Hi All,

My interview last Thursday with Susan Futrell, author of Good Apples; Behind Every Bite, was so informative and delightful. Susan is a life long supporter of organic foods and has been working with non profits and food businesses for over 35 years, so when I asked her, Why Apples, she shared with me how apples can be a window into the challenges facing all of our foods right now. The effects of climate change, food policy, industrial agriculture, locally grown and seasonally eaten foods vs. foods imported from afar and eaten anytime of the year, and competitive pricing, are issues that every segment of the food system is struggling with. Looking at them through the lens of apples,  gave it the focus with a food that almost everyone loves. Susan currently works for the non profit organization Red Tomato, which works to bring fairness, transparency and sustainability to every aspect of the way they do business — including stewardship of the earth, equitable and safe treatment of farmers and workers, wide access to affordable and healthy food, and the financial well-being of both Red Tomato and the farms in their network. They take advantage of existing wholesale distribution to enable their farmers to deliver everything from apples to zucchini to local grocery stores, produce distributors, neighborhood restaurants, schools and colleges across the Northeast — at an affordable price. If you missed our interview, you can check it out below, and I would recommend this book, Good Apples, to all my food lovers out there!