Real Organic Podcast

#246: In this talk from the Saving Real Organic conference at Churchtown Dairy, Emily Oakley explains why so many small-scale, soil-based farms are dropping USDA certification - and why the time may be right for Real Organic Project to pursue its own standalone label. A founding farmer of our movement and former NOSB member, Emily asks one of the most urgent questions in the organic movement today: Can small farms still trust the USDA seal? She outlines what such a certification could look like, what it would take to make it free for farmers, and how it could reconnect growers...

#245: Recorded live at the Saving Real Organic conference at Churchtown Dairy on September 27, 2025, co-directors Linley Dixon and Dave Chapman share a joint message about the future of organic farming and our movement’s next chapter. Linley exposes how USDA inaction has eroded organic integrity - from fraudulent grain imports to hydroponic berries - while Dave reflects on the legacy of pioneers like Fred Kirschenmann and Joan Gussow, who built the organic movement from the ground up. Together, they call on farmers, eaters, and advocates to come together, rebuild trust, and keep the meaning of organic alive. As Linley quotes El...

#244: Montana farmer and author Bob Quinn believes the cure for chronic disease begins in the soil. His research comparing ancient and modern wheat varieties has led him to found his own 600 acre institute in the middle of his organic grain farm. Here Bob catches up with Dave to share an update on his White House meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Secretary of Health RFK Jr and about rethinking agriculture as public health. 

https://realorganicproject.org/bob-quinn-healing-earth-food-as-medicine-244

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, a...

#243: Celebrated historian of science and author of Merchants of Doubt Naomi Oreskes exposes how powerful corporations distort science to protect profits, by using scientists who seek to promote their personal ideologies. She draws the lines between climate denial, food system disinformation, and the fight to preserve soil-based organic farming. This conversation is a call to defend both science and farming integrity against corporate control.

https://realorganicproject.org/naomi-oreskes-true-cost-of-doubt-243

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real...

#242: Abby Rockefeller has spent her life pushing back against the toxic legacy of sewage sludge. In this interview, she unpacks how America’s sewer systems pollute water, contaminate farmland, and endanger farmers and eaters alike. From compost toilets to PFAS contamination, Abby makes the case for radically rethinking our waste and a returning to systems that support soil, water, and life.

https://realorganicproject.org/abby-rockefeller-sewage-sludge-242

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a...

#241: Johanna Davis and Adam Nordell built their farm from scratch, growing vegetables and grains while weaving their community together through food and place. But after more than a decade of farming, they discovered their land, water, and bodies were poisoned by PFAS chemicals -  “forever chemicals” spread decades earlier as sewage sludge billed as fertilizer. Their journey reveals the devastating impact of toxic contamination on farms and the urgent need to protect soil, farmers, and communities from systemic chemical pollution.

https://realorganicproject.org/adam-nordell-johanna-davis-pfas-organic-maine

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon...

#240: Barbara Kingsolver reflects on her lifelong connection to food, her friendship with Joan Gussow, and the spiritual, cultural, and political meaning of how we eat. She shares why fiction can change hearts, why capitalism has reshaped food culture, and why hope is a responsibility we must practice every day.

https://realorganicproject.org/barbara-kingsolver-ode-to-joan-gussow-240

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this...

#239: California organic farmer and Del Cabo cooperative founder Larry Jacobs returns to discuss why organic farming must remain firmly rooted in soil and not bend to allow hydroponics. Larry’s proven commitment to integrity comes through via his role in a lawsuit against the USDA over the inclusion of hydroponics under the organic seal, as well as his efforts to educate his staff about the issues facing the organic movement, beyond their daily work.

https://realorganicproject.org/larry-jacobs-lawsuit-labeling-organic-239

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and ed...

#238: Cameron Molberg of Greener Pastures Chicken shares how he’s building a vertically integrated model for pasture-raised organic chicken  without cutting corners - as is typically done with the majority of usda organic labeled poultry found in chain supermarkets. From animal welfare to USDA loopholes, and feed fraud to school lunch programs, Cameron lays out the challenges and opportunities of scaling real organic poultry in a system that favors confinement.

https://realorganicproject.org/cameron-molberg-real-organic-poultry-at-scale-238

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jen...

#237: In this follow-up conversation, Dick Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems therapy, speaks with Dave about how IFS applies far beyond the therapy room. Together, they explore the “middle way” in activism - finding courage and clarity without being consumed by rage or fear. From conflicts in the Middle East to economic inequality and corporate power, Schwartz explains how healing our inner parts can ripple outward to transform politics, community, and the planet.

https://realorganicproject.org/dick-schwartz-ifs-middle-way-237

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and...

#236 - Small-scale, diversified farmer Emily Oakley returns to share her evolving philosophy on farming, business, and life as she continues to align her daily work with her personal value system. From growing fertility on the farm instead of relying on purchased inputs, to adapting to climate challenges, to finding a sustainable rhythm between work and personal life, Emily offers candid reflections on what it means to grow food with purpose in a changing world.

https://realorganicproject.org/emily-oakley-small-scale-farming-episode-236

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and...

#235 - Steve Ela, longtime organic fruit grower and former NOSB member, reflects on the shift from chemical farming to a biological mindset. He shares lessons from decades of growing tree fruit in Colorado, and why soil health, systems thinking, and real food matter more than ever in the fight for organic integrity.

https://realorganicproject.org/steve-ela-organic-isnt-linear-episode-235

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the...

#234 - In our second episode swap with the Market Gardener Podcast, JM Fortier and co-host Chris Moran sit down with Dave Chapman and trade insights on decentralization, food politics, and how organic values can thrive in today's shifting agricultural landscape. From health and climate to corporate consolidation, their reflections connect farming and activism in powerful ways.

https://realorganicproject.org/episode-swap-jm-fortier-interviews-dave-chapman-round-two/

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards...

#233 - Nicole Dehne, director of Vermont Organic Farmers, shares what it means to uphold real integrity in a shifting organic landscape. From hydroponics and organic standards to the struggles of small farms, she explains how certifiers like VOF are fighting to preserve the original values of organic - transparency, soil health, and farmer-driven accountability - in a system increasingly influenced by industrial interests.

https://realorganicproject.org/nicole-dehne-conviction-meets-certification-233

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic...

