May 2, 2018
On Episode 19 of Sourcing Matters we welcome well known chef,
and SNAP reformer Michel Nischan to the show. This 4-time
James Beard award winning chef is founder and President/CEO of
Wholesome Wave. As a long-time advocate of better food and
proper production, Nischan has dedicated most of his career to
fixing a broken system through transitioning intrinsic domestic
focus from energy production to nutrient dense sustenance for more.
Nischan's efforts have been nothing but transformative in
enacting lasting change throughout the US food system, and in the
mind's eye of its consumers.
Through the creation of successful programs like the doubling of
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/ food stamps)
benefits on healthy & nutritious foods, and the Produce
Prescription program - Nischan has taken firm control of a
political football and is now responsible for reforming a
significant part of our national farm bill policy.
Additionally, in conjunction with the James Beard foundation,
Nischan worked extensively with Eric Kessler to spawn the "Chef's
Boot Camps". Another successful venture which promotes
ongoing reform, this initiative encourages civically and
politically minded chefs to become more effective leaders for
food-system change. With a thousand of tomorrow's food
leaders waiting at the door to gain access to the boot camps,
Nischan's impact will persist for generations to come.
The entire hour of our conversation is well worth a listen.
But, if you have only 10 minutes to lend an ear - tune-in to
hear the power of Michel's words and the emotional description of
his dear friends Paul Newman and Gus Schumacher. Both
influential allies; both impressive leaders; both iconoclasts
who've have disrupted by leaving this place much better than they
had found it.
During the conversation Michel Nischan defines food as the "silver
bullet" needed to engage more folks into their environmental
footprint, and to the negative consequences of shortcuts used in
production have on human and public health. He explains that
the food we eat is an unparalleled opportunity to democratize
complex conversations in systems thinking. As we're all
eaters, and eating is an agricultural act - we can all connect by
breaking this bread together.
A inspirational leader, and an agent of change - Michel Nischan has
levered his stardom to change the world for the better through his
medium of food. And, what's even better - he's only just begun.