A new podcast from Decorah-based Seed Savers Exchange asks a question with consequences for gardeners, farmers and shoppers: how much control do people really have over the food that reaches their plates?
The 41-minute, 43-second episode follows food through the chain from seed genetics and agricultural systems to food-industry marketing and public policy. It was released August 23, 2026, as the third installment of Seed Savers Exchange’s Sowing Connections series.
Where Decorah listeners can hear the episode
Decorah residents and other listeners can access the episode through Seed Savers Exchange’s podcast webpage, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The organization says the discussion is intended for gardeners, farmers and shoppers who want a clearer understanding of how food moves from seeds into the marketplace.
Instead of presenting food choices as the result of personal preference alone, the episode examines how the systems that produce, promote and distribute food affect what consumers can buy and eat. That includes the influence of industrial agriculture, food policy, ultra-processed foods and food-industry marketing.
Why seed diversity is part of the discussion
The release comes as Seed Savers Exchange continues its work with open-pollinated seeds and the preservation of plant varieties. The Decorah-based organization uses careful isolation practices to keep those varieties true to type while protecting their genetic diversity for future generations.
The podcast presents seed preservation as an issue with implications beyond agricultural history. Seeds saved, shared and grown by gardeners and farmers can affect the range and resilience of the broader food system over time. The episode’s argument is that preserving a plant variety today can help communities retain more choices in the future.
From that starting point, the discussion expands into the economic and political forces that influence diets and grocery selections. The episode frames food choices as decisions shaped by production, promotion and distribution systems—not simply by taste.
Marion Nestle and the Corgi pea
Nutrition scholar Marion Nestle appears in the episode. Seed Savers Exchange identifies her as a nutritionist, consumer advocate, award-winning author and academic whose work examines food politics and dietary choice. Her segment considers whether dietary decisions should be viewed solely as individual responsibility while also examining the influence of industry practices and public policy. Listeners can begin that portion at 6:25.
The episode closes with Seed Savers Exchange’s heirloom Corgi pea, described by the organization as a sweet and versatile variety in its collection. Beginning at 39:23, the segment uses the pea as a local example of the podcast’s broader point: the future of the food system is connected to the varieties people choose to save, share and grow.
Seed Savers Exchange also provides access to a collection of thousands of varieties and information about requesting the Corgi pea. The episode points toward shared action by gardeners, farmers, communities and policymakers, linking the varieties people grow with the markets they support and the policies governing food production and promotion.