I got handed last week the most extraordinary compilation of food facts. It’s a 2012 calendar that singles out historical facts, patents, discoveries, companies, birthdays of pioneers and scientists, and national celebrations related to food for each day. Each. Day. Imagine!

On January 1, 1898, Grape Nuts were introduced by C.W. Post. On that same day in 1876, the red triangle of Bass Ale became the first registered trademark in the U.K. January 17th was National Hot Buttered Rum Day. Coca-Cola was incorporated on January 22nd, a whopping 120 years ago (1892). Just yesterday, Coke celebrated the birthday of its trademark, which is 119 years old and counting (1/31/1893). And that’s just a few days of food facts I’ve singled out at random.

The author of this remarkable feat of incredibly fun and revealing research is Michael Hynes, a resident of the Boston area whose professional work has nothing to do with food (his wife, however, is Louisa Kasdon, founder and CEO of Let’s Talk About Food).

Rightly so, Hynes has copyrighted his work. Who knows? Maybe some day his own publication will be updated with the date 1/1/12 as the initial publication of his copyrighted food calendar! He and Kasdon were generous enough to share this calendar with PRK. In turn, we will occasionally dip into this incredible archive of food history and share with YOU the day’s Food Fact (or Facts, as the case may be), citing Hynes as intellectual owner of this edible, quaffable, unbelievable R&D.

Today, the first of the month, is a logical beginning. What’s on Hynes’ calendar for February 1st?

National Baked Alaska Day. It ain’t fish.

By any reckoning Sunday’s Farm Bill Teach-In was a success. Cahners Theatre at the Museum of Science was packed. The audience spanned ages and ethnic background. Waistlines varied. There was plenty of laughter, thoughtful silence, note-taking and Tweeting throughout the afternoon. And, at the event’s conclusion, there were calls to action.

Being a public educational forum, it was important that the keynote addresses deliver. They did. NYU nutrition professor and public policy expert Marion Nestle launched the Teach-In with a roughly 30-minute, straight-talking presentation about what the Farm Bill IS, what it does and doesn’t do, and whom it benefits. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine followed in turn with an equally compelling, equally charismatic talk. Local farming initiatives are a viable model for change on a national scale. She argued why and how.

Here’s a recap, with specific information on what YOU can do after the jump. Continue reading →