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ROC and ROC Projects in the News

ROC in print and on radio, TV, and the web.

New Coalition Pushes for More Healthful, Low-Cost Food Options

January 13, 2014 Roots of Change

Veteran business reporter Marc Lifsher covered the CAFPC launch in his weekly Capitol Business Beat column for the LA Times, noting the 19-member coalition’s entry into the ‘rough and tumble world of Sacramento politics.’ Lifsher described the CAFPC as a coalition of organic farmers, nutritionists and environmental justice activists.


You can read the full story in the LA Times.

A Guide to a First-of-Its-Kind Report on California Food

Roots of Change

Our report launch caught the attention of respected journalist Clare Leschin-Hoar, who has covered a myriad of food and ag topics ranging from food safety, to sustainable seafood, to drought impact for national outlets including the Wall Street Journal, Scientific American and Eating Well Magazine. In her January 13th story, she names names of policy makers who voted for progressive food policy – and those who didn’t. She also queried JuliAnna Arnett of Community Health Improvement Partners and the San Diego Childhood Obesity Initiative on bringing together north and south on hot button issues like labor and water.   
 

Food Reform on CA’s Front Burner: CA Food Policy Council report launches

January 8, 2014 Roots of Change

The California Food Policy Council’s 2013 Report on CA Legislation Related to Food & Farming was greeted with its fair share of media fanfare. A front-page article ran in the San Francisco Chronicle on January 8th, the day of our Sacramento Press Conference, which was attended by CAFPC members, supporters, Assembly Members Roger Dickinson and Phil Ting.  Reporter Stacy Finz framed our work as focused on passing progressive legislation to fix CA’s food and farming challenges. Might this be the start of a trend toward more front-page food & farming coverage in 2014?
 

Univision & TV Crews flock to cover CAFPC launch

Roots of Change

Chef Brenda Ruiz of Sacramento and Y. Armando Nieto of Oakland spoke their truths about food justice for California’s Latino communities in this Univision19 news feature covering our press conference.  The Univision network reaches a Spanish language audience that, according to Wikipedia, has reached viewership parity with the US’s five major English-language television networks. Reporters from Capitol Television News, Capital Public Radio and CBS13 also interviewed CAFPC members and honored guests. Hear the CAFPC roar!

Can Public Health United the Good Food Movement?

September 11, 2013 Michael R. Dimock

“The appropriate measure of farming then is the world’s health and our health, and this is inescapably one measure.” — Wendell Berry
In July, I argued that the House’s decision to split out the gargantuan Nutrition Title from the Farm Bill might signal a new era for those of us seeking fundamental reform of agriculture and food systems. This is the second in a three-part series where I lay the groundwork for why unification is crucial for the food movement and how public health can tip the balance of power to ensure the good food movement will prevail in the struggle over the future of our food system.

Read the full article on Huffington Post.

Making $7.75 an Hour, and Figuring There’s Little to Lose by Speaking Out

July 1, 2013 Roots of Change

The economic comebacks of New York, of New Jersey and of so many states ride piggyback on the growth of low-wage jobs, on the hiring of those who dip French fries in boiling oil and pull flesh off the bones of factory chickens.

Voting One Way, Eating Another

June 27, 2013 Roots of Change

Research has shown that a majority of people, when asked, would like to improve the lives of farm animals. Yet only a fraction of the country will pay for products from those animals, when presented with cheaper options.

Food, Farms, and Fracking in California: A Panel Discussion

June 25, 2013 Roots of Change

In California, fracking has been taking place for decades with little public awareness. California has the largest oil shale reserves in the country, and in the Monterey Shale alone, there are some 15 billion barrels of recoverable oil, noted Siegel. 

Small Farmers Tap Creative Projects To Survive

June 22, 2013 Roots of Change

Small-scale growers throughout the U.S. are looking for creative ways to set themselves apart as they find that survival requires more than just selling crops. Experts say these practices are shifting notions of how small farms operate. Since the little guys can't beat corporate giants on price or production, they're cashing in on something the big shots can't provide: an intimate, personal experience.

A River Runs Through It

May 22, 2013 Roots of Change

 Everyone agrees that the only way to fix the Gulf of Mexico dead zone—the largest off the United States—is to fix the Mississippi, but not everyone agrees how.