America's Heartland

Storyline

America's Heartland is a television program in the United States airing on the Public Broadcasting Service since 2005. In eight full seasons, America's Heartland reporters and crews have brought in stories from all across the United States. 172 half-hour episodes have taken viewers to 50 states, as well as faraway places like Taiwan, China, Egypt and Morocco. On the program American farmers and ranchers share their passion for hard work as well as their commitment to food safety, sustainability, environmental stewardship and animal welfare. The program features profiles of farming and ranching families and explores trends in food production from farm to table. America's Heartland also features a "Farm to Fork" segment hosted by well-known CNet personality and blogger Sharon Vaknin. Sharon joins farmers in their own kitchens, preparing recipes with ingredients grown on that farm. Other recurring segments include "Harvesting Knowledge", highlighting the history of familiar food production, "Off the Shelf" featuring information about items found right in the grocery store, and "Agriculture 101", where ag experts answer questions posed by consumers. The program has featured several "themed" episodes. In 2008 Jason Shoultz explored overseas grain trade in China and Taiwan in a special entitled "Journey of the Corn." In 2009 the program took viewers to Egypt and Morocco to explore overseas programs designed to grow export markets for Corn and Wheat. Other themed episodes include "Dawn to Dusk," following a North Dakota farming family throughout a busy day, "The Miracle Bean," exploring the many uses of soybeans grown in the US, "Cowboy Cattle Drive" taking viewers on a three day cattle drive in the Utah mountains. The program has also featured state-themed shows in Hawaii, Alaska and Texas.