Real Food Real People: Recent Episodes
Real Food Real People
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Despite having no background in dairy farming, Norma Ruiz had the courage to take over a Bow, Washington creamery and dairy, learning as she went. We visit the farm and learn how she raises cows, producing milk to make artisanal cheeses at Golden Glen Creamery, just a stone's throw from shores of Puget Sound. The post Norma Ruiz | #118 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Francisco Sarmiento is following in his father's footsteps, not only as a farm worker, but now as a fruit farming educator in the world's apple capital, Wenatchee, Washington.
Join us as we visit his college fruit science lab, hear Francisco's personal story and passion for growing food, and check out an actual orchard!
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The post Chef & Farmer Ona Lee on Online Harassment | #116 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Despite his passion from a young age for raising cattle, becoming a full-time rancher didn't seem to be in the cards for Pete Charriere.
Hear what changed to make that dream a reality for Pete, and why he remains so passionate about raising top-quality beef in Pomeroy, Washington.
The post Pete Charriere | #113 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
After a career as a fish biologist around the Pacific Northwest, Steve Seymour helped reinvigorate Drayton Harbor Oyster Company in Blaine, Washington.
Steve shares the story of making the oyster farm a regional destination, as well as the challenges of growing oysters and the incredible benefits they offer.
The post Steve Seymour | #112 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Although she always wanted to be a farmer, it was the pandemic that finally pushed Jessica Jager and her husband to start Your Friends Farm near Spokane.
Hear about their amazing journey, and the care they put into every bit of food they produce.
The post Jessica Jager | #111 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Growing up in one of Washington's oldest apple-growing families, 5th generation apple & cherry farmer Reba Guzman learned to appreciate hard work and honor the legacy she wants to help continue.
She explains why she's so proud of the fruit her family produces, and just how much care and hard work goes into growing it and selling it all over the nation and around the world.
The post Reba Guzman | #110 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Growing over 300 kinds of fruits and vegetables near Eltopia, WA, Alan Schreiber shares the insider struggles with bringing real local food to market.
The post Alan Schreiber | #109 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Second-generation dairy farmer Dwayne Faber is passionate about milk, and how it continues to play a role in the evolution of our society.
The post Dwayne Faber | #108 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Growing up as a farmworker in Washington orchards, Faviola Barbosa experienced the hard work and uncertainty that comes with growing food.
After working extensively in the world of education, she's come back to her farming roots to help guide the WA tree fruit community's generous funding through the Washington Apple Education Foundation to assist young people raised in tree fruit districts with their education.
The post Faviola Barbosa | #107 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
As a policy analyst, Pam Lewison not only writes about the affects of new laws on farming, but also continues to work on her family's farm near Moses Lake.
The post Pam Lewison | #106 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
She's a chef with Michelin-star training who now grows her own food.
Meet Ona Lee Weatherford, whose amazing journey of loss and renewal has taken her to New York, Los Angeles and back home to Washington state.
The post Ona Lee Weatherford | #105 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Ever heard of black garlic? Food entrepreneur Ivan Sultan has all the details on it, as well as the unique Columbia Bar energy bars he's created. He shares deep insights from a lifelong journey that's taken him to nearly every corner of the food system.
The post Ivan Sultan | #104 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Sustainability is everything to Jack Mallonee's family's small organic dairy in Curtis, WA.
Hear how they combine four generations' worth of farming knowledge with cutting-edge technology to steward the land while producing quality milk.
The post Jack Mallonee | #103 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Gerrit Van Weerdhuizen has a passion for educating students about farming, and has mentored countless people interested in growing food and supporting the food system.
Known to his students as "Mr. Van," he's also a beef farmer himself, and we visited his farm near Everson, WA to hear his insights into food, farming and education.
The post Gerrit Van Weerdhuizen | #102 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Rex Ogden is the 4th generation to farm a hilly piece of land near Castle Rock, Washington.
As he sees family farms disappearing from his part of the state, he shares his perspective on what it will take to protect them
The post Rex Ogden | #101 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
An unbelievable farming accident nearly killed Ron Tebow when he was 19, and it changed his life forever, in more ways than one.
Hear him tell his incredible story, and explain how he became a farmer poet later in life.
