Have you ever wondered who picked your Fairtrade banana? Or why we can buy British strawberries in April? How far do you think your green beans travelled to get to your plate? And where do all the wonky carrots go? Above all, how do we stop worrying about our food choices and start making decisions that make a difference? 

In an effort to make sense of the complex food system we are all part of, Louise Gray decides to track the stories of our five-a-day, from farm to fruit bowl, and discover the impact that growing fruits and vegetables has on the planet. Join us for this important discussion as we celebrate Earth Day 2023!

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Questions? Contact Kerry: keodonnell@somervillema.gov

About the Book:

Through visits to farms, interviews with scientists and trying to grow her own, she digs up the dirt behind organic potatoes, greenhouse tomatoes and a glut of courgettes.

In each chapter, Louise answers a question about a familiar item in our shopping basket. Is plant protein as good as meat? Is foraged food more nutritious? Could bees be the answer to using fewer chemicals? How do we save genetic diversity in our apples? Are digital apps the key to reducing food waste? Is gardening good for mental health? And is the symbol of clean eating, the avocado, fueling the climate crisis?

As pressure grows via social media to post pictures of food that ticks all the boxes in terms of health and the environment, these food stories from the author of the award-winning The Ethical Carnivore are also a personal story of motherhood and the realization that nothing is ever perfect.

About The Author:

Hello, I’m Louise Gray. After five years at The Daily Telegraph as Environment Correspondent, I am now a freelance writer. I have worked for the BBC, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Country Life, The Spectator and Scottish Field. I have excellent contacts across the world and a deep knowledge of environmental issues. I have chaired a number of debates and am also available for public speaking events.

I have written a book for Bloomsbury entitled The Ethical Carnivore, that discusses the ethics of meat by only eating animals I have killed myself. It was shortlisted in the Fortnum and Mason Food Awards and won two awards at The Guild of Food Writers Awards, Best Food Book 2017 and Best Investigative Work. The book has received positive reviews, including in The Guardian and Evening Standard, which are all listed on the Amazon page.

This program is presented in partnership with the Ashland Public Library and other MA libraries.

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