Through no fault of their own, our nation’s farmers and ranchers have faced incredibly tough circumstances over the last few years. That includes Andy Ordaz of Mechanicsville, Virginia, who is one of the more than 20,000 producers who have received life-changing, transformational support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In 2021, Sigifredo contracted COVID and couldn’t farm the entire year, but his family pulled together and were able to complete the harvest.

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s annual county committee elections began June 15 and continues through Aug. 1, 2023.

Our food systems are under unprecedented pressure.

Cookie and Kate is an online food journal that is maintained by self-proclaimed chef Kathryne and her dog Cookie. The twosome endeavors in blogs that celebrate good food, showcasing their personal experiences with food. The blog allows its consumers or subscribers to access a variety of recipes by ingredients, cuisine, diet, or course. The idea was conceived in 2010 and quickly turned into a reality. Vegetarian meals make up the bulk of Kate’s blog. In her spare moments, the author doubles in photography, a skill that goes well with her other passion.

The authors of this food, personal blog are Sara & Hugh Forte. Sara cooks for pleasure, but also to feel good, slow down the mind, focusing on one task, take care of relationships – gather people at the table. She is interested in the concept of wellness – food, exercise, mental health, relationships, mindfulness. According to Sara, taking care of yourself and others through nutrition is a big part of this wellness puzzle. In turn, Hugh is a self-taught photographer and is responsible for photos posted on the blog. So far, they’ve created two cookbooks and a weekly meal planner, Sprouted Kitchen Cooking Club. It’s worth taking a look at Sprouted Kitchen for great recipes and daily inspiration.