This Earth Day, We’re Digging into Cover Crops

As a food service company dedicated to a more sustainable future, we recognize Earth Day as a special day to celebrate the deep connection between food and the environment.  While we work to affirm our commitment to small-scale, climate-friendly food systems every day, Earth Day is a chance to dig in. This year, we are centering our celebration on the importance of soil health, which our food systems and ecosystems so vitally depend on.  

Despite the importance of this precious natural resource, the health of our soil is at risk, which carries direct consequences for food security and ecological resilience. Half of the topsoil on the planet has been lost in the last 150 years. Widespread soil degradation is deeply tied to poor agricultural practices, which leads to erosion, soil contamination, and the decline of soil fertility.  

To confront this serious issue, the inconspicuous yet powerful cover crop is here to save the day. As a traditional regenerative farming practice, cover crops are strategically planted to protect and enrich the soil in between harvests. They help to actively improve soil health by rebuilding organic matter and supporting a beneficial microbial community. Their roots help the soil bind together, preventing erosion and runoff, which aids increased water retention and better resistance to pests and disease. These soil-friendly practices may even present a promising climate solution by sequestering carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil below.  

Farmers plant a variety of cover crops to best suit the needs of their soil, ranging from buckwheat, rye, and radishes to fava beans, sunflowers, and much more. Beans help fix nitrogen in the soil while other plants with narrower or deeper roots help with soil aeration and water filtration. After providing an array of benefits, these cover crops are then turned into the ground as a nutrient-dense natural fertilizer while stabilizing the soil in preparation for the next season’s planting.   

This Earth Day, we are challenging our chefs to creatively integrate plants used as cover crops into our menus to raise awareness about the importance of protecting soil health (Check out some innovative cover crop recipes here!). While plants used as cover crops are not usually harvested, many common examples are both edible and delicious. So, let’s dig into the tasty power of cover crops this Earth Day to recognize their importance in restoring the soil and our earth.