Allinfoodz

Food brings people together. On this episode of allinfoodz, Amit Sharma is joined by Associate Professor in the School of Theatre co-founder and co-Director of The Center for Pedagogy in Arts and Design Susan Russell, Ph.D. They discuss the human connection and how a food as simple as beans brings people from thousands of miles away, from different cultures together. 

On this episode of allinfoodz, Amit Sharma is joined by Benjamin Mchie, Executive Director of the African American Registry. They discuss the history and influences of African American cuisine and the term “soul food.”

We all make choices about what we eat every day. However, most of us don’t think about the way our food choices impact sustainability and the food system. On this episode of allinfoodz, Amit Sharma is joined by Laure Saulais, associate professor in the department of agrifood economics and consumer science at Université Laval in Québec, Canada. She discusses the complexities of food choice and the impacts choices have on sustainability, the food system, economics, and more.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, 30-40 percent of the food supply in the United States is wasted. On this episode of allinfoodz, Amit Sharma is joined by Program Director of Food Recovery Operations at 412 Food Rescue Jennifer England. She discusses food waste and how her organization is helping to save food from the garbage and get it into the hands of people who need it.

The wine industry has thousands of years of history of adaptation to change, and as such it offers a unique perspective. On this episode of allinfoodz, Amit Sharma is joined by Robert Mazza president of Mazza Vineyards in North East, PA. He talks about the changes in the wine industry and how it continues to adapt.

On this episode of allinfoodz, Amit Sharma is joined by Penn State Assistant Vice President of Housing and Food Services Cheryl Fabrizi. They discuss the ins and outs of what it takes to feed a large student population like Penn State's.

Each year approximately 20 to 50 million Americans come together to celebrate with food and drink in parking lots and open fields. On this episode of allinfoodz, Amit Sharma is joined by Penn State Teaching Professor of Anthropology Kirk French to discuss the cultural phenomena of tailgating. Kirk discusses the history of humans gathering before events for food and drink, tailgating in modern times and his past research on on the subject.

The way school nutrition is viewed has changed greatly during the pandemic. On this episode of allinfoodz, Amit Sharma is joined by Food Service Director at State College Area School District and President-Elect of the School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania Megan Schaper. They discuss how the pandemic has changed school nutrition and discusses the continuing changes of food in school. 

According to the National Restaurant Association, one in three Americans have their first job experience in restaurants, six in ten adults have worked in restaurants, at some point in their lives and restaurants employ more women and minority managers than any other industry. For as many as the restaurant industry has employed, it has faced difficult challenges during COVID-19. Now, as there is a light at the end of the COVID tunnel, restaurants are facing new labor challenges in the post-COVID era. On this episode of allinfoodz, Amit Sharma is joined by Phil Jolly, Elizabeth M. King Early Career Professor at Penn State School of Hospitality Management. His research is focused on understanding the employee experience in hospitality and service organizations.