#232 - Stone Barns head baker Eli Pipkin reveals what it takes to bake whole grain bread that is alive with flavor, nutrition, and story. Rooted in the mission of chef Dan Barber's Blue Hill, Eli shares how his team mills fresh flour, bakes with intention, and builds a bread program that honors farmers and soil. This conversation digs deep into how bread - when made right - can restore health to people, ecosystems, and food culture itself.

https://realorganicproject.org/eli-pipkin-mastering-whole-grain-bread-232

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by...

#231 - In this special conversation, Michael Pollan and Dan Barber and other food system leaders explore the deep relationship between whole grain bread, human health, and agricultural resilience. From the nutrient losses caused by industrial milling to the taste and vitality of freshly milled, soil-grown grains, this episode calls attention to the most overlooked staple on our plates - and how its transformation mirrors the rise of processed food and holds the key to reclaiming health and democracy for all. Hear how real bread connects eaters to farmers, to flavor, and to the future of food.

https...

#230 - Paul Hawken returns to share his hopeful and hard-won perspective on how organic farming and climate solutions go hand-in-hand, and to reflect on the themes in his latest book Carbon. Drawing from his decades of work in food systems and regeneration, he explains why soil is one of our greatest allies and how organic farmers are leading the charge toward a livable, equitable future.

https://realorganicproject.org/paul-hawken-reversing-ecological-collapse-230

Paul Hawken is a climate activist, entrepreneur, and the author of nine books including Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, Blessed...

#229 Marion Nestle, author of Food Politics, joins us to discuss how corporate money shapes what ends up on our plates - and why nutrition science so often serves industry over public health. From USDA dietary guidelines to food marketing in schools, Nestle explains how power, politics, and policy collide in the American food system. With decades of research and advocacy behind her, she makes a compelling case for real transparency and accountability in what we eat.

https://realorganicproject.org/marion-nestle-follow-the-food-money-229

Marion Nestle is a prolific food systems author and Professor Emerita of Nutrition, Food Studies...

#228: Dan Barber returns to explore how farming for flavor - not just yield or shelf life - can transform our food system from the ground up. As a chef and co-founder of Row 7 Seeds, Dan argues that seed breeding should begin in the kitchen, with taste driving innovation in the field. From soil-grown crops to flavor-forward farming, this episode digs deep into what we’ve lost - and what we can grow back by connecting chefs, farmers, and crop breeders.

https://realorganicproject.org/dan-barber-farming-flavor-first-228

Dan Barber is the chef and co-owner of Blue Hill in Ma...

#227: Kate Mendenhall, Executive Director of the Organic Farmers Association, breaks down the strategic grassroots campaign to keep organic standards rooted in soil, transparency, and trust. As corporate influence grows, Kate outlines how OFA is working to ensure the organic label still reflects its original values and that farmer voices are always at the forefront.

https://realorganicproject.org/kate-mendenhall-defending-organic-integrity-nationwide-227

Kate Mendenhall is the Executive Director of the Organic Farmers Association, whose aim is to "provide a strong and unified national voice for domestic certified organic producers." An Iowa native, Kate has returned to her home state...

#226: Peter Segger shares his journey from music and metal testing to pioneering organic farming in Wales. He reflects on the legacy of the Soil Association, his encounters with E.F. Schumacher, and the decades-long effort to protect the soul of organic food against industrial takeover.

https://realorganicproject.org/peter-segger-farming-small-thinking-big-226

Peter Segger is a well-known early adopter of organic practices in the UK, having run a 45 acre mixed fruit and vegetable farm in Wales since 1974. A long time member of the Soil Association and dedicated student of the soil, Peter now sits on the board of...

#225: Julie Guthman explains how Silicon Valley’s growing role in agriculture is reshaping organic from the top down. From hydroponics to venture capital, she explores what’s lost when food is engineered like software and soil is written out of the future.

https://realorganicproject.org/julie-guthman-big-tech-takeover-organic-225

(From the Harvard Radcliffe Institute site): "Julie Guthman is a professor of social sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her research has broadly been about how neoliberal-inflected capitalism shapes the conditions of possibility for food system transformation. She has also studied the influence of California’s agrarian past o...

#224: Author and economist Austin Frerick returns to break down how grocery store monopolies are shaping what ends up in our carts, who profits from it, and who gets left out. From Walmart’s grip on food access to the collapse of fair pricing for farmers, Austin exposes how consolidation is driving inequality across the food system. This conversation offers a clear-eyed view of the corporate forces eroding real food, real farms, and the possibility of justice in what we eat.

https://realorganicproject.org/austin-frerick-grocery-store-monopolies-224

Austin Frerick is a 7th generation Iowan who, after watching his ho...

#223: JM Fortier shares his vision for farming as a pathway to food sovereignty. From his home in Quebec, JM has helped lead a growing movement of small-scale, soil-based farmers working to reconnect communities with their food. Through his work with the Market Gardener Institute, he’s offering tools, structure, and encouragement to a new generation hungry for change. This is a grounded and inspiring look at how living soil, real skills, and deep purpose can rebuild the food system from the roots up.

https://realorganicproject.org/jm-fortier-farms-for-food-sovereignty-223

JM Fortier is a farmer, educator, and author fr...

#222: What happens when an NFL team decides to fuel its players with real organic food? Houston Texans wellness coach Ladd Harris shares how he’s building a performance-driven nutrition program based on soil-grown, nutrient-dense ingredients - including Hugh and Lisa Kent's blueberries. Ladd explains how organic food for athletes goes beyond macros — it's about integrity, flavor,  knowing your farmer and rejecting synthetic, lifeless alternatives.

https://realorganicproject.org/feeding-nfl-athletes-real-organic-food-222

Ladd Harris serves as the Director of Team Wellness for the Houston Texans and was previously the Director of Performance Nutrition for the Oakland Raiders from February 2017 to Fe...

#221: Pulitzer Prize-winning filmmaker Anthony Suau returns to share the impact of his documentary Organic Rising and the growing urgency behind its message. After more than a decade documenting the chemical takeover of food, Suau reflects on how toxic agriculture has reshaped our soil, our health, and our trust in the food system. In this conversation, he and Dave Chapman explore what’s at stake—from unregulated pesticide use to the collapse of soil biology—and why telling the truth about farming has never been more important.

https://realorganicproject.org/anthony-suau-filming-the-chemical-takeover-of-food-221

Anthony Suau is a filmmaker and ph...

