Home Fields

Series produced by Harvest Public Media Group

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Americans seem to be spending a lot of time talking about how and what they eat.

Credit the local food movement for much of this discussion. From home gardens to farmers markets to a concern about food miles, Americans are connecting to food in new ways. Some “lovacores” even advocate for food systems to be rebuilt on the premise of a local food advantage.

Harvest Public Media seeks to contribute to the discussion with our first documentary. “Home Fields: Digging Into Local Food,” produced by our partner NET in Lincoln, Neb., will air at PBS stations across the Midwest this month. We’ll link to the show on Friday, July 8.

In support of the documentary, our team has come up with five compelling radio stories, which are airing across the region beginning the week of July 4. You’ll find those stories here at Harvestpublicmedia.org, along with video, slideshows, photos, links and interactive graphics. Lovacore or not, we think you’ll find much to appreciate it in our look at how this movement is changing the conversation on food production in the United States.

And our coverage doesn’t end here. KCUR in Kansas City and Iowa Public Radio will include our Home Fields series in two talk shows that will air Wednesday, July 13, and Thursday, July 14. More details to come.

Plus, we’re looking for ways to continue the conversation. Please let us know how the local food movement is affecting your life and/or community. Hide full description

Harvest Public Media seeks to contribute to the discussion with our first documentary. “Home Fields: Digging Into Local Food,” produced by our partner NET in Lincoln, Neb., will air at PBS stations across the Midwest this month. We’ll link to the show on Friday, July 8. In support of the documentary, our team has come up with five compelling radio stories, which are airing across the region beginning the week of July 4. You’ll find those stories here at Harvestpublicmedia.org, along with video, slideshows, photos, links and interactive graphics. Lovacore or not, we think you’ll find much to appreciate it in our look at how this movement is changing the conversation on food production in the United States. And our coverage doesn’t end here. KCUR in Kansas City and Iowa Public Radio... Show full description


6 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Ryan Jepsen and his wife started Grass Run Farms in 2006 to sell grass fed beef and hogs. With more demand than they could meet, they began buying from other farmers, and found themselves stepping into the role of local foods middlemen., Credit: Kathleen Masterson/Harvest Public Radio
Local food is becoming more popular, but it remains what some might call a "boutique industry." It's frequently sold in small quantities to an indi...

Bought by KEOS, WTIP, and WNIJ


  • Added: Jul 20, 2011
  • Length: 05:21
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Local produce on display at Clover's Natural Market in Columbia, Mo., one of two independently owned health food stores in Columbia that offer local food., Credit: Jessica Naudziunas/Harvest Public Media
I’m walking down 9th Street in downtown Columbia, Missouri. This is a thoroughfare for local eateries, shopping and business. It’s not uncommon to ...

Bought by KEOS, WTIP, WNIJ, and South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio


  • Added: Jul 12, 2011
  • Length: 05:39
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: "I will pay the higher price to get the local product,” says Kevin Shinn (left), who owns Bread & Cup, a restaurant in downtown Lincoln, Neb. He works with vendors at the farmers market to source local food., Credit: Clay Masters / Harvest Public Media
Would you pay more for local food? Or would you expect to pay less? In today's installment of our five part series on local food, Harvest Public Me...

Bought by KEOS, WTIP, WNIJ, and South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio


  • Added: Jul 12, 2011
  • Length: 03:52
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Mike Callicrate owns a feed yard in St. Francis, Kan. where the mobile meat processing unit currently resides. Owned by the Nebraska Environmental Action Coalition, the slaughter unit has been tested on Callicrate’s northwest Kansas property since last fa, Credit: Eric Durban / Harvest Public Media
Local food takes on a whole different meaning in the vast open spaces of rural Kansas. Harvest Public Media’s Eric Durban reports that supporting f...

Bought by KEOS, WTIP, KIDE Hoopa Tribal Radio 91.3fm, and South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio


  • Added: Jul 12, 2011
  • Length: 04:45
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: City Seeds Program Director Annie Mayrose sits cross-legged between curvy raised beds loaded with potato plants. The 2 ½ acre plot is a standout among burgeoning nationwide efforts to create local food systems that address social problems., Credit: Tim Lloyd / Harvest Public Media
As local food systems evolve, social service agencies are uncovering surprising community benefits in the trend ¬– particularly in some urban cente...

Bought by WMMT, KEOS, WTIP, KUOW, WNIJ and more


  • Added: Jul 12, 2011
  • Length: 04:50
  • Purchases: 6
Caption: Wheatsfield Cooperative Grocery in Ames, Iowa, makes an effort to purchase food grown by local farmers in addition to their other products. The store chooses to support farmers whose land stewardship and farming practices align with their vision of sustai, Credit: Kathleen Masterson / Harvest Public Media
Does buying that tomato from your local farmer vs. one that traveled 1,500 miles from Mexico make a big difference in terms of its environmental im...

Bought by KEOS, WRVO Public Media, WTIP, WNIJ, KIDE Hoopa Tribal Radio 91.3fm and more


  • Added: Jul 12, 2011
  • Length: 04:05
  • Purchases: 7