The post Ron Tebow | #100 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Even though Kaitlyn Thornton is a social media influencer with over a quarter-million followers, she's still the real deal, helping run her family's apple and pear orchard in Tonasket, WA.
She opens up about why she's a farmer, and how difficult times shaped her passion for growing food.
The post Kaitlyn Thornton | #09 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
These first-generation wheat farmers took a big risk to start their farm near Harrington, WA.
Meet Josh & Katie Steward, and hear why they were willing to put their family's future on the line to become farmers.
The post Josh & Katie Steward | #098 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
If you've ever eaten beef from Whole Foods, it may have come from Austin Olma's ranch.
Hear directly from this real-life cowboy about the challenges he faces every day as we visit his ranch in Tonasket, WA.
The post Austin Olma | #097 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
This dairy farm in Washington has created a revolutionary natural skincare cream made from cows' colostrum.
Ashlee Frank with Nurst explains how the innovative idea was born on her family's farm, Royal Family Farming, and how they're trying to get the word out about the surprising benefits of their unique skincare products.
The post Ashlee Frank | #096 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Labor challenges mean an uncertain future for small family farms like the orchard Pedro Cuevas runs with his father.
Pedro sat down with Dillon to share his story of growing up in a farm worker family and talk about the cutting-edge farming technology he's now involved with.
The post Pedro Cuevas | #095 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
More and more people are disconnected from how their food is grown, and farmsteader Mieschia Wilson says one of the consequences is that people are lashing out at farmers.
Hear how she's personally been targeted, and what she's trying to do at Next Generation Farmstead to reconnect people with where their food comes from.
The post Mieschia Wilson | #094 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Growing local beef and crops not far from Seattle, Andrew Albert knows he's part of a dying breed.
But he doesn't think it should be that way.
Hear directly from this 3rd-generation farmer about the long list of pressures pushing more and more family farms out of business, and find out the real reason he keeps farming in spite of the stress.
The post Andrew Albert | #093 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Once known as the "forbidden fruit," black currants have storied past here in the US, and Lindsey Van Dyken's family has been growing them since they were legalized in Washington less than 20 years ago.
Hear Lindsey's story and the challenges her family farm has faced in growing the niche crop and other berries for a growing crowd of loyal customers.
The post Lindsey Van Dyken | #092 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Growing up in a family of farm workers, Eros Gonzalez is no stranger to the hard work that goes into growing food.
Now he helps farms conserve water and grow sustainable crops through his work at WaterTec in Lynden, WA.
The post Eros Gonzalez | #091 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
This organic dairy farmer is betting everything on the future of local food, as he and his family work to launch their own creamery and market near Seattle.
Meet Ryan Mensonides of Mount Rainier Creamery & Market and Providence Farms and hear his passion for local food and family farming, as well as the huge challenges he's faced to make his dream a reality.
The post Ryan Mensonides | #090 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Could oysters and clams be the protein of the future?
We sat down with shellfish farmer Francisco Santelices of Skagit Shellfish to learn how they rely on Skagit Bay's cold, clean water to grow some of the best oysters and clams around.
The post Francisco Santelices | #089 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
He had been in farming literally his whole life... up until 4 months ago.
Host Dillon Honcoop's dad, Randy, shares the story of how he became a red raspberry farmer, and explains what it's like to leave the only occupation he's ever known.
The post Randy Honcoop | #088 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
The reason Jared Easterday is so passionate about growing food might surprise you.
Sitting around his kitchen table talking about growing vegetables, we learn not only about how Jared farms, but how he sees his work fitting into the big picture.
The post Jared Easterday | #087 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
We go inside a real local butcher shop to hear about the challenges Boston Alvord faces as he continues a centuries-old tradition of preparing meat for local customers' tables.
The post Boston Alvord | #086 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Sadly, there's a huge bottleneck keeping a lot of locally-grown beef from reaching dinner tables in WA.
Small beef farmer Marie Hegarty explains why, and shares what's so important to her about raising small-scale grassfed beef near Custer, WA at Fair Cow's Path Farm.
The post Marie Hegarty | #085 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
His wheat, barley and lentils are eaten all over the world, and Dwayne Lenssen grows them in the scenic rolling hills of the Palouse in Eastern Washington and Idaho.
