Food Focus

Consumers are frequently inundated with messages and information about food. Andrew Campbell, the Fresh Air Farmer, is helping people to make sense of this cacophony. Media guru and farmer in Southern Ontario, Andrew is well-versed in communication strategies and education. In this episode, informally dubbed as the “absolutely agree with you episode”, we discuss how he thinks about engagement, wha...

Customers are moving away from the traditional restaurant experience and embracing the convenience of restaurant food delivery instead. The question remains, is this changing the way we eat or simply giving us more choice? In this episode we sit down with Andrew Coppolino, local food commentator and columnist for CBC-Radio in Waterloo Region, to discuss the growth in restaurant delivery and the fu...

When it comes to space exploration, food determines how far from earth we can go and how long we can stay. How to reliably and indefinitely produce food beyond terrestrial bounds remains an unanswered question. However, Mike Dixon, professor in the School of Environmental Sciences and Director of the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) at the University of Guelph has been tryi...

Social media now plays a significant role in shaping the public’s understanding of food production. As such, farmers have been encouraged to be proactive on various social media platforms. But is it working? In this episode, we sit down with communications expert Christina Crowley-Arklie to discuss the importance of digital communications in agriculture. Transcript available here: https://www.rev....

For many years now, experts in Canada have been calling for a coordinated food policy to address issues related to the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food. In this episode, we sit down with Evan Fraser, Director of the Arrell Food Institute and professor of geography at the University of Guelph to discuss what a food policy might consist of, why it matters and how it can...

In a society where fewer people are knowledgeable about agriculture, it can be difficult to educate consumers on issues that arise relating to food. With an expectation of both safety and choice when it comes to food, keeping consumers and farmers on the same page can be challenging. In this episode, we sit down with Crystal Mackay, president of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity to discuss ag...

When we think about Canadian food, Anita Stewart immediately comes to mind. Long-time activist, culinary author and the founder of Food Day Canada, Anita defined the term “Canadian Culinary tourism” while it was still an oxymoron. In this episode, we have a mouth-watering conversation with Anita about the possibilities and opportunities she sees in Canadian food. Transcript available here: https:/...

Canadian students' food preferences may be changing, but they're still hungry. The University of Guelph's Hospitality Services has been recognized as having the best campus food in the country, as well as being a Canadian leader for sustainability initiatives. We sat down with Vijay Nair, Executive Chef to learn more. Transcript available here: https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/AvOVHMvI...

In this episode, Dr. Alfons Weersink, Professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph discusses the implications of supply management from farmer to consumer. Transcript available here: https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/HpDoL6UCrWK88XvL2wtr-68P5HmP75b8tvruyDmfFwu-Wxb9BCCbfpVfwJbXixYEvNjAeYKC6np8BqtrWAcvfRHf23s?loadFrom=SharedLink

Bob’s Your Uncle, a Toronto-based marketing agency, has created a beer made out of bread that would have otherwise gone to waste. "Been a Slice" beer is not only great tasting, it is also on a noble mission to increase awareness about food waste and food rescue initiatives - one sip at a time. Our guest Bob Froese, CEO of Bob's Your Uncle, discusses the challenges of brewing a beer out of bread an...

Despite some skepticism, the new food guide is sure to impact evolving Canadian diets. In this episode, we discuss the implications of Canada’s new Food Guide with Dr. Jess Haines, associate professor in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph and co-director of the Guelph Family Health Study. Transcript available here: https://www.rev.com/transcript-ed...

Cannabis is poised to have big implications in the food industry from snacks and drinks to restaurants and tourism. We discuss both the opportunities and risks that this brand-new experience might bring for Canada. Transcript available here: https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/IDvaubf0Hyk-2-zpKRjmWpCZaqpIAIJw2dBpfhWFoUc-vuDGATFo2LjH3emu35yraUASZ5O0xdFptC6kslLk0dX-ySA?loadFrom=SharedLink

In the wake of the recent outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce, Dr. Keith Warriner, professor in the Department of Food Science at the University of Guelph, discusses the good, the bad and the ugly of our food safety system here in Canada. Transcript available here: https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/QExqodGa8J8mN0zV_3iaC2cUp2EI_Qcm7SD9VWWvJskyQuE9gvDjL__XnMUrUZaJVG0v...

Dr. Ralph Martin, professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph and Mike discuss the benefits and trade-offs of organic agriculture. Transcript available here: https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/kDiXGUn8W79mOlKey6GcndkUYKYHTm4-bEXzNr0hnYWiwstQxKltthn8DdyTYxt0b1D9kO4KTVtz8zu-Og9zh0CSuVk?loadFrom=SharedLink