WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

These days, U.S. farm policy is blamed for a lot of things — even the nation's obesity epidemic. The idea is that the roughly $20 billion in subsidies that the federal government gives to farmers encourages them to grow too much grain.

Proponents of organic meat often make the case that it's inherently better for people's health and the environment than meat raised by conventional farming methods.

In the public discourse around food, “sustainability” and “organic” are buzz words deployed by the so-called “conscious consumer.” But author and activist Oran Hesterman said during a stop in Chicago that he would rather have people move from being conscious consumers to engaged citizens: in other w

The locavore movement, which favors locally produced food, has inspired many people to get in touch with their inner farmer. That's easy during the harvest season, when farms across the country invite their neighbors over for dinner."

On Monday, New York's Coney Island will host Nathan's Famous annual hot dog eating contest.