Dillon and Dwayne discuss how wheat is farmed in this unique region, and connect around a shared history with a tragic twist.
The post Dwayne Lenssen | #084 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
What's the truth about the controversial H-2A Guest Worker program?
Farm worker housing manager Luis Guitron shares what it's like behind the scenes, as well as his own personal story, as Dillon Honcoop visits an actual guest worker housing facility in Okanogan, WA.
The post Luis Guitron | #083 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
She may have the best marinara sauce you've ever tasted, and Amy Cords and her mom make it right here in Washington state.
Hear the story of how their unwritten family recipe became the mainstay of Manja Creations Artisan Food Company.
The post Amy Cords | #082 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Racking up millions of video views, mother and daughter-in-law homesteaders Jordyn and Kay Clark became a viral sensation on social media, sharing day-to-day insights into growing food.
They share how they got started, what made them go viral, and what their newfound notariety means for their homestead, Portage View Farm, on Washington's Lummi Peninsula.
The post Jordyn & Kay Clark | #081 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Author and professor Gigi Berardi says some kinds of farming in Washington state are often much closer to the "extinction threshold" than people realize.
Gigi shares how she came from Hollywood to farming, via academia, and opens up about what she's found in her research on farms and at Western Washington University's Huxley College of the Environment.
The post Gigi Berardi | #080 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
When Bernadette Gagnier came to WSU's agriculture research station in Prosser to get a PhD in horticulture, she was reconnecting with family farming roots she didn't even know she had.
She explains why the bugs she's researching are bad news for WA's amazing wines, and how she's trying to stop them without using pesticides.
The post Bernadette Gagnier | #079 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Even though she was diagnosed with cancer, Leann Krainick knew her family's 100-year-old dairy couldn't stop while she was in treatment.
She shares the emotional story of working through that time of crisis, and gives an inside look at running Krainick Dairy just a stone's throw from Seattle.
The post Leann Krainick | #078 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
This PNW-based farmer-turned-recycler has a powerful solution to America's food waste problem.
Luke Dynes has developed technology that he aims to take to every state in the nation and drastically reduce the amount of food that ends up in landfills.
In fact, he's already doing it right here in Washington and Oregon.
The post Luke Dynes | #077 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
He describes it as one of the best places in the world to make wine.
That's why Co Dinn crafts his award-winning wines in the heart of the Yakima Valley with a keen focus on sustainability.
Come with us as we visit Co Dinn Cellars' tasting room in Sunnyside, WA.
The post Co Dinn | #076 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Kyler Beard is a real Washington cowboy, and he's passionate about doing what's best for his cattle and the rangeland they graze on.
The post Kyler Beard | #075 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Are dairy cows being treated well on Washington state dairy farms?
Coming into the world of dairy originally as an outsider, Brianna Parmentier is now in charge of taking care of a dairy herd near Everson, WA.
She shares what really happens behind the scenes on dairy farms in this state.
The post Brianna Parmentier | #074 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
This beef and dairy farmer is dangerously close to achieving sustainable carbon neutrality on his farm near Royal City, WA.
It may surprise you what Austin Allred of Royal Family Farming says is the secret to carbon neutrality, building soil health and producing food in a way that's sustainable for generations to come.
The post Austin Allred | #073 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Producing pastured pork, chicken, lamb and beef with her family on their small family farm Widnor Farms, Brianna Widen is living her dream.
Hear her unique perspective on what's wrong with our food system, and get a personal look at the challenges of small farming in Washington state.
The post Brianna Widen | #072 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
For the first time, prominent Seattle chef Kevin Davis is sharing the heartbreaking behind-the-scenes story of being forced to close his four celebrated, local food-focused restaurants as a result of COVID.
Hear how the tragic end to his downtown restaurant empire brought him closer than ever to his passion for reconnecting our food system, at a hidden gem called Canyon River Grill.
The post Kevin Davis | #071 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
While he grows some of the best asparagus in the world, Scott Middleton and his brothers do so much more than that on their family farm near Pasco, WA.
Hear how Scott's family came to Washington's Columbia Basin over a half-century ago and built a farm that not only produces incredible food, but also welcomes the public to visit every fall.
The post Scott Middleton | #070 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
The science that keeps damaging bugs out of our food and out of the fields is pretty amazing!
