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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Managing a farmers market is a challenging job and often leads to burnout. Can farmers market manager networks improve the success and satisfaction of farmers market managers? Read the full JAFSCD article for free, as always: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

A farmers market manager hands out free samples at the Brown Deer Farmers Market in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, USA. Photo provided by the author.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

JAFSCD WEEKEND READS Read the latest book review from JAFSCD author Emily Talkow (U of Vermont) of the book Organizing Eating: Communicating for equity across U.S. food systems, edited by Sarah E. Dempsey. To read the entire review, for free, visit JAFSCD: doi.org/10.4324/9781...

Book cover of Organizing Eating: Communicating for equity across U.S. food systems. Edited by Sarah E. Dempsey.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Healthcare providers are screening patients for food insecurity to advance “Food Is Medicine” initiatives. Low-income parents have thoughts about ways to make the process work for them. Read the full article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs... #foodismedicine #healthcarescreening #foodinsecurity

A healthcare professional interviews a patient about her household food security; photo from Adobe Stock images.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

What shapes food safety decisions among small produce growers? It’s not just regulations—a new JAFSCD research article highlights the role of behavior and perception on the choices of growers who qualify for exemption from the FSMA PSR. Read the full JAFSCD article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Safe food handling preparation; Flickr photo taken in 2020 by Michele Dorsey Walfred (https://flic.kr/p/2job2Tf) and used under CC BY 2.0 license.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

JAFSCD WEEKEND READS "His book exemplifies how commons-based governance can restore both ecological diversity and democratic accountability within food systems." Read the full review of Sustainable Apple Breeding and Cultivation in Germany by Hendrik Wolter for free at: doi.org/10.4324/9781...

Book cover of Sustainable Apple Breeding and Cultivation in Germany by Hendrick Wolter.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

When institutional capacity is weak, food safety governance becomes fragmented — limiting effective oversight, weakening trust, and reducing the reliability of local food distribution. Strengthening regional institutions important to regional resilience. Read more at JAFSCD: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Food safety monitoring and compliance assessment of fresh produce in a modern retail outlet in Indonesia; photo provided by the authors.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Food insecurity won’t be solved by big supermarkets alone. New York City’s new plan to open five city-owned grocery stores may help — but it overlooks the small, culturally rooted food businesses already sustaining communities every day. Read the @JAFSCD article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Grocery store in Greenwich Village, New York, taken in Sept. 2022. Photo by Janine and Jim Eden via Flickr; used under CC BY 2.0 license.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

USDA’s organic market data could be improved with a more informative interface and increased coverage of specialty crops. To learn about the USDA's Agricultural Market Service programs in a recent JAFSCD article: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Organic vegetables for sale in San Francisco, Calfornia, USA. Photo by Jincheng Ma via Unsplash.com.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

What does “resilience” look like for women in agrifood systems in low-middle-income countries? New research shows how gender norms, unequal power, and intersectional barriers limit women’s decision-making, land access, value chains, and more. Read the article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Figure 1 from the article: The Economic Resilience Pathways Conceptual Framework.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

JAFSCD WEEKEND READS! Check out our recent book review of Transforming Food Systems: Narratives of Power at: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Tractors, storage centers, and grants — yet farmers still can’t sell their crops. What’s going wrong with market access programs in Jozini, South Africa? Read the full JAFSCD article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Eunice Madlala of Swissland Cheese farm in 2008, in KwaZulu Natal Midlands, South Africa; photo by Media Club South Africa via Flickr, under CC BY-SA 2.0 license (cropped).

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

In recent years, a system called RTIS (real-time image sharing) was developed to allow farmers to share images of their farm stands in real time. What kinds of farmers should utilize this system? Read the full @JAFSCD article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Real-time sharing of farm-stand images through a webcam and webpage. Images provided by the authors.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Check out the recent book review by Carina Manitius of Transforming Food Systems: Narratives of Power by Molly D. Anderson. [The] lesson is clear: to transform our food system, we must first transform the narratives of power that sustain it. Read the entire review for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Cover of the book Transforming Food Systems: Narratives of Power by Molly D. Anderson.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

When trying to enhance food system resilience, why is the lead actor characterized by its precarity? A recent article explores the roles food hubs play in regional food systems and their relationships to greater food system resilience. Read the full JAFSCD article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

The Stir Food Hub in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. Photo by L. Harris.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Structural Barriers Continue to Limit Wholesale Market Access for Historically Underserved Producers: Insights from Technical Assistance Providers. Read the full @JAFSCD article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

A small farm in Virginia; photograph by the authors.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Food banks serve residents — but quantity isn't enough. A new viewpoint proposes tiered tax credits to make donated food healthier, not just more abundant. Read the JAFSCD article for free at doi.org/10.5304/jafs... #FoodPolicy #FoodInsecurity #PublicHealth #Massachusetts #EmergencyFood #Nutrition