#220: Investigative journalist Sharon Lerner shares how “forever chemicals” like PFAS entered our food, soil, bodies, and blood - revealing corporate cover-ups, regulatory failures, and the human toll of toxic exposure:  

To watch a video version of this podcast with access to the full transcript and links relevant to our conversation, please visit:

https://realorganicproject.org/sharon-lerner-pfas-in-food-220

Sharon Lerner is an investigative reporter focusing on environmental issues. She has written for The Intercept, ProPublica and Politco, and was featured in the film The Devil We Know. Her work on PFAs was cited in the Stock...

#219: Organic blueberry farmer Hugh Kent pulls no punches in this deep dive into the truth about hydroponics and organic farming. From his soil-first philosophy to the dangers of plastic pot "organics," Hugh explains why hydroponics is not organic — and how corporate interests are replacing real, soil-grown food withn these lifeless, watered-down imitations. If you care about soil health, flavor, and the future of food, this is a must-listen.

https://realorganicproject.org/hugh-kent-hydroponic-is-not-organic-farming-219

Hugh Kent and his wife Lisa are longtime blueberry growers in Eustis, FL. They're proud to operate a biodiverse farm surrounded by intentional ha...

#218: Author Matthew Ingram dives into the roots of the counterculture organic food movement, tracing how music, radical ideas, and back-to-the-land farming shaped a generation. Based on his new book The Garden: Visionary Growers and Farmers of the Counterculture, this conversation explores the deep connections between soil, society, and the ongoing fight for a more honest food system.

To watch a video version of this podcast with access to the full transcript and links relevant to our conversation, please visit:

https://realorganicproject.org/matthew-ingram-counterculture-organic-food-movement-218

Matthew Ingram is a record collector, music journalist...

#217: Scott Myers, a second-generation farmer from Ohio, opens up about the hard truths of organic grain farming. From navigating weak federal support to managing high-stakes rotations and market volatility, Scott shares what it really takes to farm with integrity. This episode is a rare glimpse into the grit, risk, and soil-deep knowledge behind every organic grain harvest.

Scott Myers is a 4th generation farmer who grows ertified organic hay, corn, soybeans, oats, barley, and rye at Woodlyn Acres Farm in Dalton, Ohio. Scott has been vocal about the challenges facing organic farmers for years, advocating to his...

#216:  Tina Owens, senior advisor to the Nutrient Density Alliance, joins Dave to discuss how the future of nutrient density testing could be the key to transforming our food system. With years of experience representing major food companies like Kellogg's and Danone, and a family background in farming, Tina unpacks the science behind “nutritional dark matter,” the power of soil health, and why real organic and real regenerative practices matter more than ever—for farmers, eaters, and the planet. 

Tina Owens co-founded the Nutrient Density Alliance, where she continues to serve as a senior advisor. In addition to her work...

#215:  Missouri farmer Liz Graznak tells Linley about facing the season after the very recent funding cuts have left her operation, Happy Hollow Farm, without a quarter of its regular sales channels. Many organic farmers have found themselves in the same ill-timed situation this spring, having bought their seed and started many crops weeks ago, only to learn they will not be supplying local schools and institutions with their food.

Liz Graznak founded Real Organic Project-certified Happy Hollow Farm in Columbia, Missouri in 2010 after earning her Master's Degree in Plant Breeding from Cornell University. Her farm has grown i...

#214:  David Weinstein returns to discuss the urgent need for a food system that nourishes both people and the planet. In another compelling conversation about the heart of the organic food movement, Dave and David  explore how the original vision of organic farming—rooted in cooperation, soil health, and sustainability—has been compromised by market forces. Can we reclaim organic’s true purpose and break free from industrial agriculture’s grip?

David Weinstein is Director of Marketing for Heath & Lejeune, a Los Angeles-based full-line wholesaler of organic fruits and vegetables. He has been involved with the organic agriculture movement s...

#213:  Soil scientist Jennifer Pett-Ridge joins Linley to talk about the opportunities organic agricultural presents to the planet's need to drawdown and sequester carbon, with the caveat that instead of just storing carbon, we are actively using it to grow healthy foods.

Jennifer Pett-Ridge is a senior staff scientist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and an adjunct professor at UC Merced. She specializes in soil microbial communities, plant-soil interaction and carbon sequestration.

To watch a video version of this podcast with access to the full transcript and links relevant to our conversation, please visit:
Duration: 00:54:37

Bonus Episode: Author, Researcher, and investigative reporter Timothy A. Wise interviews Dr. Elena R. Álvarez-Buylla about her concerning findings on GM Corn risks during her time heading up Mexico's National Science Agency. With the US challenging Mexico's documented results and claiming unfair trade practices, the world awaits s decision from a 3-member panel of arbitrators. 

You can register for a March 4, 2025 webinar, titled "GMO Corn & Glyphosate: New evidence for precaution from Mexican scientists" here:
https://www.healthandenvironment.org/che-webinars/96960

Tim Wise is a writer, researcher and speaker, and the author of Eating Tomorrow: Agribusiness, Fa...

#212:  Entomologist and grower Ronald Valentin joins Dave to talk about the advantages of using biological controls to manage pests in a greenhouse setting, where synthetic biocides are still the norm. Biological control have grown in popularity, as today, even in non-organic settings, techniques like "banker plants" have been adopted, where non-crop species provide habitat for beneficial insects that can help control aphids and other crop-damaging insects.

Ronald Valentin grew up in the Netherlands, learning the craft of greenhouse management from his family. As an entomologist, he specializes in biological control identification and techniques, ensuring that growers know w...

#211: On a recent trip to Biofach 2025 in Germany, Linley Dixon visits with former IFOAM (International Federation of Agriculture Movements) president Bernward Geier to discuss ways to maintain organic integrity around the globe amid growing industrial pressures. Market forces, political influences, and variances in integrity among certifiers are all contributing to the growing differences between the EU and US organic labeling systems, with the EU growing their acreage planted in Organic and corresponding labeling programs, and the US importing the majority of their offerings on the shelf while keeping their farmland dedicated to chemical agriculture. Whether you're an organic farmer...

#210: Chuck Benbrook may be the most-informed person on the planet when it comes to Monsanto's manufacturing of glyphosate and the unnecessary and sometimes fatal harm it's caused people across the United States. Chuck discusses the cases he was involved in as a pesticide litigation consultant, after a great conversation with Dave about the fate of Organic within our complicated food system and what ideas may prove helpful.

