Wednesday, November 19, 2014

California Foodways: Coffee...In California?

Aired on The California Report November 8, 2014.

http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/11/08/california-foodways-growing-coffee-in-california/

And posted on NPR's The Salt November 12th.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/11/12/363516334/golden-state-joe-california-makes-a-play-for-coffee-s-future

The most commonly traded commodity in the world is oil. What comes in second?  Coffee. It’s been grown and loved since at least the 13th century in places such as Indonesia, Ethiopia and Central and South America. As a serious fungus threatens the crop worldwide, scientists are mapping the coffee genome to learn more about this plant. Though it’s not coffee’s natural growing environment, California is actually playing a role in the future of this most beloved and lucrative crop.

California Foodways: Prison Dairy

Aired on The California Report on October 16, 2014

http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/10/16/california-foodways-prison-dairy-gives-job-training-pride-to-inmate-workers

Posted on NPR's The Salt November 5.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/11/05/358120272/prison-dairy-gives-inmates-job-skills-and-a-sense-of-purpose

Making license plates is the stereotypical job for a prisoner, but in the Central Valley there’s a group of inmates doing very different work — supplying milk to almost all the prisons in the state system.
The low wages for the work may be shocking to people on the outside, but inmates say the job gives them something else.

California Foodways: Nuts for Modesto (Baseball, Religion and a Land-Use Fight)

Aired on The California Report September 26, 2014

http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/09/26/california-foodways-the-story-behind-stanislaus-countys-top-crop

So what do baseball, a little-known religious group and a land-use fight have in common? If you’re in Stanislaus County, the answer is: nuts. Almonds are the county’s top crop, bringing in a record-breaking $1.125 billion in gross income in 2013. Walnuts came in third (after the county’s other powerhouse, dairy).  Nuts aren’t just an economic driver, though. They’re also key to the story of this region’s past, and future.

California Foodways: A Pop-Up Coffee House on the Pacific Crest Trail

Aired on The California Report on October 5, 2014 (and on NPR One, and on KPCC, and coming soon on NPR)

http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/10/05/pacific-crest-trail-hikers-find-refuge-at-the-sonora-pass-cafe

In the fall, an elite group of backpackers cross into Canada after five months of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. They’re called thru-hikers, and they started the trail in Mexico and will traverse 2,650 miles. Now, the lazy among us might have just read “Wild,” Cheryl Strayed’s memoir about the Pacific Crest Trail. The even lazier among us may be waiting for the movie to come out in December. The hikers who actually make this trek see toenails fall off and their feet can swell whole shoe sizes. They say the only thing they talk about more than their feet is food.

Friday, September 26, 2014

California Foodways: The Mitla Cafe

Aired on The California Report Magazine on September 12, 2014.

This is the start of my new series, California Foodways.  Come check us out at californiafoodways.com (just going live...); on Facebook, and on Twitter @cafoodways.

http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201409121630/c



The West Side of San Bernardino is one of those neighborhoods where people still live in the houses their Mexican American great-grandparents bought in the 1930s. Today, on the once-thriving commercial strip, there are plenty of vacant lots and storefronts, but one business is still a magnet for customers: the Mitla Cafe.  It’s proof that sometimes a restaurant is more than just a restaurant.  Since the ‘30s, the restaurant has born witness to and played a role in political change.  It also happens to be an unlikely inspiration for how mainstream America sees – and eats -- Mexican food.

The West Side of San Bernardino is one of those neighborhoods where people still live in the houses their Mexican-American great-grandparents bought in the 1930s. Today, on the once-thriving commercial strip, there are plenty of vacant lots and storefronts, but one business is still a magnet for customers: the Mitla Cafe.
It’s proof that sometimes a restaurant is more than just a restaurant.  Since the ‘30s, the restaurant has born witness to and played a role in political change. It also happens to be an unlikely inspiration for how mainstream America sees – and eats -- Mexican food.
- See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201409121630/c#sthash.JH9yiV7z.dpuf

Working Poor and Uninsured

Aired on The California Report Friday September 12, 2014:

Here's the blog entry and link to the audio on The California Report's State of Health.

