WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME you looked at the University of Minnesota Regents seal? There are four images: a landscape, a telescope, a plow, and a pallet with brushes. The plow is crucial. When the University was founded in 1851, a department of agriculture was included in our charter. In 1868, the University was designated a land grant institution and an agricultural college and experimental farm was authorized. The University has played a global role in food ever since: There’s a reason why Willie Nelson brought Farm Aid to campus last fall.

In this issue we’re serving up a multitude of savory pieces connected to food. One features the Yost family. The Yosts have been running a family farm in Murdock, Minnesota since 1876, producing sugar, soybeans, alfalfa, and other crops. Both Mike Sr. and Michael Jr. are alums, and they speak with us about how their education contributes to their success.

Then there’s John and Jenny Thull. The married couple works in the University’s grape breeding and enology department: John as a research professional, Jenny as a gardener. The Thulls have played key roles in furthering our understanding of cold-weather grape harvesting.

And we meet Linda Cao, who runs the restaurant Saturday Dumpling Company with her husband Peter and is steering it to rapid expansion throughout the Twin Cities. The dumplings are the star, but don’t discount the business savvy Cao picked up as a student in the Carlson School.

Of course, students across generations have common food memories of their time on campus. Some smile remembering early-morning omelets at Al’s Breakfast, the 14-seat diner still going strong after 76 years. Others grin at thoughts of feasts at Tono Pizzeria + Cheesesteaks. A key part of the student experience is embracing our culinary traditions, old and new.

Ours is the University that claims Norman Borlaug, whose innovation with wheat in the 1950s fed millions, and Orville Freeman, who as Secretary of Agriculture in the 1960s pushed through the food stamp program (known since 2008 as SNAP). We continue to graduate future leaders through our College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences department, which counts Jordan McCallum of the University’s Meat Lab as an alum.

But there’s a growing problem facing some students: food insecurity. The U of M is no exception to this crisis affecting universities all around the country. We examine the strategies that Boynton Health is using with its Nutritious U Food Pantry program, which now features expanded hours and mobile outreach, to feed hungry students.

And there are new realities facing many Twin Cities restaurants. Since the Renee Good and Alex Pretti tragedies, and ongoing ICE presence in Minnesota, many immigrant-run restaurants have been experiencing significant downturns in their business. We want our alumni community to know that we share your concerns and are planning future coverage accordingly.

Adam Wahlberg (M.P.A. '16) can be reached at wahl0172@umn.edu.

If you liked this story, Minnesota Alumni magazine publishes four times a year highlighting U of M alumni and University activities. Early access to stories and a print subscription are benefits of being an Alumni Association member. Join here to receive a printed copy at home.