Fall harvest may look like the finish line, but for California growers, it’s the culmination of a year of risk, investment and decisions often shaped by factors beyond their control.

In this episode of Rooted & Restless, Marianne Smith Edge talks with registered dietitian and California grower Bobbie Williams about what it really takes to bring food from the farm to our table.

From almonds and tomatoes to pumpkins and olives, Bobbie shares the realities of farming in California—from water and regulations to changing markets. She also clears up misconceptions about organic versus conventional farming and explains why the farm perspective matters in conversations about food and health.

Their conversation then dives into how decades of investment in almond nutrition research have helped uncover the health benefits of this familiar food.

What We Cover

• Beyond farm to table: The risks and realities behind growing food in California

• Organic vs. conventional: What those labels really tell us—and what they don’t

• Agriculture and nutrition: Why the farm perspective matters in conversations about healthy eating

• Almond research: How independent research builds our understanding of food and health

From harvest to health, this conversation connects the realities of growing food with the science behind what we eat.

Guest: Bobbie Williams, MS, RDN, Owner, Nutrition with Bobbie

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

Resources:

Almond Board of California Health Benefits of Almonds

Perspective: Current Scientific Evidence and Research Strategies in the Role of Almonds in Cardiometabolic Health