The series is open to the public every Monday at 7PM, and seating is first-come, first-seated. Based on last year’s attendance, the series has been moved to a larger auditorium. The lectures, including the archives from last year’s talks, are also available on iTunes and YouTube. (This year’s first lecture from The New York Times food writer Harold McGee is already posted.)

…in their best form [food] hubs are more than economic catalysts and efficient truck routes…As much as they pioneer the replacement of lost distribution infrastructure, food hubs are civic leaders, entities that operate educational farms, address food deserts, attend to the socio-economic barriers to going organic, promote philanthropic aims, and provide job training. It’s this civic community-building character of food hubs that truly shows their forward thinking.

via Civil Eats.

Civil Eats writer B.R. Cohen looks at what food hubs offer to their communities. It’s an interesting article not only for what it reveals about food hubs but also for how it posits them as solutions for larger societal problems.

Every morsel of food that we eat starts with a seed.

Janisse Ray, author of “The Seed Underground: A Growing Revolution to Save Food,” via Earth Eats

That’s such a simple statement, and yet it’s so profound. Earth Eats interviewed Ray about her experience growing her own food and saving seeds as a way to not only be healthier but also to help preserve our seed supply. The article briefly explains the three methods of pollination and how you can hand pollinate your own plants to avoid cross-pollination.

A new study from Georgia Tech and Cornell University shows that softer lighting and relaxing ambient music in a fast food restaurant affects the eating patterns of customers. The report shows that customers in fancier dining areas will eat up to 18 percent fewer calories than those in typical restaurant conditions.

via Georgia Tech Newsroom.

I thought I’d include some of the articles I read while doing my research. Some are presented as fact pieces while others are more opinion, but they all complicate the issue in positive ways. The New York Times article has some overlap with the Star’s article, but it also goes into more depth on the findings. For a nutritionist’s take on the matter, head over to Marion Nestle’s Food Politics blog. Civil Eats has a thoughtful article that considers what the study left out. They also have an article that briefly sums up the response to the survey (you’ll find more articles to read there) and looks at the other reasons that people eat organic foods.

If you’ve found any insightful articles on the issue, please feel free to include those in the comments section.

While the edible casings might sound like a niche, hippie product, if the technology ever became popular it could make a dent in reducing plastic and paper packing for food and drinks. Bioplastic companies — which turn corn, or plant waste into renewable plastics — are going after the same replacement packaging market, but without the edible angle.

via GigaOM.