Bags of groceries await food pantry clients in Massachusetts; photo provided by the author.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Food insecurity remains a pressing issue in historically Black neighborhoods in West Charlotte, where supermarket redlining and decades of disinvestment have limited access to affordable and culturally relevant foods. Read the community vision for a West Charlotte food co-op: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Community members participate in the first member-owner meeting for Three Sisters Market to build relationships and learn more about the planned food co-op; photo by Andrew Simmons and provided by the authors.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The Economic Pamphleteer: "Communities could own and operate their own processing facilities, grocery stores, and restaurants to ensure access to nutritious foods for those most in need." However, programs remain fragmented. Read more at: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

doi.org

THE ECONOMIC PAMPHLETEER: The need for radical changes in community development policies | Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development

JAFSCD: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. Publication of the Thomas A. Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

JAFSCD Value Chain Coordination Editorial Circle defines VCC as the development of relational infrastructure—networks, information channels, and partnerships—that support thriving and sustainable regional food economies. To learn more about VCC: www.foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fs...

foodsystemsjournal.org

Value Chain Coordination Editorial Circle | Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development

JAFSCD: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. Publication of the Thomas A. Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Encouraging broader implementation of the SNAP Restaurant Meal Program could mitigate food insecurity among some of the nations most vulnerable populations. Find out how at JAFSCD: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

doi.org

SNAP’s Restaurant Meals Program | Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development

JAFSCD: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. Publication of the Thomas A. Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

JAFSCD WEEKEND READS: "Nading’s book focuses on communities surrounding Nicaraguan sugarcane operation– it spans the local to the global with a masterful combination of participatory observation, archival research, and theoretical reflection." To read for free at JAFSCD doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Book cover The Kidney and the Cane: planetary health and plantation labor in Nicaragua by Alex M. Nading.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

While many circular economy (CE) studies are situated within manufacturing sectors, a new article explores a multifaceted CE initiative spanning agriculture, retail, hospitality, residential, waste management, and manufacturing sectors. Read the entire article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Is food sovereignty just a dream for countries in Africa? Encouraging the use of geographical indication (GI) labeling of a local specialty food could foster food sovereignty. Read the full JAFSCD article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

doi.org

From geographical indication protection to food sovereignty | Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development

JAFSCD: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. Publication of the Thomas A. Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Are you a group promoting economic resilience AND food availability with the goal of ending rural hunger? Read about a partnership that has developed and implemented food and nutrition security groups, a program supporting households at risk of malnutrition. Read for free: doi.org/jafscd.2026....

Dibulatyame FNSSG members of Bwiiza Parish in Namasagali Sub County, Kamuli District, sorting ingredients for making nutrient-dense flour. Learn more about the process in a previous JAFSCD article: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2023.131.010. Photo taken in August 2024 by Mbeiza Moureen.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

When the forest ceases to be an obstacle and becomes an ally of livestock farming. A recent study analyzes family farmers adopt silvopastoral systems that integrate trees, pastures, and livestock with the support of participatory learning processes. Read the article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

A silvopastoral system observed in Colíder, Mato Grosso, Brazil, showing cattle grazing in pasture integrated with trees on a family farm participating in the study. Photo by Edison Fernando Tamanini.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

JAFSCD WEEKEND READS & REVIEWS "Why Agriculture Productivity Falls raises a profound question: why has ag productivity in developing countries slowed or stagnated despite decades of Green Revolution tech and neoliberal globalization?" Read the entire review for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Book cover of Why Agriculture Productivity Fails: The Political Economy of Agrarian Transition in Developing Countries by Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Explore community stakeholders’ perceptions of food access and online grocery ordering with SNAP benefits during and after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency in a recent JAFSCD article: doi.org/10.5304/jafs....

Sample social media image above from the authors

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Want to support a truly sustainable restaurant supply chain? Read about how restaurants in Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand, are working to shorten the supply chain — getting more local food from farm to table. Access the full JAFSCD article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Savor the taste of sustainability! This dish, made with locally grown organic vegetables, highlights the rich flavors of Phuket, Thailand, while supporting a greener future. Photo provided by the authors.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Mini food pantries, major impact: Virginia Commonwealth U’s pilot project shows promise in fighting student hunger. Read about the project for free at JAFSCD doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Figure 1 from the article: An entire month of food was distributed to a partner (in this case, the Life Sciences Department) around the first day of the month, generally in a large plastic tote containing four bags, each with a week’s worth of food. Someone from the administrative group, usually a student worker under the supervision of a full-time staff member, would restock the pantry from the tote using one bag per week. Photo provided.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Drawing on lived experience and ethical frameworks, a new commentary defines terms such as budget capture, epistemic exploitation, and post-award pretendership to expose how research institutions and agencies benefit from symbolic partnerships. Check out the commentary at doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

While new technologies promise to boost efficiency and sustainability, they can also deepen existing inequalities. This article introduces a framework to help make digitalization more inclusive for small-scale farmers. Read the article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

On the left, a farmer reviews crop data on a tablet; on the right, a drone monitors a cultivated field. At the bottom, an individual holds a smartphone displaying an agricultural monitoring app.
Source: StockCake

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Overgrown hedges on farm fences could be sources of unique tasting food and farm gate products such as wild apple jelly. #feralapples #farmgatesales #hedges. Read the JAFSCD article for free at doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Apple jelly made from wild apples harvested from an overgrown hedge.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