Chuck Benbrook is an agricultural economist, former professor, and sought-after pesticide litigation consultant whose deep involvement in the lawsuits tying Monsanto's glyphosate product Roundup to multiple cancer cases in the...

#209: Nora Taleb witnessed the birth and naming of the Real Organic Project during her time at our joint venture partner Naturland, the EU's oldest add-on food label based in Germany. She shared her thoughts about our next steps on the stage at Churchtown Dairy during our 2024 event, Real Organic: A World Movement.

Nora Taleb is a food systems consultant focusing on regenerative organic agriculture and sustainable systems. She joining Naturland Association for Organic Agriculture in 2015, to manage the team Naturland Fair with its full-supply-chain certification program combining organic standards that go beyond the NOP/EU regulation, animal...

#208: Legendary California organic farmer Warren Weber peppers Dave with questions about Real Organic Project's structure, standards, and funding while also touching upon their shared philosophies and the early days of the organic movement.

Warren Weber co-founded Star Route Farms in California's Marin County in 1974, the oldest continuously operating certified farm in Northern California, and has remained faithful to practicing and promoting Organic throughout his career. He served as an early President of CCOF (California  Certified Organic Farmers) in the 1980s and was instrumental in Ferry Plaza Farmers Market's decision to go all organic in 2003.

To w...

#207: Taken from an interview done in 2021, Dave gets the whole adventurous story from California-turned-Vermont farmer Will Allen about his life filled with activism, teaching, and learning, which included founding the Sustainable Cotton Project in 1990 to help farmers grow organic cotton and to convince big brands like Patagonia, Esprit, Levis, and Nike to use organic cotton to make their clothes.

Will Allen is a longtime organic farmer, activist and author who grew up and started farming in southern California. After many years of farming in the west and teaching at universities,  Will founded the Sustainable Cotton Project (SCP) i...

#206: As a special 10 minute bonus episode to the film Organic Rising, director Anthony Suau focuses on the issue of whether or not hydroponics have a place in the market under the USDA organic label. Real Organic Project co-founder Dave Chapman explains the history of this issue and why it has never been properly settled, as well as the current state of the conversation today, now that a core group of certifiers has stepped forward to publicize their unwillingness to certify hydroponic operations as organic.

Organic Rising is a 2024 film that highlights the key differences between organic food...

#205: Organic California field and row crop farmer Scott Park details the success he's found with his low-input, targeted tillage operation for a room full of real organic certified farmers. Primarily a tomato grower for canneries, Scott's does not shy away from sharing his experiences with slippery price negotiations and the headaches around the regenerative movement's lack of enforceable standards. Scott's full talk and excellent slides can be viewed on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdGiGqNTf2M

Scott Park and his son Brian run Park Farming Organics in Meridien, CA and are...

#204: Organic grain farmer Anna Jones-Crabtree shares an emotional glimpse into the real and challenging issues she and her husband Doug face as they try to align their nature-first stewardship practices with the reality of operating in an economic system that favors extractive agriculture. Anna spoke this past September at our Churchtown Dairy event in Hudson, New York,  Real Organic: A World Movement.

Anna Jones-Crabtree and her husband Doug own and operate Vilicus Farms in northern Montana where they manage thousands of acres of mixed grains and lentils alongside beneficial plantings for pollinators and other wildlife. She holds a...

#203: In her work helping activist organizations and environmental change-makers succeed in their journeys towards truly positive impact, Renee Lertzman of Project InsideOut studies why change is so difficult. She examines the different parts inside each of us, and how they often battle to choose which path we will follow as they react to the daily pressures we each face. 

Renee Lertzman is a professor, psychsocial researcher and the founder of Project InsideOut. She teaches Psychology of Environmental Education and Communication in the MA programme at Royal Roads University, British Columbia, Canada, and has a PhD in Psychosocial S...

#202: Author and Green Revolution expert Tim Wise speaks to the crowd this past September at our Churchtown Dairy event, Real Organic: A World Movement. As Tim points out, industrial agribusiness, as well as biotech companies and philanthropic (or philanthrocapitalist) foundations, are dictating how we feed the world, treat the land, and write policy. But do their economic and regulatory holds across the globe address hunger or do they create it?

Tim Wise is a writer, researcher and speaker, and the author of Eating Tomorrow: Agribusiness, Family Farmers, and the Battle for the Future of Food. He is...

#201: Dave visits author Frances Moore-Lappé at her Small Planet Institute in Cambridge, Mass to discuss the role democracy plays in our food system and why she has chosen to home in on democracy since publishing her breakout book "Diet For A Small Planet."

Frances Moore-Lappé is the author of 20 books, including her breakthrough best seller "Diet For A Small Planet" which was published in 1971 sold more than 3 million copies. Since that time, her life's work and the continuous theme of her writing has been focused on what she calls "living democracy" or democracy that goes beyond government an...

#200: Martin Frick, Director of the World Food Programme's Berlin office, sits down with Dave to discuss issues of food security and their interconnectedness with the Climate Crisis. The challenges of food waste, industrial agriculture, misguided philanthropy, and the need for global cooperation to extend true support to smallholder farmers all come up.

Dr. Martin Frick has served as the Senior Director of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Director for Climate Change at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). He was the German representative for human rights and humanitarian affairs at...

#199: Paul Holmbeck's talk from our event, Real Organic: A World Movement, which took place at Churchtown Dairy this September, is a straight shot of strategy aimed at increasing organic crop plantings and food sales. Paul's experience as the (former) Director of Organic Denmark has him considering many effective paths that the US organic movement could adopt to move the needle and generate real impact here in the States.  

After moving from North Carolina to Denmark, Paul Holmbeck served as the Director and Political Director of Organic Denmark for 20+ years. His involvement in political strategy, policy development, and ma...

#198: Real Organic Project champion Eliot Coleman returns to the stage at Churchtown Dairy to speak about the need to focus our conversations and energy around organic practices, instead of popularizing the reliance on outside inputs. He contends that even commercial-scale growers have all they need on-farm to feed their soil and crops, utilizing green manures, compost, and rotation strategies. 

Eliot Coleman is an author, market gardener, and educator. His work on the USDA study in the late 1970's, "Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming" helped lead to the formation of the National Organic Program, setting the very s...

