Every bite has a story.  Whether it's a plate of pasta, a T-bone steak, a can of beans or a banana, your conscious food choices can make a world of difference.  Let's support sustainable food choices.  Let's retake our plates.

Whole Foods Market is pleased to present the "Let's Retake Our Plates" Film Series, a collection of films about our food supply and the environment - and the visionary people (and companies) who are making it better, one bite at a time. 

Timed to coincide with April's Earth Month and hosted at Lakewood Public Library and Solon Cinemas, the series includes a quality array of recent independent documentaries, several of which have been shown in Cleveland previously, to popular response.  All screenings are FREE and open to the public, with contests, prizes, free samples and guest-hosted discussions planned for every show. 

"The intention is to support a community aware of the 'life' of the food on our plates," explained Whole Foods Market's John Kucinski, associate store team leader at Cedar Center.  "From farm to store to table, there are opportunities for us as consumers to become more engaged in the process and make mindful choices that best support our values.  Step one is making the information accessible and encouraging a dialogue."

Tickets (free of charge) will be available first-come, first-served at the specified screening location, beginning one hour prior to each show.  See calendar listing below for complete schedule and descriptions.

The "Let's Retake Our Plates" Film Series is sponsored by Whole Foods Market, Lakewood Public Library and Solon Cinemas with community partners including EcoWatch Journal and Slow Food Northern Ohio.

A fascinating look at how American agricultural policy and food culture developed in the 20th century and how the California food movement has created a counter-revolution against big agribusiness (73 minutes, 2008).  Part of the "Let's Retake Our Plates" Film Series presented by Whole Foods Market, with contests, prizes, free samples and guest-hosted discussions planned for every show.  (Solon Cinemas - 6185 Enterprise Parkway, Solon)

Filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, revealing a food supply controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment (94 minutes, 2008).  Part of the "Let's Retake Our Plates" Film Series presented by Whole Foods Market, with contests, prizes, free samples and guest-hosted discussions planned for every show.  (Lakewood Public Library - 15425 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood)

A chronicle of food systems in New York City that discovers innovative sustainable food system practices that both help struggling farmers to survive and provide affordable, locally-grown food to lower-income urban families (76 minutes, 2009).  Part of the "Let's Retake Our Plates" Film Series presented by Whole Foods Market, with contests, prizes, free samples and guest-hosted discussions planned for every show.  (Solon Cinemas - 6185 Enterprise Parkway, Solon)

A double feature, "Nourish" (2009) traces our relationship to food from a global perspective and suggests steps for creating a more sustainable food system, and "Homegrown" (2008) is an intimate human portrait of a family who runs a small organic farm in the heart of urban Pasadena, Calif., living like "Little House on the Prairie" in the 21st Century (78 tot. minutes).  Part of the "Let's Retake Our Plates" Film Series presented by Whole Foods Market, with contests, prizes, free samples and guest-hosted discussions planned for every show.  (Lakewood Public Library - 15425 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood)

"King Corn" (2007) and its follow-up companion, "Big River" (2010), chronicle the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation, and the troubling questions about food and farming practices that accompany its abundance (88 tot. minutes).  Part of the "Let's Retake Our Plates" Film Series presented by Whole Foods Market, with contests, prizes, free samples and guest-hosted discussions planned for every show.  (Solon Cinemas - 6185 Enterprise Parkway, Solon)

A harrowing examination of the fishing industry and the troubling effects of careless fishing practices and overfishing on our oceans (2009, 85 minutes).  Part of the "Let's Retake Our Plates" Film Series presented by Whole Foods Market, with contests, prizes, free samples and guest-hosted discussions planned for every show.  (Lakewood Public Library - 15425 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood)

A celebration of the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are forging healthier, sustainable alternatives and a practical vision for the future of our food system (2009, 72 minutes).  Part of the "Let's Retake Our Plates" Film Series presented by Whole Foods Market, with contests, prizes, free samples and guest-hosted discussions planned for every show.  (Solon Cinemas - 6185 Enterprise Parkway, Solon)

Locally produced, "PolyCultures" portrays the diverse communities around Greater Cleveland coming together to grow a more sustainable and equitable food system (2009, 56 minutes).  Part of the "Let's Retake Our Plates" Film Series presented by Whole Foods Market, with contests, prizes, free samples and guest-hosted discussions planned for every show.  (Lakewood Public Library - 15425 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood)