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Mixed feelings about Wal*mart’s sustainable agriculture plan 17 October 2010 3:31 pm

Posted by Tracy in : agriculture,consumerism,economics,local food,Marion Nestle,news,sustainability,WFPA , add a comment

Last Thursday, on Twitter:

@jorgeimontalvo Jorge I. Montalvo
Director, Strategic Initiatives, NYS Consumer Protection Board: food policy and consumer protection
Food folks: what do you think?: Wal-Mart Plans Drive to Buy More Locally Grown Produce: http://is.gd/g1Q9v

@tracyfood Tracy
Food geek, one-time-regular blogger
@jorgeimontalvo I have more mixed feelings about Wal*Mart’s “Global Sustainable Agriculture” plan than fit in 140 chars. Must. Blog. Soon.

Here, at last, is my post.

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News stories, in roughly the order I saw them:

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My first thought was, I’ll admit, a mix of kneejerk snobbery and “Solidarity Forever”: ew, Wal*mart. (more…)

Food Systems talks at NYU Steinhardt this week 20 April 2010 7:44 am

Posted by Tracy in : cross-posting,economics,events,geekery,nyc,school,WFPA , add a comment

Cross-posted from the Wagner Food Policy Alliance blog, where I hope to be a more regular contributor.

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Hi there, fellow food wonks! I just found out about a few upcoming events that might be of interest. Both are happening at the NYU Food Studies department, on the 10th floor of the Steinhardt building. Update: Please email Jennifer Berg (jennifer.berg@nyu.edu) if you plan to attend. Thanks!

Carolyn Dimitri, Economic Research Service, USDA, “Perspectives on local food usage in Maryland schools”

Wednesday 21 April, 12:30-1:15 PM
35 West 4th Street, Room 1078

According to the email I got about this event, “Dr. Dimitri is an economist whose research focuses on organic markets. This talk is part of a new project on local foods in Maryland K-12 schools.” I for one have an enormous nerd crush on the USDA ERS, so I’m really excited about this talk and hope I can attend (and write a follow-up post about it). Unfortunately I don’t have as many details about the next one:

Allison Hayes-Conroy, Visiting Scholar, Bryn Mawr College

Friday 23 April, 11:30 AM-12:15 PM
35 West 4th Street, Room 1078

All I know about this talk is that “Dr. Hayes-Conroy is a geographer whose work focuses on gender and markets,” but a quick Google search about her reveals her affiliation with Bryn Mawr’s Growth and Structure of Cities department, so maybe she’ll have a thing or two to say for those of us interested in planning?

Anyway, just thought I’d pass those along. Post a comment if you’re going!