Todays Most Unknown Agricultural Crisis --by Pattie Baker

Take one of the most sustainable agriculture products in the world. Add increased demand from the United States for the beverage most associated with it. Toss in a lackluster economy that makes saving every penny important, and offer manufacturers a cheaper (albeit unsustainable) alternative that consumers dont seem to mind. Look the other way at destruction of one of our globes top biodiversity hot spots, a heritage way of life, and future potential for what was just beginning to prove itself as a miracle material. The result? Todays most unknown agricultural crisis, which could be solved by American women through their informed purchase decisions when shopping for their next meal. Im talking about cork, and no one in the United States seems to care. Well, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, and other top chefs in Vegas who participate in a cork recycling program that upcycles wine corks into new consumer products care. Patrick Spencer, the Executive Director of the Cork Forest Conservation Alliance, based in Salem, Washington, cares. Plus, those (including the U.S. Government) who are using cork for emerging purposes (such as aerospace heat shields; lightweight public transportation components; innovative clothing and furniture; and easy-on-the-joints, germ-reducing flooring) care. The general public, however, simply doesnt know enough about this issue to care. Therein lies the opportunity, the urgency, and our responsibility as food and farming journalists because even as you read this yet more wine bottlers are converting to screw caps. Take a look where wine is being sold near you. Go back in a month and look again. It will shock you. Where do women, specifically, come in? Last year, the United States became the worlds biggest wine-consuming nation for the first time. Much of that growth is fueled by women, who currently make 60% of all U.S. wine purchases. They increasingly use wine as an everyday beverage and dont mind (and perhaps even like) the convenience of screw caps. Interestingly, something like 75% of all women say they are more likely to make environmentally-sound purchase decisions when given the option. However, even my most ecoconscious friends have asked me, Is cork good or bad? They are surprised when I tell them that cork oak trees live to about 200 years old, are not cut down when cork is harvested (it is like shearing sheep), and that the tainted smell that can ruin a bottle of wine and was prevalent in the 1980s has been virtually eliminated through scientific advances and improved quality control. This is one case where a little knowledge can be world-changing, as American women collectively can save the cork oak forests by choosing wine sealed with real cork. For those who prefer the convenience of screw caps, they can request the worlds first screw cork, which is scheduled to be released in the U.S. this year. Thats the best of both worlds, and still good for the world. Even if screw caps ultimately win, there is value in preserving the natural resource of cork for future generations use in other applications.

Todays Most Unknown Agricultural Crisis --by Pattie Baker

Why me? Why now? Why the U.C. Berkeley 11th Hour Food and Farming Fellowship? As a professional writer who specializes in all aspects of sustainability, I went to Portugal to learn about this valuable agricultural asset first hand. I wrote a series of articles on my eightyear-old, 30,000-views-a-month blog, FoodShed Planet, titled Talking Cork with Pattie Baker, with my findings both before and after that trip. If you want the whole shebang in just minutes, see the succinct video summary I made here. I would welcome the opportunity to explore these topics deeper and to frame stories in a way that will resonate with editors of media outlets that target women. Specifically: Id like to know how wines can be labeled sustainable when their closures are not, such as Sustainable Red by Paul Dolan, who wrote the book, True to Our Roots, which first introduced me to triple-bottom-line sustainability years ago. Id like to know why wine industry professionals such as importers are apparently requesting screw caps on wines that are sold elsewhere in the world with cork closures; Id like to figure out if its even realistic to ask consumers to bypass screw caps (just look in your fridge--they are everywhere) and if so, what actions matter most; And Id like to show a unique example of how we as consumers have the power to determine our worlds agricultural future every single time we vote with our dollars, lift our forks, and toast with our glasses. Im 50 years old and you may be specifically looking for young writers. Overlooking me based merely on age would be short-sighted. After a career in corporate marketing to pay the bills while raising my daughters, I now have the time, energy and expertise to make significant editorial impact for at least another 20 years. However, Im hitting walls and am not able currently to maximize my impact. In short, no editors care about cork just yet. Choosing me makes good sense, as I already bring some notable successes to the table, including: * Five nationally-published articles (two of which were features) in Urban Farm magazine; * Many other articles in media outlets such as the Edible publications and Jamie Olivers Food Revolution site; * And a self-published book titled Food for My Daughters (what one mom did when the towers fell, and what you can do, too) about food, farming, and citizen advocacy which was positively reviewed by Healthy Living Expert Sara Snow. Whats more, O: The Oprah Magazine profiled me in an article about people with passion in its November 2012 issue (see The Farmer).

Todays Most Unknown Agricultural Crisis --by Pattie Baker

If you award me this fellowship, you can be certain you are working with one of the most passionate hands-on writers about sustainability in the nation today. I have no doubt that I will make a measurable difference for years to come.