The Checkout
Hosted and produced by two Organic food and farming lifers, The Checkout brings forward diverse voices and stories from the frontlines of our food system. Now more than ever, our food system is in a constant state of flux, radical change and crisis. From farm, retail and wholesale sector analyses to public policy, labor organizing and community struggles, The Checkout will expand the horizon for consumers and food industry professionals of what is possible and what is necessary to create a just, equitable and resilient food system.
Latest episodes
Apr 4, 2022 • 31min
Episode 115: Adam Maxwell of Voyage Foods
Episode #115 Notes1:00 - On Adam’s experience in the food industry.4:15 - Adam’s background in science and molecular engineering.6:15 - On creating flavors and formulations for industrial foods.10:30 - What is the process of developing new flavors and formulations for food companies?14:00 - Mitigating “off-notes”.15:30 - How Voyage Foods develops food products without GMO’s.18:00 - What’s been the response from some of your new food products?21:00 - On labelling Voyage Foods’ unique products. Also, legal liabilities.24:45 - Why should more people have a better understanding of food science?30:00 - Resources for food science
Apr 3, 2022 • 55min
Episode 114: Dr. Steven Osuna on Racial Capitalism and Class Suicide
1:00 - How did you end up studying racism and political economy?3:50 - What is your definition of Neo-Liberalism?8:30 - On racial capitalism in the food industry.16:00 - How do you identify Neo-Liberal policies?18:45 - How is Neo-Liberalism different than Libertarianism?26:00 - On Black Radical Tradition.30:00 - On thinkers and scholars on racial capitalism.40:00 - On contemporary protests and how it ties to Black Radical Tradition in the US.41:00 - On the concept of Class Suicide.50:00 - Book Recommendations!Policing the Crisis, Stuart HallBlack Marxism, Cedric RobinsonThe Wretched of the Earth, Frantz FanonTheory of Global Capitalism, William Robinson
Apr 3, 2022 • 45min
Episode 113: Max Ajl & A People’s Green New Deal
Episode #113 Max Ajl Notes:30 How did you come to write A People’s Green New Deal?7:30 What is the history of the global south’s movements and how the Green New Deal has watered these down?21:00 On vegan neo-colonialism.32:00 On the links between global capital and the plant-based industry.51:00 Can you tell us about the concept of Degrowth?
Mar 23, 2022 • 21min
Episode 112: Kathy Finn of UFCW 770
Episode #112 Kathy Finn, UFCW 770:30 Happenings of the labor movement in Souther California.2:15 What’s your role at UFCW, and how do you find yourself in this line of work?4:30 What is the current status of the current labor negotiations with grocery retailers, and can you describe some of the illegal activities they are engaging in?8:30 What are the policies and working conditions they have imposed?11:30 On hazard pay mandates.14:40 What is the appeal of unionizing through UFCW?18:35 Closing thoughts.
Mar 22, 2022 • 25min
Episode 111: Pat Mooney on Who Really Feeds The World
Episode #111 Pat Mooney Notes:30 On how small farms nourish 70% of the world’s population.3:00 On the study “Which Farms Feed the World and Has Farmland Become More Concentrated?”8:30 On Food Sovereignty and industrial agriculture.17:30 What do large, corporate food entities stand to gain from changing our narrative around food production?21:00 Can you tell us about the concept of Degrowth?
Mar 17, 2022 • 0sec
Episode 110: Professor Silvia Secchi and Iowa’s Industrial Agriculture
Episode Notes1:00 - What is your area of study and research?9:20 - On the farming sector in Iowa.13:30 - On farm subsidies.17:40 - On the ethanol industry.23:00 - On producing for feed for factory farming and resulting externalities.32:00 - The role of policy in changing conventional agricultural practices in Iowa.38:00 - On farm workers in Iowa.40:30 - On President Biden’s plan to take on the consolidated meat industry.44:00 - On reforming the USDA to better serve non-conventional interests.50:00 - What would a climate friendly, safe food system look like in Iowa?54:00 - Recommended readings:Civil EatsThe CounterTom Philpot
Mar 7, 2022 • 50min
Episode 109: Grocery Update: The Need For Anti-Trust, Part 2
Robinson-Patman Act: https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/competition-guidance/guide-antitrust-laws/price-discrimination-robinson-patman
Mar 7, 2022 • 38min
Episode 108: Grocery Update: Understanding Anti-Trust Part 1
Feb 28, 2022 • 38min
Episode 107: Workers Defense Project
Episode #107 Notes1:00 - What is The Workers Defense Project?2:00 - Why is there a focus on construction workers?4:00 - How is Workers Defense Project organized? What’s it like working in this trade?10:00 - How is it different working construction in Texas, as opposed to other parts of the country?14:00 - What is the Theory of Change for Workers Defense Project?16:00 - Workers Defense Project’s approach to policy work in Texas.20:00 - Key campaign victories for Workers Defense Project.24:00 - What does Workers Defense Project want to achieve in the coming years?25:00 - How will COVID remain an area of focus regarding worksite safety?29:00 - Thoughts on PROACT.31:00 - Closing thoughts.
Feb 17, 2022 • 45min
Episode 106: Talking Common Sense Solidarity
Episode #106 Notes:30 Defining ‘Working Class’3:30 On Jarred’s research methods for Common Sense Solidarity7:50 High level findings from the report.15:00 On how gender plays into research findings surrounding politics and identity.20:00 On how political views change on racial lines.23:00 On how political views change on economic status.28:00 On how political views change with geography.34:30 Economically progressive vs. Socially progressive41:30 Closing thoughts
