June Reading List
The latest pieces worth reading if you care about food as medicine.
I was one of those kids that always got so excited for the summer reading list. Something about summer still puts me into a reading mood; there’s nothing like spending a lazy languid day in the park with a good book or interesting article. While I may be done with school now, there’s been a flurry of activity and excellent reading opportunities for anyone interested in food as medicine. And since life continues to be a bit crazy these days, I thought it might be fun to develop my own reading list for this month. Below are some of the pieces that are top of mind, and that I look forward to digging deeper into on a sunny day.
White House Announces Strategy to Keep Edible Food Out of Landfills (NY Times)
On June 12th, the Biden Administration announced a national strategy to combat food waste, addressing the roughly 30% of our country’s food supply that is thrown away or otherwise discarded rather than being eaten. This piece details what’s currently being done, and why we need more solutions ASAP. For those interested in a more in-depth look, the full strategy is available here.
An Apple a Day, But Keep the Doctor in Play (Rock Health)
Rock Health, a digital health consulting and investment firm that I’ve followed since my early career days in startups, has started to drink the food is medicine Kool-Aid, an interesting sign that people in tech and venture capital are really starting to take notice of the field’s potential earning power. There’s a ton of great insights about the field’s growth, funding engines, and future directions.
Catalyzing Action for Pharmacist-Provided Food Is Medicine Care
The Milken Institute, an independent economic think tank, released a report examining the potential role of pharmacies in supporting food as medicine interventions. Pharmacies are essential local healthcare providers, offering immunizations, screenings, and more. The report examines whether they may be better suited and better trusted to provide the kind of attentive care that food as medicine interventions for chronic diseases often require.
Food Systems Collaborative June Newsletter
I highly recommend anyone interested in food policy or food systems subscribe to this newsletter. It’s one of the best examples I’ve seen of clearly reported and easily digestible information, and they do a great job looking at many of the players in progressive food policy.
Food Research & Action Center Says Senate Republican Farm Bill Proposal Would ‘Jeopardize’ Food Security for Millions of SNAP Customers
The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) is an important voice in the world of food policy and advocacy. Their latest statement, released earlier this month, is an important overview of what is at stake in this year’s renewal of the Farm Bill, the piece of legislation that will affect huge swaths of our food system.
What other food as medicine news are you reading?