Of the millions of Californians who are still uninsured, many are undocumented.  Many others find coverage too expensive, or the process too cumbersome.  I profile Leaburn Alexander who has two jobs, a three hour commute, and no health insurance.
Leaburn Alexander works two jobs and does not have health insurance. Here, he is on the start of his 3-hour commute home from the job he works as an overnight hotel janitor. - See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201409120850/b#sthash.zQKen6l3.dpuf
When the Affordable Care Act rolled out last fall, Californians enrolled in health coverage plans through Covered California and Medi-Cal in high numbers. But there are still millions of people in the state who lack health insurance. Undocumented people don't qualify for Obamacare benefits, while many others find coverage too expensive, or face other obstacles. - See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201409120850/b#sthash.zQKen6l3.dpuf
When the Affordable Care Act rolled out last fall, Californians enrolled in health coverage plans through Covered California and Medi-Cal in high numbers. But there are still millions of people in the state who lack health insurance. Undocumented people don't qualify for Obamacare benefits, while many others find coverage too expensive, or face other obstacles. - See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201409120850/b#sthash.zQKen6l3.dpuf

Monday, June 16, 2014

Hidden Kitchens: The Romance and Sex Life of the Date (with The Kitchen Sisters)

Aired on NPR's Morning Edition June 10, 2014

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/06/10/320346869/forbidding-fruit-how-america-got-turned-on-to-the-date

I collaborated with the Kitchen Sisters on this aspect of the weird and wild history of the date growing industry in California's Coachella Valley.

Undocumented and Uninsured

Aired on The California Report Monday, June 9, 2014

http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201406090850/a

And on Latino USA July 3, 2014:

http://latinousa.org/2014/07/03/health-care-reform-undocumented/

California leads the nation in Affordable Care Act enrollment, but there are still millions in the state without health insurance.  Some of the people most likely to remain uninsured are undocumented Californians.  They can buy private insurance, but they are specifically excluded from getting coverage through health care reform.  I visited a group trying to fill some health care gaps. 
Despite the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, there are still millions of Californians living without health insurance, many of them because they're undocumented. While they can buy health insurance with their own money, they're specifically excluded from receiving any benefits under the ACA. That's leaving community groups and non-profits in cities and towns across California to fill in the gaps. - See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201406090850/a#sthash.rN08QA9n.dpuf
Despite the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, there are still millions of Californians living without health insurance, many of them because they're undocumented. While they can buy health insurance with their own money, they're specifically excluded from receiving any benefits under the ACA. That's leaving community groups and non-profits in cities and towns across California to fill in the gaps. - See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201406090850/a#sthash.rN08QA9n.dpuf
Despite the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, there are still millions of Californians living without health insurance, many of them because they're undocumented. While they can buy health insurance with their own money, they're specifically excluded from receiving any benefits under the ACA. That's leaving community groups and non-profits in cities and towns across California to fill in the gaps. - See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201406090850/a#sthash.rN08QA9n.dpuf

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

The Remaining Uninsured

As part of the 2014 California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowship, a program of USC’s Annenberg School for Journalism and Communication.   I'm producing a series of pieces about Californians who remain uninsured after the roll-out of the Affordable Care Act. 

The first is this piece which ran Wednesday, April 16th on The California Report:

http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201404160850/b

And on Latino USA on May 16

http://latinousa.org/2014/05/16/serving-still-uninsured/

California leads the nation in the number of people getting insurance through the Affordable Care Act. But now that the final deadline has come and gone on Tuesday, millions are still left uninsured. These people will still turn to community clinics and public hospitals for care — they are the safety net institutions that serve Californians with nowhere else to go. But as the ACA is implemented, those institutions are facing changes.
California leads the nation in the number of people getting insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Even so, there are still millions here without insurance. Community clinics and public hospitals are part of the safety net for uninsured Californians. But as the Affordable Care Act is implemented, they're facing changes - See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201404160850/b#sthash.Ce5tVaSs.dpuf
California leads the nation in the number of people getting insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Even so, there are still millions here without insurance. Community clinics and public hospitals are part of the safety net for uninsured Californians. But as the Affordable Care Act is implemented, they're facing changes. - See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201404160850/b#sthash.Ce5tVaSs.dpuf
California leads the nation in the number of people getting insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Even so, there are still millions here without insurance. Community clinics and public hospitals are part of the safety net for uninsured Californians. But as the Affordable Care Act is implemented, they're facing changes. - See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201404160850/b#sthash.Ce5tVaSs.dpuf

