Changing the "Messy Middle" of the Food System

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The Jill Clapperton Podcast (formerly Tasting Terroir)

Dr. Jill Clapperton + Sara (Hessenflow) Harper

26 episodes

5 days ago

Exploring the art and science of building soil health—because better food starts below ground. The Jill Clapperton Podcast helps you cut through marketing hype to understand what truly shapes a better food system, beginning with soil health. Through candid conversations with farmers, scientists, and changemakers, learn how soil affects nutrition, flavor, health, and longevity of our food. Hosted by Dr. Jill Clapperton, soil scientist and educator, and Sara Harper, regenerative agriculture policy and communications expert. Please support our work: https://buymeacoffee.com/jillclapperton.

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Changing the "Messy Middle" of the Food System

The Jill Clapperton Podcast (formerly Tasting Terroir)

1 hour 2 minutes 26 seconds

3 years ago

Changing the "Messy Middle" of the Food System

In this episode….. We are featuring an interview with Derek Azevedo of Bowles Farming Company in Central California…….

Derek is one of those rare gems of a person who has had experiences in many different parts of the same industry – in this case, the food supply chain. As a result, he understands deeply the challenges, trade-offs, and pressures that affect each part of the chain……

So, if we are going to have a chance to change something as big as the food supply chain…… we really need the insights of people like Derek who understand both the pressures on the system to change……the pressures on the farmer to react to conform to the supply chain – and even – the barriers from the processing and distribution sectors that he has dubbed the “messy middle” — which connect the farmer to the consumer.

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This conversation is almost too rich to summarize…..we talk about so many valuable things in this interview……including:

How the processing system prevents some of the most flavorful foods from getting to the grocery store
Why the food supply system is so slow to change even with strong consumer demand pushing it to do so
Why the medical system needs to change as much as the agricultural system if we are to reap the benefits of healthier food…..
The importance of chefs in helping to connect people to the food trends they crave
And of course, some discussion about the kinds of positive soil health practices they take on a very diverse farm that grows root vegetables – among other things – which are almost impossible to do in a no-till system

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Go Further:

Support & Connect with Derek and Bowles Farming Company

Website: https://bfarm.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-azevedo-2a94a817/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BowlesFarming

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bowlesfarming/

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