Many individuals eligible for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, are now fearful of using the program because ever-changing statements about proposed Federal rules put them in fear of their status as legal residents. Fear of retaliation by Washington has hurt children the most. This episode examines those proposed changes in SNAP, the largest part of the Farm Bill, and California's commitment to finding moral high ground. The esteemed Maria Echaveste, a BFI affiliate, weighs in on the obligations of government and its citizenry. Berkeley alum Christina L. Laird describes her experience helping program recipients as a volunteer administrator for SparkPoint Marin, and as a participant.

Farmland prices have doubled since 2004. Seventy percent of U.S. farmland is expected to transition to another owner over the next 20 years. Many new farmers and small farmers rent land like other folks rent homes. What happens when their landlord doesn't renew the lease after a season? How can new and aspiring farmers gain access to land they can control long-term for farming? Will new farmers survive the pinch? We delve into these issues and more. UC Berkeley doctoral student Adam Calo and farmer and Berkeley graduate Mai Nguyen discuss.

More than 900 million meals are served to children in California schools each year. Some children consume as much as two-thirds of their calories at school. But school meal programs have suffered over the last 10 years from major budget cutbacks, declining quality of food, and disconnection with community food needs. Oakland Unified School District, through innovative efforts, is changing how children are nourished. Now other districts are looking toward Oakland’s example.

With or without a large kitchen, children can be taught about real food, our food sources—indeed, the complete food system. In a school with as diverse a population as one could find anywhere in the U.S., Mary Schriner, an ecoliteracy instructor at Cleveland Elementary School in Oakland, teaches children about everything from eggs to wheat to cooking it all, with the support of principal Peter Van Tassel and an army of volunteers.

We learn that 90% of restaurant workers report experiencing sexual behavior that is scary or unwanted. We find that the system that allows this behavior to fester is rooted in concepts from feudal Europe and slavery. We then learn about solutions, personified in the subjects of our interview.

California consistently has one of the lowest enrollment rates for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as CalFresh at the state level. This issue of low participation extends to college campuses, where food insecurity levels are disproportionately high. We learn about recent measures taken by the California government and UC Berkeley to get more students enrolled in CalFresh. Please provide feedback here: food.berkeley.edu/podcast-feedback/

A common and significant challenge for urban agriculture is the health of the farm’s soil. Often, the land has been used for different purposes over the years, possibly contaminating the soil or stripping its nutrients. We follow the journey of UC Berkeley soil scientists and Urban Tilth—a nonprofit based in Richmond, California—as they work together to transform a vacant plot into a working farm. Update: Urban Tilth leases the plot for $500 per year, not $10 per year. Please provide feedback here: food.berkeley.edu/podcast-feedback/

A longitudinal UC Berkeley study called CHAMACOS has been measuring the impact of pesticides on the development of children for over 15 years. We hear from high school students in Salinas, California who are working with UC Berkeley scientists to learn more about how agricultural chemicals affect the health of their community. Please provide feedback here: https://food.berkeley.edu/podcast-feedback/

We follow the story of the nation’s first sugar-sweetened beverage tax here in Berkeley—from how the measure came into law in 2014 to how the tax and the revenue it generates are shaping the health of Berkeley residents today. Please provide feedback here: https://food.berkeley.edu/podcast-feedback/

We learn about how California agriculture has been impacted by dwindling bee populations and what farms can do in response—not only to protect honeybees, but also to restore native pollinator species. Please provide feedback here: https://food.berkeley.edu/podcast-feedback/

In this first episode, we explore a new, opt-in certification program for farms. The Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) is a unique collaboration between workers, growers, and retailers that improves working conditions, pesticide management, and food safety—producing better fruits and vegetables while providing farm workers with higher pay and greater protections. Please provide feedback here: https://food.berkeley.edu/podcast-feedback/