Dear Friedman Community:
A few days ago, I found myself in a dimly lit classroom humming with the chatter of peers who were more than a little relieved to step away from papers and exams for an evening of conversation and holiday cuisine. 
At Friedman’s Annual Thanksgiving Potluck, the school transforms into buffet lines filled with pies and cookies, regional specialties, and the typical American Thanksgiving feast. It’s a strange metamorphosis, but I took a moment to consider how lucky I am. I find myself among a community of thoughtful, talented, and inspiring peers. Not only am I grateful for their motivation and intellect in the classroom (and, for what it’s worth, their amazing culinary skills at events like this potluck), but more so for the friendships I know will bear fruit for the rest of our lives.
I come to the Friedman School thanks to a Sustainable Science Fellowship from USDA and the generous contributions of dedicated Friedman alumni and friends of the School. As a second year student in the Agriculture, Food, and Environment Program, otherwise known as AFE in these hallways, I’m continuously challenged by peers who bring their own brand of experiences into a collective vision for a better, more sustainable agricultural system. The AFE program bridges the disciplines of agricultural science, nutrition, environmental policy and management, and food policy. To call the program unique is an understatement.
Yet, it is of increasing relevance as our society confronts the challenges of food insecurity, environmental degradation, climate change, and a rising prevalence of chronic diseases linked to our current food system.
The internship requirement for the AFE program allows us to see these academic concepts at play in the real world. This past summer, I worked with Organic Valley Family of Farms, headquartered in the tiny village of La Farge, Wisconsin. Organic Valley is a cooperative of over 1,300 organic farms who market dairy, eggs, meats, and a variety of produce. As a mission-driven “uncorporation,” Organic Valley employs a model that represents a profound shift away from most food businesses today. It is owned by all 1,300 of its farmers, who commit to environmentally sound, organically-certified agricultural practices while providing strong incomes that keep family farmers in business, and hence, caring for the land.
Because of my education and experiences at the Friedman School thus far, I found myself well-equipped for the roles Organic Valley needed me to fill. As an intern in their Marketing Department, I was tasked with managing an external communications guide for employees. Among other things, this involved drafting talking points on nutrient density, the fundamentals of pasteurization, and organic farming methods—all of which were covered by my first-year curriculum at Friedman. Later on, their Government Affairs 
Department needed me to draft a series of backgrounders on funding opportunities in the new Farm Bill. Again, I was prepared for this through my AFE classes that focus on the public policy process and the central federal institutions in the fields of nutrition and agriculture.
In what little free time I find between my studies, I also work as a research assistant at Tufts Global Development and Environment Institute, a fantastic research center devoted to curricular development and policy analysis in the field of sustainable economics and development. Working with Deputy Director Tim Wise, I research U.S. farm policy and draft working papers and policy briefs that complement my studies at Friedman.
I am grateful for the opportunities I find while studying here at Friedman- the top school of nutrition in the nation. Many thanks for your donations to our community!
Sincerely,
Alicia Harvie
MS Candidate, AFE Program
Tufts University
The Gerald J. & Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
If you're unfamiliar with Organic Valley, take a look at the future of sustainable agriculture here: www.organicvalley.coop. To learn more about the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts, please visit http://ase.tufts.edu/gdae.
Give students, like Alicia, the opportunity to follow their dreams - Make a gift to the Nutrition Annual Fund today, click here
