ function is to breathe properly! A quick way to do this is to practice slow and controlled diaphragmatic breathing by breathing in slowly for a count of four, holding your breath for a count of four, then exhaling for a count of four. Repeat this for five or six times and you’ll feel a wave of calm take over previous anxiety or stress!   “We have to have a reason to get out of bed every day for the rest of our lives. It’s so important for us to have roles and purpose and meaningful connections in our own home, within our communities and with the wider world. This may not be ‘essential’ to life, but studies show that chronic loneliness can raise your risk of Alzheimer’s tremendously.” Tamara Claunch (31:25-31:55)   Tamara’s Brain Beautiful program helps you take an honest look at your nutrition, exercise, stress and sleep habits and make small, daily improvements that will make a huge difference. On top of it all, Tamara teaches how important it is for us to have a sense of purpose. Living a rich, dynamic, engaged, purposeful life is just as important as eating the right foods and getting enough exercise. Life doesn’t end at retirement and as humans, we’re hardwired for community and connection. A key risk factor of Alzheimer’s is loneliness, so make sure you’re investing in your mental health by adding more passion and purpose to your life!   Tamara has two more courses launching soon, one of which teaches you how to support your natural detoxification pathways in the body. You can find out more about the Brain Beautiful Method, Tamara’s programs and ways you can prevent Alzheimer’s by visiting www.thebrainbeautifulmethod.com.   How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!