#197: Dave is joined by the founders of the del Cabo Collective, farmers Larry Jacobs and Sandra Belin. You'll hear about challenges small farmers around the world face today, due to unpredictable weather, changing consumer demands, and rapid consolidation in the marketplace. The strengths of biological controls, often overshadowed by chemical products, are also discussed.

Longtime organic farmers Larry Jacobs and Sandra Belin founded the del Cabo Collective of Baja, Mexico in 1985, In addition to thier work creating a ready market for organic vegetables in the US that would support an entire farming community in Baja, they are...

#196: Real Organic farmer Paul Muller takes the stage at Churchtown Dairy to remind folks about the importance of a food system that celebrates farmers who sink their hands into the soil as they grow food and tend land.

Paul Muller is a lifelong farmer and co-founder of Full Belly Farm in northern California's Capay Valley, along with his wife Dru. Since the 1980s, Full Belly has been supplying Bay Area restaurants and eaters with a diverse selection of organic food, including nuts, fruit, eggs, and a broad and ever-changing array of vegetable crops. They are known for...

#195: Award-winning filmmaker Anthony Suau sits down with Dave to talk about his documentary Organic Rising. Although he set out to make a short, ten minute piece about organic food and farming practices, he quickly realized the deep need American's have for clarity around the role of chemicals in our food system and the outcomes they cause.

Anthony Suau is a filmmaker and photojournalist whose work has appeared in National Geographic, New York Times Magazine, and Life. He has published five books, including photo essays documenting the fall of the Berlin Wall and war imagery in Iraq. Originally  f...

Bonus: Co-director Linley Dixon was the final speaker at "Real Organic: A World Movement" held in the Round Barn at Abby Rockefeller's Churchtown Dairy outside of Hudson, NY on Sept 28, 2024, where she focused on the people who make this movement so meaningful:

https://realorganicproject.org/events/churchtown/

Dr. Linley Dixon is the co-director of the Real Organic Project and the owner-operator of Adobe House Farm in Durango, Colorado. She has a Master’s Degree in Plant and Soil Science, specializing in Organic Agriculture,  and also earned a PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Wes...

#194: Greg Asbed and Gerardo Reyes Chavez of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers tell the story of their movement's origins, including the injustices faced by farmworkers in Florida's tomato fields that led to slavery lawsuits. As they continue to apply pressure through corporate boycotts and public campaigns, they reflect on what has worked, what has changed, and all that still needs fixing since their early win enrolling Taco Bell into the Fair Food Program

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is a human and worker rights organization founded in 1993 by farmers experiencing injustice in Florida's tomato fields. In 2011, CIW...

Bonus: Dave Chapman takes the stage at "Real Organic: A World Movement" held in the Round Barn at Abby Rockefeller's Churchtown Dairy outside of Hudson, NY on Sept 28, 2024:

https://realorganicproject.org/events/churchtown/

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/dave-chapman-churchtown-dairy-2024-bonus-episode

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this...

#193: Real Organic blueberry grower Hugh Kent takes the main stage in the historic Round Barn at Churchtown Dairy on Saturday, September 28, 2024 to address the crowd at Real Organic: A World Movement. Hugh speaks about the drastic changes that organic - previously known as just agriculture -  has undergone at the hands of industrial forces in recent times, and how this influence is affecting markets, livelihoods, ecosystems and communities 

Hugh Kent and his wife Lisa are longtime blueberry growers in Eustis, FL. They're proud to operate a biodiverse farm surrounded by intentional habitat for wildlife and pollinators, where th...

#192: John Bobbe revisits the investigation and exposure of organic grain fraud that he led, which inspired a series of articles in the Washington Post, and later, the US congress to take action. He also updates us on where things stand today and how bad actors in the organic grain distribution and regulation space still need our deep attention.

John Bobbe is the former Executive Director of the Organic Farmers Agency for Relationship Marketing (OFARM) and a current Policy Advisor for the Cornucopia Institute. He is well known throughout the organic community for his dedicated detective work tracking...

#191: Professor of Physics and Astronomy Marcelo Gleiser explains why Earth, like all planets in our solar system and most likely beyond, is so unique in its climate and environmental make up. The ability for agriculture, humanity, and all other parts of nature to exist and thrive is tied directly to Earth's irreplaceable uniqueness, making our will to take action for its survival paramount.

Marcelo Gleiser is a Brazilian theoretical physicist and professor of physics and astronomy at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. He writes a weekly science column for the Brazilian Folha de S.Paulo newspaper and...

#190: Chef and 2020 champion of the Food Network show "Chopped" Eliza Daly shares her story and her passion for educating kids about food and cooking and making sure that everyone is comfortable in the kitchen.

Eliza Daly is a culinary instructor living in San Diego, CA. She has worked in  restaurants in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, focusing on a variety of cuisines. In 2020, she won the competitive cooking show "Chopped" on the Food Network.

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/eliza-daly-teaching-kids-food-flavor-agriculture-episode-one-hundred-ninety

The R...

#189: Daniel O'Connell, author of "In the Struggle: Scholars and the Fight Against Industrial Agribusiness in California," sits down with Dave to discuss the breakdown of ecosystems and communities at the hands of extractive agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley.

Daniel O'Connell is the Executive Director at the Central Valley Partnership, "a regional nonprofit organization and progressive network of labor unions, environmental organizations, and community leaders spanning the San Joaquin Valley." Daniel holds an M.S. in International Agricultural Development from University of California Davis and a Ph.D. in Education from Cornell University. He is the author...

#188: Good Earth Natural Foods founder Mark Squire sits down with Dave to relate how his California food co-op has been able to remain steadfast in their commitment to organic, regardless of the immense pressure and rampant greenwashing throughout the food system.

Mark Squire is the founder, manager and co-owner of Good Earth Natural Foods, an institution in Marin County, California since 1969. He is a longtime supporter of organic food and farming practices, and has worked hard to educate his local community about the issues in our food system that should influence their buying choices. He was integral...

#187: Judith Redmond sits down with Dave at Full Belly Farm in California's Capay Valley to discuss the values and motivations that drew her and others to organic farming decades ago. As times have changed and the issues have multiplied and deepened, what draws the next generation to this work and how can we help them succeed?

