Most consumers aren’t thinking about fraud in their food supply while pushing a cart around their local grocery story. But shady shenanigans, fakery, and outright fraud happen more than you might realize.

In this Modern Farmer feature series, we investigate the wide world of food fraud and fakery—and explore the technology poised to make supply chains more transparent.

It’s Time to Stop Underestimating the Scope of Food Fraud

by Karen Constable

Food fraud affects much more than consumers know, and not just in high-cost foods like honey and whiskey. It occurs in all parts of the food chain, including commodities such as grains and oils, animal feeds, fruit and bulk ingredients. [Read more]

Using a Food’s Unique Fingerprint to Detect Fraud

by Emily Baron Cadloff

Every food has a unique, and invisible, chemical “fingerprint.”A researcher from Purdue University has discovered a quick and portable way to identify that fingerprint and sniff out food fraud on the go. [Read more]

In the Shopping Cart

by Lena Beck

Here are some common examples of food frauds and fakes you could come into contact with at grocery stores around the world. [Read more]

When Labels Lie

by Lena Beck

Food labels are loaded with words and images that convey meaning. Knowing the story of your food means sifting through the true, the false and everything in between. [Read more]

Can You Trust the Organic Food Label?

by Emily Baron Cadloff

“Organic” food is specifically certified and verified, but millions of dollars worth of fraud still occurs within the organic system. [Read more]

What’s in a Name? Food Labels, Explained

by Lena Beck

Food labels can be difficult to understand and interpret, so we’ve created a glossary of some common ones that you’ll see at the grocery store. [Read more]

Can the Blockchain Clear the Smoke for Cannabis?

by Naoki Nitta

Cannabis often has a hazy supply chain, but blockchain technology promises seed-to-sale transparency for growers and consumers. [Read more]

Series edited and illustrated by Rose Garrett 

The post Phonies, Fakes and Food Fraud appeared first on Modern Farmer.

In this Modern Farmer feature series, we dig into how climate is impacting California’s producers through the lens of five of the state’s most iconic food products: dairy, citrus, salmon, wine grapes, and almonds.

‘An Insane Amount of Water’: What Climate Change Means For California’s Biggest Dairy District

by Naoki Nitta

Tulare County is the largest dairy producer in California and the U.S. But as climate change exposes the region’s vulnerability, could the industry collapse under its own weight?

There’s No Cure for Citrus Greening. California Growers Have No Choice but to Keep Going
by Emily Baron Cadloff

The bacteria is fatal to citrus trees, and has decimated citrus groves in Florida and Texas. Now, California growers are holding the line to keep producing the vital crops.

California’s Salmon Are Teetering on the Brink

by Rose Garrett

The state’s prized salmon have a will to survive against the odds. Can we get out of their way?

Why California Wineries are Embracing Fire to Avoid Disaster

by Julie Tremaine

The California wine industry has been rocked by years of destructive wildfires. Now, it’s working to adapt before the next big one ignites.

Almonds are Under Threat. The Key to Saving Them Could Be in the Soil

by Emily Baron Cadloff

Rising temperatures, lack of water and encroaching development are creating tough conditions for the crucial California crop. Their continued viability could all depend on strengthening the lands on which they sit.

Series edited by Rose Garrett and Emily Baron Cadloff
Illustrations by Adam Ming

The post State of Abundance appeared first on Modern Farmer.

10. Building a Better Barn

After considering the climate and the cost benefits of using local materials in the midst of a supply chain crisis, writer Anne N. Conner opted for traditional construction methods when it came time to build my new barn.

9. SNAP Benefits Can Be Used to Buy Seeds. Why Isn’t That Well Known?

The largest federal nutrition assistance program allows participants to purchase seeds and seedlings, which should, in theory, help low-income gardeners grow their own food.

8. Expensive Catfish Regulation Fails to Reel In Results

A controversial USDA inspection rule has had unintended consequences for the farm-raised and wild-caught catfish industries—as well as the food system they’re meant to support.

7. What the Future of Almonds Looks Like in a Dry California

The state grows the vast majority of the global almond supply. As water becomes scarcer, what will happen to this versatile crop?

6. Meet the New York Dairy Sisters Showcasing Real Life on the Farm

The Leubner sisters are using social media to connect with and educate a younger generation of could-be farmers.

5. Sri Lanka’s Organic Experiment Went Very, Very Wrong

Last year, the country implemented a countrywide ban on agrochemicals and fertilizers. It backfired—big time.

4. FDA Approves First CRISPR Cows For Beef

The genome-edited cattle were bred to endure climate change, and their offspring will be used in meat production.

3. Farmers’ Battle Against, and Now For, Milkweed

How agriculture and conservation are coming together for the survival of the endangered monarch butterfly.

2. Science Says You Can Swap Your Fertilizer For Black-Eyed Peas

A main ingredient for your Hoppin’ John? Yes. An eco-friendly alternative to fertilizer? Also yes.

1. It’s Time to Put Daylight Saving Time to Bed

We asked, and you answered. Here’s how farmers really feel about setting their clocks one hour forward each spring.

The post The Most Popular Stories of 2022 appeared first on Modern Farmer.

We hope you can revisit some of our favorite features of the year, and catch up on the stories you missed.

What’s In a (Food) Name?

From oat milk to vegan burgers, plant-based dairy and meat products are gaining traction—and sparking debate over their names. But are consumers actually confused about what they’re buying?

The Legacy of Campbell Soup’s Tomato Breeding Program

How the canned food company helped the Garden State become synonymous with luscious red tomatoes.

A Meditation on Slaughter

What raising and harvesting chickens taught me about killing in the service of living.

Yes, the Government Really Does Stash Billions of Pounds of Cheese in Missouri Caves

The USDA has kept cheese and other dairy products in cold-storage caves for decades. But their purpose has shifted over the years.

In U.S. Prisons, Seeds Are Prized Contraband for Prisoners Looking to Grow Their Own Food

With food inside prisons often dreary and repetitive, some incarcerated people are taking their diets into their own hands.

Could Edible Cactus Be the Next Big Specialty Crop?

Often treated as a weed, prickly pear cactus has a ton of potential. But first, producers need to create a market for the versatile crop in the US.\

Turn Your Backyard Into a Snack Yard With Edible Landscapes

Landscapers are making private and public spaces more useful and planting edible alternatives to traditional plants.

Keeping Chickens Taught Me How to Give a Cluck

Our family’s backyard chickens, acquired in the early days of the pandemic, have shown me how to slow down and rethink my moral principles.

Can Dryland Farming Help Growers Endure Increasing Heatwaves and Drought?

Indigenous practitioners around the world have farmed with only rainwater for millennia. But it’s unclear whether conventional agriculture, which relies heavily on irrigation, will learn any of their lessons.

In Awe of the Pawpaw

Meet the bartender-botanist committed to reviving this humble native fruit.

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