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

People of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

Aired on The California Report Magazine April 4th, 2014:

Deep Connections to Rich Agricultural History

http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201404041630/c

Delta Livelihoods Take Hit As Recreation Declines

http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201404111630/f

Levee Upkeep a Crucial Job on the Delta

http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201404181630/e

Anza Borrego: Drought Takes Toll on Park Renowned for Wildflowers

Aired on The California Report Magazine March 28th, 2014

http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201403281630/c

San Diego County's Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is famous for its amazing wildflowers. But this is the third year in a row of drier-than-usual weather at Anza-Borrego and wildflowers are scarce. As Lisa Morehouse reports, that's creating some anxiety and a few opportunities for those who live near -- and love -- California's biggest state park. - See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201403281630/c#sthash.57gpaHdJ.dpuf
 Yes, it's in the desert, but Anza Borrego is best known for its amazing wildflowers.  I visited California's largest state park to learn how three years of dry weather are impacting the bloom, visitation, and the economy (and to find out if there's a silver lining).
San Diego County's Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is famous for its amazing wildflowers. But this is the third year in a row of drier-than-usual weather at Anza-Borrego and wildflowers are scarce. As Lisa Morehouse reports, that's creating some anxiety and a few opportunities for those who live near -- and love -- California's biggest state park. - See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201403281630/c#sthash.57gpaHdJ.dpuf
San Diego County's Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is famous for its amazing wildflowers. But this is the third year in a row of drier-than-usual weather at Anza-Borrego and wildflowers are scarce. As Lisa Morehouse reports, that's creating some anxiety and a few opportunities for those who live near -- and love -- California's biggest state park. - See more at: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201403281630/c#sthash.57gpaHdJ.dpuf

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Navigating the Delta

I was drawn to California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta because most of what I’ve been reading and hearing over the years focused just on the water diversion and on the endangered species caught up in that system. About a year ago, I started driving through the Delta and became really curious about who lives there, their history and culture, and what they do for work and for fun.  KALW's Crosscurrents let me scratch that itch a bit by doing a 4-part series about the people of the Delta and the work that drives them.

Navigating the Delta Part 1: Meeting the People Who Live in California's Water Hub
Aired on KALW's Crosscurrents February 12, 2014.

http://kalw.org/post/navigating-delta-meeting-people-who-live-california-s-water-hub


Navigating the Delta Part 2: The Roots of Agriculture
Aired on KALW's Crosscurrents February 19, 2014.

http://kalw.org/post/navigating-delta-roots-agriculture


Navigating the Delta Part 3: Holding On To A Boating Economy And Culture
Aired on KALW's Crosscurrents February 19, 2014.
http://kalw.org/post/navigating-delta-holding-boating-economy-and-culture

Navigating the Delta Part 4: Levees
Aired on KALW's Crosscurrents March 6, 2014.
http://kalw.org/post/navigating-delta-where-levees-break

The Dangerous Work of Palm Workers

Aired on NPR's Latino USA on February 21, 2014.

http://latinousa.org/2014/02/21/palmeros/


It’s said that date palm trees want their feet in water, and their heads in fire. It makes sense, then that more than 90% of the dates harvested in the U.S. grow in California’s Eastern Coachella Valley. Irrigation water is pumped here from the Colorado River, and summer temperatures can top 120 degrees. I spent some time in the Eastern Coachella Valley last spring, and got curious about the history of dates here, and about the palmeros, palm workers, who tend them.