Judith Redmond is one of the four founding farmer-owners at Full Belly Farm in northern California, having helped to supply the Bay Area with organic food since the 1980s. Full Belly is known for its diverse approach, offering dozens of crop...

#186: Agricultural economist John Ikerd returns to discuss why the vast majority of meat, milk, and eggs moving through the American food system is sourced from large-scale, industrial feed lots and factory farms. The drive for economic efficiencies that appears sensible when investors are backing the production of widgets has a disastrous effect when animals are involved. Beyond the inexcusable cruelty factor, the savings from economic corner cutting is leading to both environmental and health crises of epic proportions. Why is this happening and how can we change it?

John Ikerd is an agricultural economist, livestock expert, and...

#185: Mark Schatzker, author of the international best -sellers The Dorito Effect and the End of Craving, visits Dave's Vermont tomato farm and talks about the intersection of food, flavor, nutrition and the law, and the effects that junction has had on citizen eaters across the globe.

Mark Schatzker is a journalist and author who writes deeply-researched page turners about food and flavor. In addition to his books Steak and The Dorito Effect,  he released The End of Craving: Recovering the Lost Wisdom of Eating Well, in November, 2021. You can learn more about Mark and his work here: Duration: 01:18:49

#184: Organic restaurateur Jesse Cool sits down with Dave to talk about the positive path forward she sees in healing our broken food system: embracing and empowering young people who want to farm, cook, serve, and fill every other aspect of sharing healthy meals within communities.

Jesse Ziff Cool has been committed to serving local, fresh, and sustainable food for 46+ years in her Northern California restaurants. She has written seven cookbooks, including the recently re-released Simply Organic. As a dedicated fan of local farmers, ranchers, and fisherman, Jesse has been a longtime attendee of the EcoFarm Conference and...

#183:  Vincent Stanley joins Dave to talk about the 2023 release of his updated book, The Future of the Responsible Company: What We've Learned from Patagonia's First 50 Years, and to answer the big question about the newly-launched Patagonia Provisions: why is a clothing company selling food? Vincent describes Patagonia's foray into edible products as a means of impacting the food system for the better.

Vincent Stanley has worked at Patagonia since the 1970s, navigating a changing environment and the company's role in producing Earth-friendly products for customers who want to align their value with their purchases. He is the c...

#182:  From a sit-down interview at Dr. Bronner's Original All-One Magic Soap company in 2022, David Bronner shares his memories of the earliest days and conversations that sparked the formation of the Regenerative Organic Alliance and the certification program that followed. 

David Bronner is an organic food and farming activist and the leader (Cosmic Engagement Officer) of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, a company founded by his grandfather. David is active in campaigns for fair trade, sustainable agriculture, animal rights, and played a key role in the mission to label GMOs. He has written a handful of articles for the Hu...

#181:  Investigative food systems journalist Lisa Held sits down with Dave to share her thinking and expand upon her findings in creating the deep dive series published in Civil Eats, "Walanthropy: Walmart and the Waltons Wield Unprecedented Influence Over Food, Policy, and the Planet." 

Lisa Held is a senior staff reporter and editor for Civil Eats, a nonprofit digital news and commentary site about the American food system. Her food and agriculture pieces have also been published in the Washington Post, Mother Jones, and the Guardian. She holds an Master from Columbia University's School of Journalism.

To...

#180:  In our first-ever podcast swap, we are sharing the interview that kicked off JM Fortier's pilot season of The Market Gardener Podcast. JM invited our co-director Dave Chapman to visit him in-person in Quebec, for a lengthy deep dive into the origins of Real Organic Project and why this work is needed more now than ever. Is this work about food and the food system, or something deeper? And how much should farmers and eaters be involved in spreading the word and working to find solutions?  As always, you can expect to learn something new from both of these de...

#179:  Glenn Elzinga and Dave continue their discussion about raising truly healthy cattle that yield nutrient-dense beef. By following the innate, time-honored rhythm of the birthing cycle and offering the herd a wide variety of plant species to graze instead of pushing for rapid weight gain, Alderspring Ranch is able to stave off  illness and increase the amount of phytonutrients in their beef. 

Glenn Elzinga owns and operates Alderspring Ranch, along with his wife Carolyn and their seven daughters. In addtion to the ranch land they own in Idaho, they lease thousands of acres from the government, moving the...

#178:  Mwatima Juma joins Dave to discuss the powerful influence chemical companies have over African farming practices and the way agricultural policies are shaped across the continent. As support for transitioning acreage to organic grows in Europe and India, multinationals see Africa as a must-win market for selling their amendments. 

Dr. Mwatima Juma is a rural development specialist based in Zanzibar and the chairperson of the Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement. She earned her  PhD in Agronomy and Crop Science from University of London Wye College. 

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:

...

#177:  Twin brothers Ron and Arnie Koss talk about their experience founding Earth's Best Baby Foods in 1985 with the hopes of impacting real, positive change in the marketplace by inspiring Big Food to also meet the growing demand for organic baby food. They also pose lots of questions about the Real Organic Project to their Vermont peer and ROP co-director Dave Chapman, who was present throughout much of their Earth's Best journey.

In 1985, Ron and Arnie Koss founded Earth's Best Baby Foods, the first organic baby food widely available in grocery stores across the US. They are also t...

#176:  Food systems consultant and former team leader for the Naturland Fair & Social Responsibility program Nora Taleb visits Real Organic Project co-director Linley Dixon at her farm in Durango, Colorado for a conversation about the role of organic agriculture, farmers, and corporate actors across the globe.

Nora Taleb is a food systems consultant focusing on regenerative organic agriculture and sustainable systems. She joining Naturland Association for Organic Agriculture in 2015, to manage the team Naturland Fair with its full-supply-chain certification program combining organic standards that go beyond the NOP/EU regulation, animal welfare and social fairness under one label. N...

#175:  Researcher and author Tim Wise shares his deep knowledge of the Green Revolution and its misleading claims to solve world hunger through chemical agriculture and government policy. While most of us think of the Green Revolution as movement from the past, Tim raises awareness that it is very much alive today across the globe, most notably in Africa.

Tim Wise is a writer, researcher and speaker, and the author of Eating Tomorrow: Agribusiness, Family Farmers, and the Battle for the Future of Food. He is a Senior Advisor with the Small Planet Institute and a Senior Research F...

