Recognizing food as both sustenance and a cultural experience that can evoke memories, cross boundaries and bring people together, seasoned chef and media personality Ed Porter recently brought his latest short film to UC Merced for an exclusive screening.
“The Food that Fuels” is a documentary that highlights the San Joaquin Valley and its role as a global supplier of fresh produce. It features a section on UC Merced’s Experimental Smart Farm and regional farms participating in Dining Services’ award-winning BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) Produce Buying Program.
The film offers a behind-the-scenes look at several local farming operations, including Anna’s Organic Farms in Chowchilla, Humble Rice Farm in Winton, Corbin Cash Distillery and D&S Farms in Atwater, and J Marchini Farms and Vista Ranch in Le Grand.
Porter, who has appeared on shows such as “Pressure Cooker” and “Grocery Games,” describes people in the culinary arts as storytellers. Through the film he shares the stories of these farms, the families behind them and their contributions to the global food supply. Porter also emphasizes the importance of programs like the Smart Farm in preserving the future of the San Joaquin Valley.
The Central Valley, described as America's bread basket, spans 20,000 square miles from Redding to Bakersfield. Its southern two-thirds make up the San Joaquin Valley. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the region produces 250 different crops and supplies about one-fourth of the nation's fruits, nuts and other table foods. The San Joaquin Valley’s agriculture also provides job opportunities for tens of thousands, from those who grow and harvest to those who cook and serve.
Before the November screening, Porter hosted a panel discussion featuring leaders in the agriculture industry. The panel included Dave Souza from D&S Farms/Corbin Cash Distillery, Rizpah Bellard from Nova Farms, Marc Marchini from J Marchini Farms/Vista Ranch and Brenae Royal from Monte Rosso Vineyards.
Marchini, a third-generation farmer, discussed advancements in agricultural technology and explained the stark contrast between his grandfather farming on horseback and modern mechanized equipment such as tractors guided by GPS and lasers that use artificial intelligence to eliminate weeds.
Bellard emphasized the need for more legacy farmers – people willing to become experts in agriculture and pass their knowledge to future generations. Royal highlighted challenges to sustainability, noting how unsustainable practices from neighboring farms can harm those striving to be organic. Souza called for more films like Porter’s to educate consumers about the complex processes in food production.
This event marked Porter’s third visit to UC Merced this year. In collaboration with UC Merced executive chefs Mitchell Vanagten and Anthony Pangelina, Porter spent two days in March gathering footage for his film. In April, he partnered with the crew at the Yablokoff-Wallace Dining Center for a “takeover” event in which students and campus leaders enjoyed a dining experience that combined Porter’s signature blend of music, art and food.
After the screening in the Dr. Vikram and Priya Lakireddy Grand Ballroom, attendees enjoyed a farm-to-table dining experience featuring ingredients provided by the farms in the film. The menu included charred radicchio salad made with radicchio from J Marchini Farms, miso roasted turnips using turnips from Anna’s Organic Farm, pasta a la Corbin Cash vodka, prepared with sweet potato vodka made at the Corbin Cash Distillery and pumpkin arancini made with pumpkins from the UC Merced Smart Farm.
“The Food That Fuels” has been submitted to multiple film festivals and accepted into nine, including the Tokyo Film Festival. Porter and his video producer, Life’s Interpretation, were awarded Best Short Film for December 2024 by Bridge Fest, a competition based in Vancouver.
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