Meet entomologist, AKA 'bug scientist' Rebecca Schmidt who works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's research facility in Wapato, WA, to learn about the creepy crawlies we don't want in our food, and how she's working to stop them in a sustainable way.
The post Rebecca Schmidt | #069 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Jagwinder Singh Gill is passionate about growing blueberries and stewarding the environment on and around his new farm near Everson, WA.
But he fears what could happen to his farm with lawsuits and government action on water management that doesn't take into account protecting local food production as well as streams and fish.
The post Jagwinder Gill | #068 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
"It's almost like the Ninja Warrior, you know, you're trying to go through just to see if you can make it to the end," Madison McPherson says of the challenges family farmers in WA face right now.
The Chelan-area cherry and apple orchardist shares why she's worried that more and more family farms will soon be gone for good if things don't change.
The post Madison McPherson | #067 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Not only does she grow the grapes, but Kerry Shiels also makes Côte Bonneville's award-winning wines.
She shares how important having a sense of place is to appreciating fine wine, and how that sense should be key to all local food.
The post Kerry Shiels | #066 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Bringing his family full circle back to its farming roots from Palestine, Imad Ahmad is raising halal lamb and goat here in Washington state.
He explains what halal really means, and how his farming practices are focused on sustainability and harmony with nature's rhythms.
The post Imad Ahmad | #065 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Beating the odds and surviving huge setbacks, David Lukens and family have built a following across the Pacific Northwest with Grace Harbor Farms, providing small-scale, locally produced cultured goat and cow dairy products.
Hear how their small family farm started "by accident" and overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to become what it is today.
The post David Lukens | #064 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Joining with her siblings to carry on her family's multigenerational farming legacy, Ellie Steensma is thinking outside the box and passionate about not just producing amazing local food, but also educating the next generation.
The post Ellie Steensma | #063 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
A journey of self-discovery brought Alice VanderHaak full-circle after growing up in a small WA farming community.
Hear her share how passionate she is about sustainability, and how that influences every aspect of her small farm in Snohomish, WA, Lowlands Farm.
The post Alice VanderHaak | #062 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Even though Americans eat lots of onions, the tasty vegetable doesn't often get the spotlight.
Hear from onion farmer Kevin Kudsk about how onions are grown, harvested and stored right here in Washington state, not to mention his personal journey to becoming an onion guru!
The post Kevin Kudsk | #061 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Flor de Maria Maldonado's parents were farmworkers, and now the family owns their own small cherry, pear and apple orchard in Tonasket, WA.
Coming back to the family orchard at the beginning of the pandemic, Flor de Maria and her brothers face an uphill battle to carry on their parents' legacy.
The post Flor de Maria Maldonado | #060 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Traveling from the east coast with her home in tow, Lulu Redder settled in western Washington and started Feral Woman Farm, raising hogs, goats, sheep and chickens for meat.
Lulu talks about the challenges and benefits of running a small farm off the grid, and ongoing barriers to change in the food system, particularly for locally-sourced meats.
The post Lulu Redder | #059 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Arriving in the US with virtually nothing, Manuel Imperial and his family began building Imperial's Garden from the ground up 37 years ago.
He shares his incredible journey as an immigrant farmer, and the unique insight he's gained into the food system and its dysfunction.
The post Manuel Imperial | #058 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Brady Karstetter and his family grow apples, cherries, pears, sweet corn, field corn, beef, hay and more in the Quincy, WA area.
As you can imagine, it's a lot to manage, but Brady explains how it's not just the crops that make his life stressful.
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Admitting she fears for her young son's future as a family farmer, apple and cherry orchardist Leah Eddie reveals the intense pressure that Washington's tree fruit farmers face, and how she hopes it changes.
The post Leah Eddie | #056 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Despite carrying on the legacy of one of Washington state's oldest farming families, farmer Jay Gordon is as innovative and focused on the future of our food system as anyone.
The post Jay Gordon | #055 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Ashton Beanblossom had a big decision to make when her parents recently decided to retire from dairy farming.
Hear how she struggled with the sense of loss, but then chose to build her own dairy -- with an interesting twist.
The post Ashton Beanblossom | #054 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Living in the shadows is how Miguel Navarrete describes growing up as an undocumented person, explaining what it's like to feel invisible and isolated.