In Glassboro, NJ—a small college town—lower-income residents shared their struggles with affording healthy and fresh food, getting to grocery stores, and relying on food pantries with limited options. Can growing your own food help fix food equity issues in small towns? 🌽🏡 doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Glassboro Grows program collaborator Sonya Harris

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Do you know what factors are important to consider when implementing a rural produce prescription program? Read the full article JAFSCD for free to find out- doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Relationships are an element of social sustainability and climate resilience. A pilot program in North Carolina aimed to build a network of Black and Indigenous women farmers who are managing land and local food systems to be climate resilient. Read the full article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Get Climate Smart learning circles encouraged peer-to-peer learning. Photo Credit: Rebecca Drobis

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Is your organization looking for keys to unlock institutional food purchasing from a local food value chain? See the first Value Chain Coordination Brief published by @JAFSCD. Have expertise to share? We welcome submissions for new briefs! www.foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fs...

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Can values-based supply chains help midsized producers access larger retail markets like regional supermarkets? New research shares strategies used by partnerships that reduce risk and lower barriers for producers in New England. Read the full article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

A woman loads a truck with fresh products at a warehouse facility in New Hampshire (USA) that aggregates, stores and distributes products from farmers across the region. Photo by John Benford and provided by the authors.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

In a JAFSCD article, Navigating a citizen science food waste project: Challenges and lessons learned, researchers from the U of Florida share practical insights from designing and implementing a community-based food waste study using a citizen science approach. Free to read: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

A pitchfork mixing food and garden compost in August 2017. UF/IFAS photo by Camila Guillen, © 2017 UF/IFAS Communications and used with permission.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Meatpacking plants stayed open during COVID-19 — but at what cost? A new @JAFSCD article examines barriers to worker safety in the #meatpacking sector during #COVID19. Read the entire article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Workers stand in close proximity at a poultry processing plant. Photo © by Zhang Yongxin/Adobe Stock.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Promoting health through transdisciplinary local food system partnerships: Insights from the North Carolina Local Food Council, offers timely and critical insights for states navigating health equity and Medicaid reform. Read the entire article for free at doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Fresh vegetable cups prepared for the National School Lunch Program at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia, in 2011. USDA photo by Bob Nichols.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

How can Indigenous communities strengthen food autonomy through their own knowledge and practices? A new article from Colombia shows how participatory research and agroecology support the value of buen vivir and Indigenous food sovereignty. Read the article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Community minga for the construction of a pilot tul (traditional household garden), where native seeds are cultivated as part of food autonomy strategies, 2024. Source: From the photographic record of the project, provided by the authors.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

JAFSCD WEEKEND READS: Love for the Land presents an exploration of the deep connection between farmers, their land, and their legacy, by focusing on 3 virtues that shape land stewardship: imagination, affection, and fidelity. Read the review by E. Q. Ramsey for free at: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Cover of Love for the Land: Lessons from Farmers who persist in place by Brooks Lamb.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

A new case study in Tempe, Arizona, shows how community-led planning, supported by local partners, helped surface shared priorities and lay the groundwork for early urban food policy in a fast-growing, land-constrained, and water-restricted city. Read the article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Over 350 residents engaged with the policy recommendations and local food organizations in Tempe, Arizona, and received produce, plants, compost and seeds. Photo provided by the authors.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

How does rapid growth reshape farming communities? A new study examines how population growth, development pressure, and political restructuring in Kansas, are affecting farm viability, social capital, and farmer-to-farmer relationships. Read the full article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Image 1 from the article: East Manhattan, Kansas, Gateway Plan Area. Image source: City of Manhattan, Kansas, 2025.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

In Bridging Western and Indigenous epistemologies in an opaque world authors bridge the divide between the twin sciences. Learn more about their approach and read the article for free at doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Stacked Gourds. Image provided by Amy Christian.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

How does war affect the businesses that put food on our tables? A new study examines how Lebanon’s agri-food small and medium enterprises are surviving amid conflict, economic collapse, and inflation—and what they urgently need to stay operational. Read the article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

A conceptual illustration of resilience strategies for agri-food small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Lebanon during crisis.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Why Agriculture Productivity Falls raises a profound question: why has agricultural productivity in many developing countries slowed or stagnated despite decades of Green Revolution technologies and neoliberal globalization? Read the entire book review at doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Cover of the book Why Agriculture Productivity Fails: A political economy of agrarian transition in developing countries by Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

New research from @BoiseStateU sheds light on the realities of H-2A farmworkers in #Idaho, focusing on pesticide exposure, financial struggles, and the emotional toll of temporary labor. These workers are essential—but are they treated fairly? Read the article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

A temporary farmworker plants crops in Idaho. Photo provided by the authors.

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jafscd.bsky.social @jafscd.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

What happens when refugees and U.S. college students grow food side by side? A Tucson garden became a place for building food security, cross-cultural connection, and a sense of belonging. Read the @JAFSCD article for free: doi.org/10.5304/jafs...

Students and refugees working in an urban garden located on the premises of Iskashitaa Refugee Network, a local nonprofit organization that assists refugees with resettling in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Photo courtesy of Iskashitaa Refugee Network.

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