Rachel Laudan

An interesting side effect of the “food crisis” (I’m still not sure I like that name) is that the hunt is on for agricultural land outside the nation state. The New Zealand dairy cooperative is looking to rent or buy land in, say, Brazil. The Chinese are looking for farm land in Africa and [...]

I’ve just returned from the main annual meeting of a group called the International Association of Culinary Professionals in New Orleans. It’s an interesting umbrella organization that offers shelter to those interested in food who don’t find a natural home elsewhere. I rubbed shoulders with food stylists, journalists, owners of gourmet shops, tour [...]

Following Rancho Gordo’s lament for the decline of the bean in Mexico in comments on this blog, let me say I couldn’t agree more. If they continue to decline at the same rate that is. Right now every man, woman and child is, on average, consuming twenty six pounds of beans a [...]