Miguel opens up about coming to the US and earning legal status in this week's episode.
He also shares how the technology he's responsible for maintaining as an IT Manager on an Eastern Washington dairy defies people's perceptions of farming.
The post Miguel Navarrete | #053 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
In the face of her father's struggle with a debilitating disease, Anna Nicholson wants to continue her family's small orchard and fruit stand near Leavenworth.
Hear about the struggles making that future uncertain for Anna and her siblings as we visit her orchard.
The post Anna Nicholson | #052 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
From farm worker to farm owner... through heartbreak, José Torres realized his dream of owning his own dairy farm.
Hear his incredible story and get insight into the struggles his farm faces as he continues to produce high quality milk in Elma, WA.
The post José Torres | #051 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
She has seen the food system from the bottom to the top, and shares her wisdom as we launch Season 2!!
Meet Elena Gonzalez, and hear about her incredible journey from humble beginnings on a farm in Mexico to earning culinary praise here in Washington state.
The post Elena Gonzales | #049 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
An intense battle with mental illness took Duane Brandsma away from his family's farm and the work that he had cared so deeply about.
Duane gives an inside look into the deeply personal details of what really happened when he says he "cracked," and why he's now speaking out about the mental health crisis among farmers.
The post Duane Brandsma | #048 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Growing up in Guatemala, Enrique Mendoza never expected that he would one day run his own dairy farm here in Washington state.
But after working for Everson-area dairy farmer Jerry Van Dellen for several years, Enrique found he loved dairy farming and began working toward owning his own farm.
The post Enrique Mendoza | #047 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Host Dillon Honcoop's grandfather produced milk for 45 years and raised a family on a small family dairy near Lynden, Wash.
90-year-old Lawrence Honcoop sits down with his podcaster grandson for a personal reflection on the challenges and triumphs he faced over the years, all the way back to being raised by a single mom with her own small farm just out of the Great Depression.
The post Lawrence Honcoop | #046 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
She's a high school teacher and first-generation organic blueberry farmer who, along with her husband, grew her farm from the ground up. Oh, and they distill craft liquor, too. Mariah Butenschoen of Breckenridge Blueberries and Probably Shouldn't Distillery shares about the risks and the hardships they faced on their journey to realize a dream that many said wasn't possible.
The post Mariah Butenschoen | #045 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
A rare medical condition nearly took the life of organic dairy farmer Corby Groen earlier this year. He shares the amazing story of how doctors raced to figure out what was killing him from the inside, and how his family and the surrounding community was able to keep the farm going while he was hospitalized for months.
The post Corby Groen | #044 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Even with a successful career in fashion, entertainment and marketing in LA, Macala Wright wasn't happy or healthy. She explains how she reached her breaking point, turning to farming and real food to heal her body and mind, and ultimately bringing her life full circle.
The post Macala Wright | #043 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
She could have gone into a career in marketing, but instead Kristyn Mensonides chose to return to her family's dairy farm. In this week's episode, Kristyn gives us a look inside life as a herd manager working with her family and a team of workers to produce milk for a farmer-owned cooperative.
The post Kristyn Mensonides | #042 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Riley Hille is a Ritzville-area family farmer and wheat seed consultant. She says she's proof that you don't have to grow up on a farm to become a farmer.
The post Riley Hille | #041 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Despite the nature of her job as an administrator, Viridianna Barajas feels very connected to the food produced at the dairy where she's office manager and HR director. She opens up about her family's heritage of growing and making food.
The post Viridianna Barajas | #040 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
She's been around dairy farming her whole life, and managed to find a life partner who shares her passion for raising animals and producing milk. Katie Harris gives us a look inside life on a real Washington dairy, and the rollercoaster ride that it can be.
The post Katie Harris | #039 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Although he's just out of college, Blake Carson has been growing food for years alongside his grandpa. Now as he helps other farmers, Blake sees a future with more food grown locally in spite of the challenges.
The post Blake Carson | #038 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Vegetable farmer Rosella Mosby grows literally tons of local food just minutes from the heart of Seattle. She shares some big challenges our food system faces to make locally-grown produce more available.
