America’s Heartland Welcomes CNET Personality Sharon Vaknin as Host of Farm to Fork Segments in Upcoming New Season

Sacramento, CA (7/2/2012) – As it prepares its September launch of its eighth season, America’s Heartland today announced that Sharon Vaknin, video host and editor at CNET and a popular online chef, will debut as the series’ new Farm to Fork reporter.

“We’re excited to welcome Sharon as the latest addition to the Heartland team,” said Michael Sanford, Vice-President of Content Creation at KVIE Public Television, which produces America’s Heartland. “Sharon’s tech-savvy background, combined with her love of cooking and social media skills, will help us share the fun and informative Farm to Fork segments with an even larger broadcast and internet audience.”

Farm to Fork was created as a semi-regular feature on America’s Heartland back in 2010. Viewers are introduced to a real-life farmer or rancher to learn about the products they grow or raise. Together, Sharon and her guest then prepare some delicious dishes using those same ingredients. All of the recipes are posted on the America’s Heartland website (www.americasheartland.org). Sharon will also

share recipes with her large online followers on Flavorcraft, her YouTube channel, and will create a regular blog about the segments.

 “I can’t wait to share my love of cooking with America’s Heartland’s large broadcast audience as well as my online followers,” said Sharon. “My goal is to introduce more people to this excellent series about U.S. agriculture, while hopefully providing some tasty and easy-to-make new recipes that use some of our nation’s wonderful food products.”

In addition to her new Farm to Fork duties, Sharon covers technology tutorials and guides at CNET, the popular online channel. With her geek knowledge and a knack for layman’s terms, she shows the tech-savvy and tech-phobic how to make the most of their personal gadgets. She has appeared as a tech expert on The Today Show, CBS News, NPR, CBS Radio, Martha Stewart Radio, and ABC Bay Area.

The first of 22 half-hour episodes of America’s Heartland’s eighth season begin airing on public television stations and RFD-TV the week of September 3, 2012. For more information on episode schedules and PBS station carriage, go to www.americasheartland.org and www.rfdtv.com.

About America’s Heartland

Launched in 2005, the award-winning America’s Heartland travels throughout the U.S., introducing non-farm viewers to the men and women who provide the food, fuel, and fiber we use and consume daily.  The half-hour weekly series is seen on more than 240 public television stations (including 21 of the top 25 U.S. markets) as well as the RFD-TV cable and satellite channel. Many segments are targeted specifically to consumers: Off the Shelf looks at food choices we make at the supermarket; Agriculture 101 answers consumers’ questions about agriculture; and Harvesting Knowledge explores the rich history of foods we enjoy every day.

  America’s Heartland also examines how technology is changing production and how sustainability and environmental issues are becoming increasingly important to producers and consumers. Overall, including its RFD-TV viewership, the series reaches more than 40 million viewers each season.

The www.americasheartland.org website gives consumers easy connections to topics, educational resources, search functions and video offerings. America’s Heartland has also expanded its social networking outreach with updated features and information on Facebook and Twitter. The America’s Heartland YouTube channel currently draws more than 90 thousand visitors each month. The series receives in-kind production support from many prominent agriculture organizations, including the National Corn Growers Association, U.S. Grains Council, American Soybean Association, FFA, National Association of Wheat Growers, and the National Cotton Council of America.