The Farm Report

John Sharpe is a world-renowned chef at The Turquoise Room and a churro lamb enthusiast. This week on The Farm Report, John calls in to talk with Erin Fairbanks about his storied history in the restaurant business, and how he ended up in Arizona. Learn about the local and organic farm landscape in Arizona, and how it’s different climates make it a surprising terroir. Later, hear John talk about th...

Fast food on The Farm Report? On this week’s episode, Erin Fairbanks is joined in the studio by Joshua Brau of Chipotle to talk about ‘Food with Integrity’. Tune in to learn about the restaurant chain’s stance on GMO crops, and how they are working to remove them from their menu. Why did founder and CEO Steve Ells decide to source his pork sustainably? Find out how availability and price dictate t...

Jason Foscolo knows food law. On this week’s episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks invites Jason into the studio to talk about the legal considerations of farming. Tune in to hear why every farmer, whether a beginner or a veteran, should always have a good lawyer on call. How do professionals like Jason help beginning farmers gain access to land, and represent lifelong farmers in contractual...

George Weld and Evan Hanczor truly embody the farm-to-table movement through their enterprises: Goatfell Farm, Parish Hall, and Egg. This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks digs deeper into the connection between restaurants and farmers with George and Evan. Learn why Parish Hall operates seasonally and locally, and how that affects the consistency of the menu at the Williamsburg restaurant....

Alex Young grows food at Cornman Farms, and cooks it at Zingerman’s Roadhouse! On this week’s episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is chatting with Alex about running a farm and a restaurant. What inspired Alex to grow the food for his restaurant himself? Listen in to hear more about the menu at Zingerman’s Roadhouse, and their affinity for heritage breeds. What are some of the biggest probl...

In 1977, Wendell Berry published The Unsettling of America , a book that started a national and international conversation on the state of agriculture in our country. The Berry Center’s mission is to continue his work by bringing focus, knowledge, and cohesiveness to the work of changing our ruinous industrial agriculture system into a culture that uses nature as the standard, that accepts no perm...

We’re going beyond the peel on this week’s episode of The Farm Report as Erin Fairbanks hosts the Banana Coordinator at Equal Exchange, Nicole Vitello. Did you know the banana is actually an herb? Nicole discusses all things banana from organic farming to transport and sale. There’s a banana revolution afoot and Nicole shares her knowledge about the radical turn towards fair trade exchange and the...

How does fair trade works to promote a higher quality coffee? Find out on this week’s episode of The Farm Report as Erin Fairbanks is joined by Todd Caspersen, Director of Purchasing for Equal Exchange. Hear about the initiatives Equal Exchange has started to develop common language so that producers, retailers and consumers are all on the same page. Language barriers, personal relationships and h...

Tasty tomatoes year-round? This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined in the studio by Lucky Lee of Lucky’s Real Tomatoes. Tune in to hear Lucky talk about her family’s history in the tomato business. What makes Lucky’s tomatoes stand out? Find out why restaurant groups like the Union Square Hospitality Group prefer Lucky’s. Lucky’s has been ahead of the curve in the areas of traceabil...

From the farm, to tables across the country! Farmer Lee Jones is Erin Fairbanks’ guest on this week’s installment of The Farm Report. Tune into this episode to hear Farmer Jones talk about the mission of Chef’s Garden, and why it’s important to grow food that chefs prefer in the kitchen. Hear about the heirloom varieties that Farmer Jones grows at Chef’s Garden, and why it’s necessary to grow cert...

Spring is coming sooner than you think; time to start planting! This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is talking with President and farmer at the Brooklyn Grange, Ben Flanner. Tune in to hear Ben talk about innovations in farm technology, and how these virtually simple tools can increase productivity for small farmers. Hear about the Grange’s expansion to the Brooklyn Navy Yards, and the ne...

Seal the deal with Catskills Provisions! Tune into the Farm Report as Erin Fairbanks sits down with Proprietor, Beekeeper and Forager at Catskill Provisions, Claire Marin. Located in a small corner of the Northwest Catskill Mountains, Catskill Provisions specializes in creating raw, all-natural handmade food products while subscribing to the philosophy that a thriving society makes use of the clos...