The post Rosella Mosby | #037 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
An unexpected path led Kady Porterfield from her family's California ranch here to Washington state. She has a passion for helping the people behind our food, and shares her dream for her future.
The post Kady Porterfield | #036 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
A freak incident almost killed Steve Pabody, completely changing his perspective on how he manages his small farm in Ferndale, WA. Hear how he and his wife started Triple Wren Farms with no farming experience, and grew it into a diverse, thriving operation.
The post Steve Pabody | #035 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
He grew up in Europe on a small family dairy, but he now runs a large dairy in Eastern Washington. Meet Case VanderMeulen, and hear his story of growth as he demystifies how large dairy farms really work.
The post Case VanderMeulen | #034 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Hay farmer Andrew Eddie explains how hay is made in Eastern Washington, and reveals a potential opportunity for this state's huge tech community.
The post Andrew Eddie part 2 | #033 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
When Andrew Eddie turned 18, he decided he wanted nothing to do with his family's Moses Lake hay farm. But with a few years away from home and a college degree under his belt, he began to see things differently.
The post Andrew Eddie part 1 | #032 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
After cooking in restaurants all over the Seattle area, Bobby Morrison followed his passion and became a butcher. He shares his personal journey as well as insights from his unique perspective behind the scenes in our regional food system.
The post Bobby Morrison | #031 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
She's a digital communications expert and consultant, but she also runs a beef ranch in Eastern Washington. In the second half of our conversation with Bridget Coon we hear her dream for changing our food system for the better.
The post Bridget Coon part 2 | #030 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
She used to have an office next door to the White House, but Bridget Coon says she's happy to be back in Washington state, growing beef and hay near the tiny locale of Benge, WA.
The post Bridget Coon part 1 | #029 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Just because a farm is big doesn't necessarily mean it's not a family farm. Derek Friehe shares the story of his family's roots, and his unconventional path back to farming.
The post Derek Friehe | #028 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
When you have wine from Washington, know that there's a lot of science and a lot of work that goes into it. Viticulturist Andrew Schultz explains in detail the secrets to growing great wine grapes, and how he's always challenging the status quo.
The post Andrew Schultz part 2 | #027 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
His journey to farming took him to Iraq and back, and now he's changing the way wine grapes are grown in Washington state. Meet Andrew Schultz, US Army veteran and founder of Brothers in Farms near Benton City.
The post Andrew Schultz part 1 | #026 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Although she's an artist and a teacher, Chelsea Putnam only really found herself when she came back to her family's farm. This is her story of renewal and passion for stewarding the land and producing food.
The post Chelsea Putnam | #025 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
She didn't grow up around farming, and never expected to run a farm herself. But Krista Stauffer is now a widely-followed farmer and blogger from northeast Washington who is passionate about showing the truth about farming.
The post Krista Stauffer | #024 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
In what may be our most emotional episode yet, raspberry farm manager Juan Garcia opens up about his battle with alcoholism and dealing with a deep personal loss, all while growing some of the world's best red raspberries.
The post Juan Garcia part 2 | #023 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Stress, struggles and passion for growing food all come with the territory for the people behind Washington's famous red raspberries. Juan Garcia opens up about what it's really like growing the fruit, managing the people and experiencing personal growth on a family farm in America's red raspberry capital.
The post Juan Garcia part 1 | #022 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Ashley Rodriguez isn't a farmer, but she has a passion for food all the way from the field to the plate. The Seattle-based chef, food blogger and show host shares her food journey, finding inspiration in her family's farming roots.
The post Ashley Rodriguez | #021 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
He's now a key leader in the same university research system that his farmer grandpa would look to for guidance on his strawberry farm decades ago. Chad Kruger shares how WSU scientists and farmers are working together to grow food better.
The post Chad Kruger | #020 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
He's faced some monumental challenges, including losing his son to cancer. In this second half of our conversation with Twin Brook Creamery co-owner Larry Stap, he opens up about some of the personal side of family farming.
The post Larry Stap part 2 | #019 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Twin Brook Creamery is famous in Western Washington for their local milk in glass bottles. But have you heard the story of how this family farm defied the odds to become what it is today? Fourth-generation farmer and co-owner Larry Stap reveals what was really happening behind the scenes to make it all work.
