#184: Organic restaurateur Jesse Cool sits down with Dave to talk about the positive path forward she sees in healing our broken food system: embracing and empowering young people who want to farm, cook, serve, and fill every other aspect of sharing healthy meals within communities.

Jesse Ziff Cool has been committed to serving local, fresh, and sustainable food for 46+ years in her Northern California restaurants. She has written seven cookbooks, including the recently re-released Simply Organic. As a dedicated fan of local farmers, ranchers, and fisherman, Jesse has been a longtime attendee of the EcoFarm Conference and has served on their board.

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/jesse-cool-inspiring-the-next-generation-of-ingredient-driven-food-episode-one-hundred-eighty-four

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this year. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).

To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/farms

We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.

If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000 Real Fans!

https://www.realorganicproject.org/1000-real-fans/

To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/

#183: Vincent Stanley joins Dave to talk about the 2023 release of his updated book, The Future of the Responsible Company: What We've Learned from Patagonia's First 50 Years, and to answer the big question about the newly-launched Patagonia Provisions: why is a clothing company selling food? Vincent describes Patagonia's foray into edible products as a means of impacting the food system for the better.

Vincent Stanley has worked at Patagonia since the 1970s, navigating a changing environment and the company's role in producing Earth-friendly products for customers who want to align their value with their purchases. He is the co-author of The Responsible Company with his uncle, Yvon Chouinard.

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/vincent-stanley-making-a-living-during-anthropocene-episode-one-hundred-eighty-three

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this year. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).

To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/farms

We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.

If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000 Real Fans!

https://www.realorganicproject.org/1000-real-fans/

To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/

#182: From a sit-down interview at Dr. Bronner's Original All-One Magic Soap company in 2022, David Bronner shares his memories of the earliest days and conversations that sparked the formation of the Regenerative Organic Alliance and the certification program that followed.

David Bronner is an organic food and farming activist and the leader (Cosmic Engagement Officer) of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, a company founded by his grandfather. David is active in campaigns for fair trade, sustainable agriculture, animal rights, and played a key role in the mission to label GMOs. He has written a handful of articles for the Huffington Post:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/on-the-organic-trade-association_b_11306156

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/david-bronner-regenerative-organic-certification-origins-episode-one-hundred-eighty-two

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this year. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).

To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/farms

We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.

If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000 Real Fans!

https://www.realorganicproject.org/1000-real-fans/

To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/

#181: Investigative food systems journalist Lisa Held sits down with Dave to share her thinking and expand upon her findings in creating the deep dive series published in Civil Eats, "Walanthropy: Walmart and the Waltons Wield Unprecedented Influence Over Food, Policy, and the Planet."

Lisa Held is a senior staff reporter and editor for Civil Eats, a nonprofit digital news and commentary site about the American food system. Her food and agriculture pieces have also been published in the Washington Post, Mother Jones, and the Guardian. She holds an Master from Columbia University's School of Journalism.

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/lisa-held-walmart-walanthropy-food-system-episode-one-hundred-eighty-one

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this year. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).

To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/farms

We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.

If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000 Real Fans!

https://www.realorganicproject.org/1000-real-fans/

To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/

#180: In our first-ever podcast swap, we are sharing the interview that kicked off JM Fortier's pilot season of The Market Gardener Podcast. JM invited our co-director Dave Chapman to visit him in-person in Quebec, for a lengthy deep dive into the origins of Real Organic Project and why this work is needed more now than ever. Is this work about food and the food system, or something deeper? And how much should farmers and eaters be involved in spreading the word and working to find solutions? As always, you can expect to learn something new from both of these deep-thinking farmers.

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/jm-fortier-interviews-dave-chapman-episode-one-hundred-eighty

JM Fortier is a farmer, educator, and author from Quebec, Canada, who also appears on a weekly television show. He is known for promoting a culture that replicates small-scale diversified farms that rely on market gardening strategies (direct sales of cash crops to community members) and human-powered growing practices. In the late spring of 2024, JM and his fried Chris Moran launched the Market Gardener Podcast:

https://themarketgardener.com/podcast/

You can learn more about JM and his many adventures here:

https://www.en.jeanmartinfortier.com/

Dave Chapman owns and operates Long Wind Farm in East Thetford, VT, which concentrates on soil-grown glasshouse tomatoes that are produced year round. Dave and fellow Vermont tomato farmer Davey Miskell noticed the suspicious appearance of hydroponic tomatoes from other countries being sold with the USDA organic sticker over a decade ago. Their research led to a web of injustices affecting real organic farmers, including berry growers, dairy producers, grain farmers and more. The Real Organic Project was founded in 2017 and has evolved into an add-on food label. It is a 100% farmer-led organization.

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement that has certified over 1,000 farms across the United States. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).

To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:

https://realorganicproject.org/directory/

We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.

We certify farms for free! If you are able to support our work financially, please consider making a donation:

https://realorganicproject.org/donate/

To read our popular weekly newsletter and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming, and policy, please subscribe here:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/

#179: Glenn Elzinga and Dave continue their discussion about raising truly healthy cattle that yield nutrient-dense beef. By following the innate, time-honored rhythm of the birthing cycle and offering the herd a wide variety of plant species to graze instead of pushing for rapid weight gain, Alderspring Ranch is able to stave off illness and increase the amount of phytonutrients in their beef.

Glenn Elzinga owns and operates Alderspring Ranch, along with his wife Carolyn and their seven daughters. In addtion to the ranch land they own in Idaho, they lease thousands of acres from the government, moving their cattle daily as they graze a diverse mix of nutritious plants. The family and their crew ride alongside the herd on horseback and sleep outside near them at night. Alderspring Ranch is certified with the Real Organic Project.

https://www.alderspring.com/

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/glenn-elzinga-raising-better-more-nutritious-beef-episode-one-hundred-seventy-nine

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this year. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).

To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/farms

We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.

If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000 Real Fans!

https://www.realorganicproject.org/1000-real-fans/

To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/

#178: Mwatima Juma joins Dave to discuss the powerful influence chemical companies have over African farming practices and the way agricultural policies are shaped across the continent. As support for transitioning acreage to organic grows in Europe and India, multinationals see Africa as a must-win market for selling their amendments.

Dr. Mwatima Juma is a rural development specialist based in Zanzibar and the chairperson of the Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement. She earned her PhD in Agronomy and Crop Science from University of London Wye College.

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/mwatima-juma-chemical-companies-african-agriculture-episode-one-hundred-seventy-eight

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this year. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).

To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/farms

We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.

If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000 Real Fans!

https://www.realorganicproject.org/1000-real-fans/

To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/

#177: Twin brothers Ron and Arnie Koss talk about their experience founding Earth's Best Baby Foods in 1985 with the hopes of impacting real, positive change in the marketplace by inspiring Big Food to also meet the growing demand for organic baby food. They also pose lots of questions about the Real Organic Project to their Vermont peer and ROP co-director Dave Chapman, who was present throughout much of their Earth's Best journey.

In 1985, Ron and Arnie Koss founded Earth's Best Baby Foods, the first organic baby food widely available in grocery stores across the US. They are also the co-authors of "The Earth's Best Story: A Bittersweet Tale Of Twin Brothers Who Sparked An Organic Revolution." Today Ron is a founding member of Global Health Media and Arnie is active in food systems work.

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/arnie-ron-koss-changing-organic-from-inside-episode-one-hundred-seventy-seven

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this year. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).

To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/farms

We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.

If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000 Real Fans!

https://www.realorganicproject.org/1000-real-fans/

To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/