It's one of the few food crops that actually originated in North America. But the sunflower was just a pretty diversion until Soviet breeders came up with oil-rich varieties that became a staple.

When livestock producers overuse antibiotics, the drugs can help breed resistant bacteria, or superbugs, that have infected tens of thousands of people. The FDA wants to stop that, but its announcement today only restricts one class of drugs out of the many used on animals.

The cost of budget-friendly foods like ground beef, potatoes, and eggs soared 10 percent over the past year, pinching household budgets even harder. Blame bad weather, export competition, and the fact that more people are cooking at home to save money. This year may be a bit better, but not much.

There's not enough organic milk, especially in states like Florida and Georgia. Inputs — like organic grain and hay for animals — are now dramatically more expensive for farmers. That means organic dairy cows are getting less food and producing less milk.

The word on the 2012 food scene is the opposite of processed, mass produced and factory farmed. Weekend Edition food commentator Bonny Wolf sifts through the tea leaves for clues to what you'll be eating in the year ahead.

Native American tribes in Eastern Oregon recently marked kimtee inmewit, a ceremony that welcomes the sacred new foods of the new year. The tribes see these foods not just as nourishment, but as a connection to ancestors.