The post Larry Stap part 1 | #018 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Growing food takes an emotional toll on farmers, and Eastern Washington cattle feeder Camas Uebelacker has experienced highs and lows as a first-generation farmer. In the second half of our conversation, Camas opens up about the struggles he's faced.
The post Camas Uebelacker part 2 | #017 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
He didn't grow up on a farm, but he started a feedlot in Eastern Washington. Camas Uebelacker has a passion for his job and doing the right thing, and he answers some hard questions about how feedlots really work. In the process he breaks some negative stereotypes about how beef is produced here in Washington.
The post Camas Uebelacker part 1 | #016 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
She's about to finish her degree in Environmental Resource Geography, but Lydia Johnson grew up on a Washington dairy farm, and has a unique perspective on why farms in this state are at risk.
The post Lydia Johnson | #015 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
He's only 24 years old, but John Griggs is determined to keep his family's 120-year-old cherry and apple farm running. He shares what it's like growing up in a small Eastern Washington town, and why farming is harder than it used to be.
The post John Griggs | #014 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
She never expected to be involved in farming and ranching, but now that she is, she says it's changed her life. In the second half of our conversation with Colvin Ranch manager Alex Durney, she opens up about her dreams for the future of her ranching career.
The post Alex Durney part 2 | #013 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
She's a former vegetarian Evergreen State College ecology student who now manages a beef ranch. Hear Alex Durney's unexpected journey to embracing farming and finding a whole new dream for her future.
The post Alex Durney part 1 | #012 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Although he grew up on a farm, Javier Valencia was dead-set against following in his father's footsteps. He shares his story of how he came back to his roots and finally understood his dad's passion for farming.
The post Javier Valencia | #011 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
A tech guru becomes a farmer, producing some of the most unique food products in Washington. Meet Devin Day of Valley Farmstead Rabbits and Neil's Big Leaf Maple Syrup, and hear him share how he's found his niche.
The post Devin Day | #010 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
In the face of big challenges, Sandi Bammer opened her own local food store in downtown Wenatchee, Wash. She shares how hard it can be to bring locally-grown food to her community, what she's learned from the farmers she's worked with over the years, and why she's no longer a vegan.
The post Sandi Bammer | #009 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Despite facing major health problems, Jessica Newhouse remains passionate about continuing her family's century-old dairy farm in Eastern Washington. She opens up about her journey from growing up in what she calls the "concrete suburbs" of Portland to becoming a family farmer near Yakima.
The post Jessica Newhouse | #008 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Their families came from India and made a life for themselves growing raspberries and blueberries here in Washington. Cousins Jiwan Brar and Paul Sangha talk with Dillon about the struggles, the triumphs, and the importance of family, community and heritage.
The post Jiwan Brar & Paul Sangha | #007 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
He's passionate about bringing farmers back to the table, in more ways than one. In the second half of their conversation, award-winning Seattle chef Niels Brisbane and host Dillon Honcoop talk about how a facelift for farming could help reconnect eaters with the people who grow their food.
The post Niels Brisbane part 2 | #006 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Award-winning Seattle chef Niels Brisbane is reconnecting with his farm-town roots to champion farmers' importance in establishing a cuisine of the Pacific Northwest. In this first half of their wide-ranging conversation, he and Dillon tackle science, art, nutrition, agriculture and much more.
The post Niels Brisbane part 1 | #005 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Growing up in Mexico, Felipe Garcia never expected he would one day be the human resources manager for a dairy farm in Washington state. He shares his personal journey to find his passion, as well as what he thinks is sometimes misunderstood about the people who produce food here.
The post Felipe Garcia | #004 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Despite her quiet personality, dairy farmer Erica DeWaard is known around the world for her touching and informative social media posts about her work feeding dairy calves. She opens up about her passion for farming and why she continues to speak out in the face of negative pushback.
The post Erica DeWaard | #003 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
Although she has her PhD in chemistry, April Clayton is an apple and cherry farmer in Washington. But it was only after finding her voice as an advocate that she felt comfortable calling herself a farmer.
The post April Clayton | #002 appeared first on Real Food Real People.
He led a tech company with operations around the globe, but when faced with losing everything, Chris Doelman chose to return to the family dairy farm in Washington.
The post Chris Doelman | #001 appeared first on Real Food Real People.