Big data, small farms and a tale of two tomatoes | Erin Baumgartner

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The path to better food is paved with data, says entrepreneur Erin Baumgartner. Drawing from her experience running a farm-to-table business, she outlines her plan to help create a healthier, zero-waste food system that values the quality and taste of small, local farm harvests over factory-farmed produce.

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28 Comments on Big data, small farms and a tale of two tomatoes | Erin Baumgartner

  1. “He uses statistics like a drunken man uses a lamp post, more for support than illumination.”
    — Andrew Lang

    • Sorry, maybe it’s just me blind to the reference, but what’s the lie here? These statistics point towards seemingly objective truths.

      The original quote seems to be geared towards the comparison of a fib (or seemingly minor lie), a damned lie (more prominent), and a statistical lie, which, to me, speaks more towards the manipulation of scientific and statistical processes to tell a lie (or misconstrue.. much like a conspiracy theory, which strings together separately strong conclusions into a far-fetched hypothesis).

      If one were to align on a relative definition, what would be the reference here? Who is lying?

  2. A homegrown tomato has the big advantage that you can actually harvest it when ripe and get some taste out of it. Can’t say that of most supermarket products!

    • The lack of taste in a supermarket tomato is as much about them being refrigerated as anything else. When cold, their scent doesn’t come out.

    • @Matthew Pocock It’s the same when I do not store them in the fridge really. When you want to transport a tomato for several days, you have to harvest it while still green. The fruit will produce not nearly as much sugar as if you let it ripen on the plant in my experience.

  3. Great content you shared listening carefully nosebleedin just trying to understand slung words nice explanation about data kinetic programing

  4. Erin: This is how you can use big data to solve food waste and support your local community
    Comment Section: Conspiracy! AI will take us over! Big data Bad!

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