The Counter has been a source of groundbreaking, informative, and inspiring journalism, uncovering the money, power, and politics behind our plates. Our hearts are heavy to hear that their nonprofit newsroom is coming to an end. HRN has been lucky to collaborate with many of their staff and writers. Together...

As the looming threat of the climate crisis worsens and the world continues to endure the devastation of Covid-19, industries across the globe have had to pivot. ‘Pivot’ entered our daily vernacular during the onset of the pandemic, but discussions around efficiency and equity continually deepen and evolve. This week...

Joe Fassler started out writing a short news piece, and ended up with a 13,000-word investigation on regenerative agriculture.

Pandemic restrictions are easing and things are changing quickly. We can eat indoors at restaurants again and host dinner parties. It’s exciting to go back to some of our favorite activities, but it can also be nerve-wracking. There might even be some pandemic-era changes that are worth keeping around. This...

In 2021, a year and a half into the global Covid-19 pandemic, restaurant, food, and grocery delivery has never been more popular, nor more essential to people’s daily lives and the survival of the restaurant industry. Third-party delivery apps have dominated the space, dictating policies and payments for both home...

When we talk about agriculture in the U.S. there is often an archetypical American farmer that comes to mind. Perhaps they’re in overalls, maybe a cowboy hat, but they’re almost always white. The white farmer trope has become a fixture in America’s invented agricultural past. However, American agriculture has long...

During some of the most harrowing months of the pandemic, journalist Simran Sethi set out to explore the definition and dynamics of food insecurity in the US. Simran’s piece doubled and then tripled in word count as she uncovered the complexities of how we define, track, and address food insecurity...

As the United States rolls back pandemic era restrictions, many restaurants are welcoming eaters back and expanding their seating capacity. After more than a year of isolation, reopenings offer a sorely missed space to connect. Doug Mack discusses an article he wrote for The Counter, which examines the social and...

Covid-19 put school lunch in flux, as cafeteria trays were reconceptualized as brown bags and meal boxes. USDA waivers freed school cafeterias from former limitations about who they can feed and what food they can serve. Previous episodes have covered the effect of these waivers on accessibility and school funding...

This week, we have an update on school lunch, as we mark one year of Covid-19’s impact on our food system. Jessica Fu from The Counter is back to explain some unexpected ramification of the USDA waivers that made school lunch free for all children under 18. Due to this...