Here are references, links, and short descriptions for six popular press and blog articles on millets and the International Year of Millets (IYM). They are in reverse chronological order - most are a few months old which means I haven't been keeping up with my research on them. There are some more in the hopper that I'll post separately, but feel free to post items on millets that you find particularly interesting.


"Why 2023 is the International Year of Millets," by Hannah Walhout, FoodPrint, 5-6 October 2023
https://foodprint.org/blog/international-year-of-the-millets/
(This is a well-researched and link-rich intro to millets, in the context of the IYM. Plus a recipe. It also mentions the work of: Chef Pierre Thiam, author and head of Yolélé; Tayler Reinman, grad student in crop science at Washington State U.; and NAMA co-founder, Joni Kindwall-Moore (head of Snacktivist). While the angle is US, activities in Senegal and India are noted. NAMA is mentioned, along with its other co-founders - Jonathon Landeck and myself.)
https://foodprint.org/blog/international-year-of-the-millets/

"What is Millet?" by Shandra Martinez, Healthier Michigan, 30 Aug. 2023
https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/stories/food-and-recipes/what-is-millet
(A short intro to millets, which has some good info on what is certainly proso. It mentions the IYM, but approaches the suject as if it is about one grain.)

"Millet's Moment: The United Nations draws attention to this ancient grain," by Larry Reichenberger, The Furrow (John Deere), 1 June 2023 https://www.deere.com/en/publications/the-furrow/2023/summer-2023/millet-moment/
(A good intro to millets, with mention of the IYM, focus on proso millet and sorghum, with mention of teff and óthers.' Features quotes by: Jean Hediger [see also the article on her, at end of list below]; Chris Stum, grower in Colorado and president of the High Plains Millet Association; John Duff, sustainability consultant with National Sorghum Producers; and our NAMA colleague, Joni Kindwall-Moore, who of course runs Snacktivist Foods.)

"Millets — ancient drought-resistant grains — could help the Midwest survive climate change," by Eva Tesfaye, KBIA, 23 May 2023
https://www.kbia.org/2023-05-23/millets-ancient-drought-resistant-grains-could-help-the-midwest-survive-climate-change
(This is essentially the same NPR / Harvest Public Media story and audio that we discussed briefly on this list last June. Excellent overview, and worth recycling, especially for those who didn't catch it earlier. It features: Makiko Taguchi of FAO; three researchers, Dr. Rob Myers of U. Missouri, Prof. James Schnable of U. Nebraska-Lincoln, and Prof. Ram Perumal of Kansas State U.; and farmers, Linus Rothermich in Missouri, Matt Little in Oklahoma, and Jeff Taylor in Iowa.)

"Colorado Farmer Develops Millet Flour Products," by Tim Hammerich, AgInfo Network / Farm of the Future, 27 April 2023
https://www.aginfo.net/report/56198/Farm-of-the-Future/Colorado-Farmer-Develops-Millet-Flour-Products
(Short piece on Roy Pfaltzgrass, Colorado farmer & entrepreneur, who began growing proso millet in a search for gluten-free products for his wife, and now markets products made with the flour.)

"Millet is Having a Moment. Is the Ancient Grain Ready for a Resurgence?" by Lindsay Campbell, Modern Farmer, 27 Dec. 2022
https://modernfarmer.com/2022/12/year-of-millet/
(With mention of the IYM, this article spotlights the farm of Jean Hediger, who has for some years run a large organic proso millet farm in northern Colorado, where she is apparently sometimes called the "millet queen." Reasons for interest in this crop are discussed, and Kelly LeBlanc of Oldways is quoted. Ms. Hediger also heads an organic proso millet growers group in the Rocky Mountain states called "Golden Prairie" https://goldenprairie.com/ .)


Summary thoughts: Most all attention to millets is welcome, esp. during IYM. It is nice to see items that describe local initiatives that don't get big press coverage. That said, one can see the "dance" of singular and plural in some articles, reminding this topic is a bit complicated (because there are many millets) and evidently not fully familiar to many otherwise good writers.

Don Osborn, PhD
(East Lansing, MI, US)
North American Millets Alliance