54: Unpacking the Global Impact of Superfood Trends with Ann Shin

Published: Oct. 15, 2019, 1:56 a.m.

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We\\u2019re all at this point used to food terms being thrown around in the grocery store \\u2013 organic, GMO-free, natural, superfoods\\u2026 but what do these really mean? Superfoods is a term that I\\u2019m also fascinated by. My guest this week is award winning producer, director, filmmaker, and writer, Ann Shin, who explores this in her documentary, The Superfood Chain. In addition to this, she is well known for directing the documentaries The Defector: Escape from North Korea and My Enemy, My Brother about the true story of 2 enemies from the Iran-Iraq War.

\\xa0She asks these questions we tend to take for granted \\u2013 are superfoods really great for you? How does the global demand for superfoods impact indigenous cultures who grow these foods and depend on them as staples? The SuperFood chain is a beautiful cinematic documentary that investigates how the superfood industry affects the lives of farming families in Bolivia, Ethiopia, the Phillipines, and Haida Gwaii.

We explore these questions around what makes a superfood super, and how these demands for superfoods in Western cultures impact global communities, along with some tools and examples of how governments and food producers respond or adapt to shifts in food demands, and the process of making the film itself for her and her family.

Learn More About Ann Shin!\\xa0

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