Rooted & Restless with Marianne Smith Edge

Why does beef cost more today—and why can’t ranchers simply produce more cattle? In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with Sarah Klopatek, PhD, livestock scientist, owner of Klopatek Livestock Solutions and adjunct professor at Colorado State University, about the economic and environmental pressures shaping the U.S. beef supply. Sarah takes us beyond the grocery sto...

Food safety headlines can make consumers wonder: Is our fresh produce safe to eat? In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with Eric Stevens, Ph. D., and Christina Ferreira, Ph. D., of the International Fresh Produce Association about how the U.S. food safety system responds to outbreaks and recalls—and what happens behind the scenes to protect consumers. They take a cl...

In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with Brenna Ellison about the reasons good food goes unused—and why understanding food waste requires looking beyond the kitchen. They explore food waste across the food system, from on-farm surplus crops and harvesting challenges to cosmetic standards in retail, and confusing date labels. Brenna, also, discusses the efforts of sc...

What should we be eating—and how much fiber and protein do we need? In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with nutrition scientist and registered dietitian, Joanne Slavin, PhD about the nutrition topics making headlines today. They explore why most Americans aren't getting enough fiber, how protein needs vary throughout life, and what is real food. Joanne also sha...

What does it really take to grow a peach, a plum—or a glass of wine? In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge heads to Palisade, Colorado and into the orchard with Kentucky native, Phil Patton, owner and winemaker, Peachfork Orchards & Vineyards. Phil shares a firsthand look at the challenges of growing specialty crops in a region where water is precious, weather is unpred...

What if your favorite bread and pasta could deliver significantly more fiber without changing the taste or texture? In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with Jessica Wellnitz of Bay State Milling about a new high-fiber wheat flour developed through decades of traditional breeding. With about 10 times more fiber than traditional white flour, this innovative wheat is a...

In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with Dr. Frank Mitloehner, University of California, Davis professor, extension specialist, and director of the CLEAR Center, about the science behind livestock emissions, methane, and the environmental impact of our food choices. Known as the “Greenhouse Gas Guru,” Frank explains how a widely cited 2006 UN report helped shape the...

In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with registered dietitian and food scientist Joy Dubost, PhD, RD about the science and regulations behind some of today’s biggest food and nutrition debates. They take a closer look at the current GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) process, what the proposed changes could mean for food safety and transparency, and the ongoing deb...

In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge sits down with grain trader Ben Scholl, president of Osterbur & Associates, to reveal what happens to crops like corn after they leave the farm. Ben explains how corn moves from growers to food manufacturers around the world—and why not all corn is created equal. The conversation explores how grain is bought and sold months—or even...

In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with fourth-generation Michigan tart cherry grower Talon Felker about the science, hard work, and innovation behind one of America's most unique specialty crops. From the unique climate that makes northern Michigan ideal for growing Montmorency tart cherries to the challenges of pests, unpredictable weather, and rising product...

In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge sits down with supermarket dietitian Leah McGrath, who has spent more than 26 years helping shoppers navigate the grocery store with confidence. Leah shares practical, money-saving strategies—from meal planning and shopping weekly sales to making the most of loyalty programs and seasonal produce. But this conversation goes beyond grocer...

Have you ever wondered why some of your favorite foods seem harder to find—or why they're changing? In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge sits down with registered dietitian, chef, and farmer's daughter Amy Myrdal Miller to explore the forces shaping the foods we enjoy every day. Using Florida's citrus industry as a real-world example, Amy explains how citrus greening disea...

In this episode of  Rooted & Restless , Marianne Smith Edge talks with registered dietitian and cookbook author RosanneRust about simple, practical ways to make the food you buy last longer and get more value from every grocery trip. From storing fresh produce properly to giving overripe fruits and vegetables a second life, Rosanne shares realistic tips that anyone can use. Rosanne also explai...

What does sustainability actually look like on a dairy farm? In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with Wisconsin dairy farmer Andrea Brossard about what sustainability looks like on a modern dairy farm. Andrea shares how her 500-cow operation balances caring for cows, protecting natural resources, and embracing innovation while producing nutritious dairy foods for co...

Did you know that one out of every three bites of food we eat depends on pollinators? In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with Tamara Horn Potter, PhD, beekeeper extension specialist at Kentucky State University, about the often-forgotten connection between bees, pollinators, and the food on our plates. What We Cover:  The challenges facing today's beekeepers,...

In this episode of Rooted and Restless, Marianne Smith Edge sits down with Kentucky farmer and entrepreneur Jim Gilles to discuss the realities of modern farming, direct-to-consumer food sales, and the growing demand for local and regional food systems. Jim shares how his family's century-long Angus cattle operation evolved from a traditional seedstock business into a thriving direct-to-consum...

In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with Lauren Twigge, RDN and a dairy farmer dairy daughter about all things dairy -from the growing interest in raw milk, the science behind pasteurization, and the evolving landscape of dairy products. Together, they explore common misconceptions about milk safety, discuss the role of whole milk in healthy diets, and the resur...

In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with Dr. S. Liza Lockwood, an emergency medicine physician, medical toxicologist, and medical affairs lead with Bayer U.S. Crop Science. She joins Marianne to talk about food safety, pesticides, natural toxins, and how scientists evaluate risk. Together, they explore why public concerns about chemicals in food often differ from ac...

What if fruits and vegetables could taste better, last longer, and be easier to grow all while reducing food waste? Marianne Smith Edge, MS, RDN sits down with Anabel Rivas, M.S., Director of Crop Technical Development at Pairwise, to explore how gene-editing technology is transforming the future of fresh produce. Anabel shares how Pairwise is developing innovations like seedless blackberries and...

In this episode of Rooted & Restless , Marianne Smith Edge talks with Mary Lee Chin, MS, RDN and owner, Nutrition Edge Communications about glutamate (MSG). Together, they explore how one ingredient became the center of food fears, cultural misconceptions, and decades of misinformation. Mary Lee shares the origins of MSG and how the term “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” emerged from a racially ch...

In this episode of Rooted and Restless, Marianne Smith Edge sits down with Dr. Heather Norman-Bergdolf, assistant extension nutrition professor at the University of Kentucky, to unpack the growing reality of alpha-gal syndrome—a food allergy linked to Lone Star tick bites. As cases rise across Kentucky and much of the Midwest and Eastern U.S., they unpack the science behind this unusual condition,...

Animal protein is at the center of today’s biggest food conversations—but how much of the public narrative tells the full story? In this episode of Rooted and Restless, Marianne Smith Edge sits down with Eric Mittenthal, Chief Strategy Officer at the Meat Institute and President of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, to explore sustainability, animal welfare, meat prices, nutrition, and the...

With protein dominating headlines, where does soy fit—and why is there still so much confusion around its quality and health benefits? In this episode of Rooted and Restless, Marianne Smith Edge sits down with soy nutrition expert Michelle Braun, PhD, to explore the journey from farm to table and unpack the truth about soy protein. From the fields of the Midwest to the foods on our plates, they br...

In this episode, Marianne sits down with registered dietitian and award-winning nutrition communicator Kathleen Zelman to simplify grocery shopping with your family’s health in mind. From confusing labels to processed foods, Kathleen shares practical strategies to help you shop with confidence, without overthinking every choice. They break down the 80/20 approach to eating, prioritizing whole, min...

In this episode of Rooted and Restless, Marianne Smith Edge sits down with international economist Dr. Robert Thompson to unpack what’s truly driving risk in our food system—from trade policy and farm economics to food prices and consumer fears. The conversation also tackles one of the most misunderstood topics when it comes to food fears: the difference between hazard and risk. From pesticide con...