Food desert solution: Shop for groceries at the library

This article from the Baltimore Sun highlights a new program in Baltimore that allows residents to order groceries online at their local library for free pickup at that same library. So far, the program is only for two neighborhoods that lack grocery stores. The first six months of the program are being paid for with $60k in federal stimulus money. This is definitely an interesting solution to the very extensive problem of food deserts in our cities and rural areas.

FDA Launches Investigation into Food Packaging Nutrition Claims

More on Food Packaging, Smart Choices, and potential involvement from the FDA from a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation post:

The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced it will launch an investigation into whether the nutrition claims posted on food packaging violate federal food labeling laws, Reuters reports. The FDA is pursuing the investigation amid complaints that they provide a misleading picture of the health benefits of a particular food product. Noting that “some nutritionists have questioned whether this information is more marketing-oriented than health-oriented,” FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg contends that “judging from some of the labels that we have seen, we think this is a valid concern.”

Full post at RWJF.org

Public Media 2.0 Projects That Are Doing it Right

Read full text at PBS.org >>

What are the ingredients for Public Media 2.0, and who has discovered recipes that work? This articles reviews eight Public Media 2.0 projects with best practices for allowing people to actively participate in democracy.

"We found that some of the most powerful media experiments are akin to fusion cuisine: hybrids that unexpectedly combine platforms, funding sources, and perspectives to attract diverse and enthusiastic publics. The report offers up a smorgasbord of innovative examples, but here's an overview of each best practice, and a Public Media 2.0 project that gets it right. Keep in mind that not all of these were produced by traditional public media outlets, but instead use technology to help serve the public in new ways."

Food & Society Fellows

http://www.foodandsocietyfellows.org/


"The IATP Food and Society Fellows Program provides fellowships to professionals in food and agriculture from across North America, enabling them to use mass media channels to inform and shape the public agenda. The goal of the program is to create sustainable food systems that promote good health, vibrant communities, environmental stewardship, worker justice and accessibility for all."