Orion Magazine has been producing thought-provoking, progressive journalism for thirty years. On this week’s episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is chatting with Orion’s Outreach Director, Erik Hoffner. Tune in to hear Erik talk about the ecology-focused lens with which Orion views all sorts of social issues. Learn about the magazine’s roots in New York City, and why the operation moved to...

Erin Fairbanks traces the local produce supply in South Carolina on this week’s installment of The Farm Report. Tune in to hear Erin talk with Sara Clow, the General Manager for Grow Food Carolina. Grow Food Carolina is a local food wholesaler initiated by the Coastal Conservation League that aims to make local produce widespread. Learn more about South Carolina’s growing seasons, and the importan...

Agriculture is growing in South Carolina; the future is bright! This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is talking with Hugh E. Weathers, the Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of South Carolina. Learn about the state’s top ten cash crops, and hear why South Carolina’s ag sector is growing! Hear about the history of agriculture in Commissioner Weathers’ family, and how it mirrors farm...

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks calls up Mary Peabody, the founding director of the Women’s Ag Network and professor at the University of Vermont. Mary Peabody is a Community Economic Development Specialist with University of Vermont Extension, and the New Farmer project. Learn why women are not often counted amongst farmers in the census, and why more women are increasingly getting i...

The topic of the day is animal rescue on The Farm Report. Erin Fairbanks is talking with Gene Baur, the president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary. Farm Sanctuary rescues and protects animals from factory farms and abusive situations, and promotes a vegan lifestyle. Tune in to this episode to hear Gene talk about the benefits and reasons for a vegan diet. Learn about breeding practices, and how th...

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks calls up Eric Weltman of Brooklyn’s Food & Water Watch to talk about hydrofracking. Food & Water Watch is a non-profit organization that aims to ensure the safety and accessibility of food and water, and to ensure these basic needs in a sustainable way. Tune in to learn about the harmful side effects of fracking, and the mythology behind the env...

On this week’s episode of The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined in the studio by cookbook author Diane Morgan. After a curious trip to a Portland farmer’s market, Diane was inspired to write a book all about roots and root vegetables entitled Roots: The Definitive Compendium with more than 225 Recipes . Tune into this episode to learn about the different types of roots; what distinguishes a ta...

The Farm Report takes a trip to Chile this week, as Erin Fairbanks is joined by Felix de Vincente, Chairman of Prochile, and Blas Tomic, Head of Fundacion Imagen de Chile. Learn about the climate, culture and foods of Chile as Felix and Blas talk about the advocacy work they do for the country and what makes it such a special and unique place. What is the average farm size in Chile? What is it lik...

Erin Fairbanks continues talking about oyster farming on this week’s episode of The Farm Report. Steve Malinowski of Fisher’s Island Oyster Farm, Inc. is on the line to set the record straight on oyster breeding. Find out what Steve seeks out in an ideal oyster, and how certain oysters are selected for breeding. Hear about the spawning process, and how to distinguish between male and female oyster...

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is talking with two important guests from the world of food and agriculture. First up is Mark Schlosberg, the National Organizing Director for Food & Water Watch. Tune in to hear Erin and Mark discuss two ballot initiatives from the past election cycle that affect the environment and farming: Question 300 in Colorado, and Proposition 37 in Californi...

This week’s episode of The Farm Report is all about a different kind of farming- oyster farming! Erin Fairbanks is joined via the phone lines by John Lowell, the owner of the East Dennis Oyster Farm. Tune into this episode to learn why raising oysters is indeed a type of farming! Hear about the different oyster seed stock that John chooses from, and the processes involved in starting an oyster far...

Today on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks calls up Jim Gerritsen of Wood Prairie Farm, and President of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association. OSGATA has recently been involved in a lawsuit against Monsanto in order to protect the rights of organic growers that choose not to use genetically engineered seeds. Tune into this episode to learn about the extensiveness of Monsanto’s patent right...

Erin Fairbanks continues her exploration into the world of apples, orchards and cider on this week’s episode of “The Farm Report” with guest Steve Wood of Poverty Lane Orchards and Farnum Hill Cider. Find out how apple picking and orchard development has changed over the years, due to packing machinery, industry demands and consumer trends. Learn what goes into cider production, including growing...