KCETLink Media Group, a leading national independent, non-profit, public broadcast and digital network, has joined forces with the University of California and the Berkeley Food Institute to present California Matters with Mark Bittman, kcet.org/CAFoodMatters, and will debut as a television special this fall. The online site and the television program will follow the respected food writer, author and New York Times columnist in a 10-part web series that takes the renowned food pundit across the state to explore leading research in food and health policies as well as sustainable agriculture by several University of California campuses.

UC and its Global Food Initiative is producing the video series in collaboration with the Berkeley Food Institute where Mark Bittman was a distinguished visiting fellow this spring. Each of the five to eight-minute episodes of California Matters with Mark Bittman will take a look at a wide range of topics including wild edibles, the history of Chinese-American food, labor justice issues with restaurant workers and a peek into what we can expect from dining experiences in the future.

“KCETLink Media Group is proud to present California Matters with Mark Bittman in order to share with our viewers the huge impact that California has on the nationís food resources,” said Senior Vice President of Content Development and Production of KCETLink Media Group Juan Devis. “We are pleased to partner with such influential organizations as the University of California and the Berkeley Food Institute in order to amplify their important food research regarding sustainability and nutrition to the Southern California community.”

New episodes will run every two weeks at the dedicated online content hub at kcet.org/CAFoodMatters which will also present an array of programming to provide a comprehensive look at issues around food, underscoring California's centrality to the global food discourse. The online hub will host exclusive web content featuring interviews with respected food, farming and nutrition experts interviewed by Bittman as well as related news stories and television segments from popular KCET television news programs.

Bittman is a journalist, one of the country’s best known food writers, and author of 14 books, including the bestselling “How to Cook Everything.” He has been the recipient of International Association of Culinary Professionals, Julia Child, and James Beard awards for his writing. Bittman writes on food policy and cooking for the opinion section of the New York Times. His most recent book,  “VB6,” debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. He is also the author of “A Bone to Pick,” a new book that takes a look at the most pressing issues in food and sustainability.

To learn more, please visit kcet.org/CAFoodMatters.