#174:  Republic of Tea co-founder and UC Berkeley Haas Center for Responsible Business co-chair Will Rosenzweig joins Dave to discuss his early efforts to impact change on the food system from the inside out, through entrepreneurship, as well as his thoughts on how to acheive postive impact in today's world through education.

Will Rosenzweig is a well-known entrepreneur, having co-founded the Republic of Tea in the early 90s. He is co-author of The Republic of Tea: How an Idea Becomes a Business, (Doubleday 1994) which was named one of the 100 Best Business Books of All Time, and the recipient o...

#173:  Real Organic Project certified rancher Glenn Elzinga talks about the grazing plan he and his wife Carolyn devised to mimic the movement of animals that were once a key part of healthy ecosystems. Their method of "in herding" has transformed his own land, as well as the public land he leases in Idaho, bringing back a diversity of species and allowing for the repair of riparian areas. Glenn also speaks to the notable nutritional differneces between his beef and the typical feedlot beef that is mostly found throughout the US marketplace.

Glenn Elzinga owns and operates Alderspring R...

#172:  California green banker and philanthropist Kat Taylor joins us again to shed light on how banking and finance influence the consolidation seen in food and agriculture.

Kat Taylor is a positive-impact investor who has started both a community bank and an organic cattle ranch to influence the social and environmental injustices she sees in her home state of California.

https://www.kattaylor.com/

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:
https://www.realorganicproject.org/kat-taylor-funding-world-we-want-episode-one-hundred-seventy-two

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley D...

#171:  Hans Herren shares the story of using biological controls to save Africa's cassava crop from a disastrous, continent-wide Mealy Bug infestation. While he was awarded the World Food Prize for his efforts and recognized for the incredible number of lives that work saved, non-chemical biocontrols are still nowhere near a popular approach in the pro-chemical agricultural landscapes that dominate our globe.  

Hans Herren has served as the President and CEO of the Millennium Institute, an organization dedicated to systems dynamic modeling and the support of sustainable development policies, since 2005. In 1995, he won the World Food Prize for suc...

#170:  Alice Waters' focus on educating young minds about where real food comes from, how to identify and prepare it, and how food relates to all facets of our lives and cultures has inspired many. She shared her latest plans and emotional motivations with Dave in California in January of 2024, as part of a broader conversation about the organic movement.

Alice Waters is the founder and owner of Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, California, known throughout the world for its dedication to local and organic foods and seen by many as the first restaurant to offer what’s bec...

#169: Barbara Gemmill-Herren shares her views on listening to farmers first and foremost as policies and support systems are developed, the need to pay attention to the social workings of agricultural communities, and the immense pressure applied to African farmers by global chemical companies to purchase amendments.

Barbara Gemmill-Herren serves as an associate faculty member at Arizona's Prescott College and as a Senior Associate at the World Agroforestry Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. From 2004-2015 she worked as a Global Pollination Project Coordinator and Agroecology Programme Specialist for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
<...

#168: Author and law professor Zephyr Teachout walks us through the hardcore push for consolidation in the food, agriculture, and chemical industries that has devastated rural communities and our population's general access to truly good food. She also delivers a hopeful message about policy changes on the horizon that are worth our attention and support as citizens.

Zephyr Teachout is an attorney and law professor at Fordham University. She is the author of Break'em Up: Recovering Our Freedom from Big Ag, Big Tech, and Big Money and a 2018 candidate for Attorney General in New York State. Once upon...

#167: Dave Chapman visits Real Organic blueberry farmer Hugh Kent at his biodiverse King Grove Farm in central Florida, to discuss the takeover of the US berry market by global brands that are rapidly encouraging the growth of plastic farms. By leveling soil, spraying the ground with chemicals, laying down plastic and popping up high tunnels, pedestals, plastic pots and a maze of tubing for feed and water, a new generation of disposable (and non-recyclable) "farming" is being popularized in berry production.  Hugh now sees this marked transformation as a threat to all soil-based berry growers, and not just his o...

#166:  Seth Godin returns and lends his thoughts on corporate consolidation's threat to democracy and to our right to find, grow, and sell organic food. He also talks about the path forward and some ways to inspire effective action.


Seth appears in our annual virtual symposium, which is available for instant access here:
https://realorganicproject.org/symposium-2024/

Seth Godin has been a force across the internet and the book shelf for decades, with 21 worldwide bestsellers and a spot earned in the American Marketing Association's Marketing Hall of Fame (2018). A successful entrepreneur, he has also m...

#165:  Allan Savory joins Dave for an eye-opening conversation about the best path forward for solving our most-crucial planetary problems and symptoms, including Climate Change, rapid loss of biodiversity, desertification, wildfires, and the inability of humans to act collectively and organizations to create impact. His views on the management of select grasslands to reverse course alone should grab the attention of environmental activists, government officials, parents, grandparents; really any Earthling.

Allan appears in both session of our annual virtual symposium, which is available for instant access here:
https://realorganicproject.org/symposium-2024/

Allan Savory is the o...

#164:  Author and journalist Austin Frerick joins Linley to discuss his brand new book, Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America's Food Industry. His research on the men shaping our food system through their desire for personal greed reveals a  shocking level of immorality.

Austin's views were a great addition to our annual virtual symposium, which is available for instant access here:
https://realorganicproject.org/symposium-2024/

Austin Frerick is a 7th generation Iowan who, after watching his home state be transformed through agricultural policy to the detriment of the family farmer, became an expert on...

#163: JM Fortier joins Dave to discuss the potential of promoting a replicable, decentralized food and farming system that relies on people building relationships with both land and community, by engaging their powers of observation and connection.

https://realorganicproject.org/symposium-2024/

JM Fortier is a farmer, educator, and author from Quebec, Canada. He is known for promoting a culture that replicates small-scale diversified farms that rely on market gardening strategies (direct sales of cash crops to community members) and human-powered growing practices. You can learn more about him and his many adventures here:

https...

#162: Live from the Saving Real Organic Conference at Churchtown Dairy in October 2023, and moderated by Matt Sheffer of Hudson Carbon, Zephyr Teachout and Dave Chapman field (tough) questions from audience members about the fate of the US anti-monopoly movement and its ability to impact our food system for the better.

https://realorganicproject.org/symposium-2024/

Zephyr Teachout is an attorney and law professor at Fordham University. She is the author of Break'em Up: Recovering Our Freedom from Big Ag, Big Tech, and Big Money and a 2018 candidate for Attorney General in New York State. Once upon...

#161: Co-director Dave Chapman joins our newest executive board member and Real Organic Project certified grain farmer Anna Jones-Crabtree for an interview by Al Gore at his Climate Underground Summit in November of 2023.

Anna Jones-Crabtree holds a Ph.D in Civil and Environmental Engineering  and is a registered professional engineer and an early accredited US Green building Professional. She has fostered a national sustainable operations effort for the US Forest Service serving as the first Regional Sustainable Operations Coordinator and as the National Sustainable Operations Director. She lives and farms in Havre, MT at Vilicus Farms with her h...

#160: Organic farmer and Real Organic Project champion Eliot Coleman returns to discuss the role corporations, trade associations, and government policy has had on limiting the amount of real organic food found in the marketplace today. In the second half of the interview, the conversation focuses on growing on-farm fertility and stifling pest pressure by building up organic matter and biodiversity.

Eliot Coleman is an author, market gardener, and educator. His work on the USDA study in the late 1970's, "Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming" helped lead to the formation of the National Organic Program, setting the...

#159: An insightful conversation about what's happening on grocery shelves, with Errol Schweizer, whose career in the retail natural foods space included a long stint at Whole Foods on the merchandising team. Dave and Errol talk about Walmart's effect on food prices, sellers inflation, and the noticeable changes seen at food co-ops and other organic marketplaces as a result of corporate consolidation. 

Errol's voice will be included in our annual virtual symposium, which starts on  03/17/2024:
https://realorganicproject.org/symposium-2024/

Errol Schweizer has decades of experience with food co-ops, CPGs, merchandising and food service. He is a...

#158: Vandana Shiva shares her knowledge around the Green Revolution, a transformative and chemical-dependent set of agricultural practices and policies that promised to deliver food security to populations around the world. But has it delivered on those promises? And how does its outcomes compare to organic agriculture? 

Vandana Shiva is a celebrated scholar, prolific author, and longtime activist who's work focuses on seeds, agriculture, and ecofeminism.

You can follow along with her work here:
https://www.navdanya.org/

To watch a video version of this podcast with access to the full transcript and l...

#157: A continuation of Linley's conversation (one year later and in-person!) with Professor Tim Bowles of UC Berkeley's Agroecology Lab. The discussion is focused on organic's relevant role in Climate Smart Agriculture, even as the DC chemical lobby is training our politicians to believe that any amount of tillage should disqualify a farm from claiming the term.

Dr. Tim Bowles is an Assistant Professor of Agroecology and Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley.

https://nature.berkeley.edu/agroecologylab/

To watch a video version of this...

#156: Professor Tim Bowles of UC Berkeley's Agroecology Lab introduces us to some interesting players in the soil, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and how they may interact with plant roots, drought, and fertilizers. 

Dr. Tim Bowles is an Assistant Professor of Agroecology and Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley.

https://nature.berkeley.edu/agroecologylab/

To watch a video version of this podcast with access to the full transcript and links relevant to our conversation, please visit:

https://realorganicproject.org/tim-bowles-digging-into-rhizosphere-episode-one-hundred-fifty-six

T...

#155: Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin promotes his vision for creating systems aimed at serving entire regions and communities of farms as a successful path forward for the organic / regenerative movement . Addressing the crowd at Churchtown Dairy in October of 2023, Regi also shares his thoughts about how a small group of thinkers can prevail against a big, powerful faction.

Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin is an author, farmer, member of the Regeneration International steering committee, and CEO of Tree Range Farms. He was born and raised in Guatemala during the civil war where he learned about caring for a food system and fighting insurgent...

#154: UK Soil Association trustee, Sustainable Food Trust co-founder, and organic dairy farmer Patrick Holden sits down with Dave to discuss the path forward for the organic movement, as activists on both sides of the pond try to inspire our governments and corporate powers to take note of our competence in the restoration of Earth's systems.

Patrick Holden is a longtime member-turned-trustee of the Soil Association founded by Lady Eve Balfour. He is also the co-founder of the UK’s Sustainable Food Trust, and a farmer in his own right. His family just celebrated their 50th year working th...

#153: Real Organic dairy farmer and former National Organic Standards Board member Francis Thicke gives the crowd at Churchtown Dairy a view through the lens of his education and decades-long career. He also shares how he believes dairies like his own (Radiance Dairy in Fairfield, Iowa) can still fetch a premium for their standout products.

Francis Thicke owns and operates Radiance Dairy in Fairfield, Iowa with his wife Susan, which produces milk, cream, cheese, and yogurt on site . He has worked for the USDA as a soil scientist and has served on the National Organic Standards Board. Francis...

#152: Alan Lewis  delivers deep insights into the growing number of reasons small and mid-sized farms can't find shelf space within American grocery stores. With the arrival of AI and its impact on purchasing systems, even food coops and small Mom and Pops are  aiming to stock convenient-to-order over real, local food.

Alan Lewis is the VP of Government Affairs, Stakeholder Relations, and Organic Compliance at Natural Grocers. His 2019 talk at the first annual Real Organic Symposium blew a lot of minds, as he described the massive consolidation in the natural foods industry, which has been boiled down to...

#151: Ben Dobson, co-founder of Hudson Carbon, has been monitoring the changes in language and funding for agricultural ventures that claim to sequester carbon. He shares his thoughts about the pitfalls that some of these directions present with the crowd at Churchtown Dairy.

 https://www.realorganicproject.org/donate

Ben Dobson is a lifelong organic farmer, originally from NY's Hudson Valley. He has farmed coffee, bananas, salad greens, and grains, and has turned hi9s attention to the practices of regenerating soils with chemical-free crops and practices.

https://www.hudsoncarbon.com/

To watch a...

#150: Dave Chapman and Eliot Coleman take the stage at the Saving Real Organic Conference at Churchtown Dairy to reflect on the importance of growing the real organic movement in the US amid the mounting challenges facing our country's food system. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is embracing the value of growing organic acreage and markets.

 https://www.realorganicproject.org/donate

Dave Chapman is the co-founder of the Real Organic Project and the owner-operator of Long Wind Farm in East Thetford, Vermont, which grows year-round glasshouse tomatoes in soil. Eliot Coleman, Dave's longtime friend and m...