“Food and Country” Screening, Interview with Ruth Reichl, and More!
So much has happened since the lockdowns at the height of the pandemic that it can feel like the distant past. But those days exposed a range of vulnerabilities in our culture that persist today—nowhere, perhaps, more acutely than in our food system. At WRFI, we understand that our beautiful Finger Lakes Region is home to an innovative and renowned farm and food scene, and our community is deeply invested in helping usher in change and progress when it comes to ensuring healthy and sustainable food is available to everyone in our area.
The film "Food and Country" premiered at Sundance in January 2023 and will be in movie theaters and available on video on demand in October. WRFI has been selected to host one of just 12 community screenings across the country, and you’re invited! Stay after the screening for a discussion and talkback with panelists Christa Nunez of Khuba International, Denise O’Leary of Cafe Dewitt, Chaw Chang of Stick and Stone Farm, Jeff Bessmer of GreenStar Coop, Kelly Sauve of the Ithaca Farmers Market and hosted by WRFI's Felix Teitelbaum.
Listen to our interview with Ruth Reichl:
In her new film, "Food and Country," legendary food writer Ruth Reichl explores the vulnerabilities in our food systems that were highlighted during the pandemic. Through intimate and honest conversations with farmers, ranchers, restaurateurs, policy advocates, and others, Reichl makes a strong case that we have a collective opportunity—even a responsibility—to pursue structural solutions and individual actions to strengthen our food system for good.
Listen to Ruth Reichl, producer and nine-time James Beard Award Winner and Rachel Bezner-Kerr, professor of Global Development at Cornell in conversation with WRFI's Felix Teitelbaum.
Food Security Panel and Call-in Show [September 12, 2024]
How can we ensure access to healthy, sustainable food for everyone in our community? What can we do as individuals? What changes would you like to see to government policy? How did the pandemic affect the way you eat?
On Thursday, September WRFI held an on-air conversation and call-in show on local food security. with Ana Ortiz of No Mas Lagrimas, Lorena Mendoza of West Haven Farm, and Debbie Branker-Livermore of Loving Farms, and Katie Hallas of Tompkins Food Future. Felix Teitelbaum was the host and producer. Many thanks to engineer Jen Cork and call screener Ben Coakley!
WRFI Community Radio is hands on, home-grown, non-profit community radio that serves Ithaca and the Southern Finger Lakes. We are only able to bring news, information, and important events and discussions like these to the community because of generous giving and support from our listeners. Proceeds of this pre-release screening will help support radio station operations while also elevating the good work of our partners. Many thanks to our members and sponsors for their partnership and support of these events: Tompkins County Food Policy Council, Moosewood Restaurant, and Cinemapolis and the Ithaca Farmers Market.
We’re committed to ensuring our event is accessible to all in our community. Thanks in part to our partners, we’re happy to be able to keep the ticket price to only $12. If you’d like to attend and the cost is prohibitive, please contact us about pay-what-you-can admission (available while supplies last). If you’d like to “pay it forward” and help support accessible admission to the event for all in our community, you can make a donation here. Make sure to refer to the “Food and Country” in the comment section.