Morris Plains gardener does what others say is “impossible.” Morris-Plains Patch, New Jersey (link no longer available) By Liz Alterman When Bob Hill set out to grow bananas in the backyard of his Morris Plains home, fellow gardeners thought he was, well, bananas. Having discovered his green thumb as a kindergartner when he was able to… Read more »
Search Results for: GMO
Bees in Freefall as Study Shows Sharp US Decline
The Guardian By Alok Jha, science correspondent The abundance of four common species of bumblebee in the US has dropped by 96% in just the past few decades, according to the most comprehensive national census of the insects. Scientists said the alarming decline, which could have devastating implications for the pollination of both wild and… Read more »
Court lets part of organic-milk case proceed
[Cornucopia’s initial review of this mixed decision leaves standing the core-complaint enabling consumers to go after Aurora and the retailers for misrepresenting their product as “organic.” The court’s decision that the Organic Foods Production Act has purview over organic marketing only illustrates how important it is for the USDA to carry out the intent of… Read more »
Mayor’s Agriculture Plan Soon to Bear Fruit
San Francisco Chronicle by Heather Knight, Chronicle Staff Writer Vegetable gardens will soon be sprouting in unlikely places throughout San Francisco including a building that produces steam to heat the Civic Center, Department of Public Works land in the Bayview, outside McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park and at the San Francisco Police Academy in… Read more »
Cropp Cooperative Joins with Stonyfield to Sustain More Family Farmers
Agreement Helps Organic Dairy Farmers in Northeast and Midwest Organic Valley LA FARGE, WI – CROPP Cooperative and Stonyfield Farm today announced a new phase in their partnership, a creative measure designed to sustain organic family dairy farmers and preserve consumer choice. Beginning January 1, 2010, CROPP will manage the organic milk supply for Stonyfield… Read more »
Non-Organic Organic Food
CommonDreams.org by Jim Hightower When it comes to a healthy diet, I am not a purist. Too late for that because I grew up eating such culinary concoctions as toasted sandwiches constructed of Spam, white bread and that oddly orange, oddly spongy cheeselike stuff known as Velveeta. As an adult, I even have been irresponsible… Read more »
A 50-Year Farm Bill
New York Times By WES JACKSON and WENDELL BERRY The extraordinary rainstorms last June caused catastrophic soil erosion in the grain lands of Iowa, where there were gullies 200 feet wide. But even worse damage is done over the long term under normal rainfall — by the little rills and sheets of erosion on incompletely… Read more »
Unsustainable Shrimp Farming Degrading the Environment, Posing Health Risks
Eli Penberthy The Cornucopia Institute Consumer demand for shrimp is soaring. In 2006, the US alone imported 1.3 billion pounds of farm-raised shrimp, more than any other seafood. The results are wreaking havoc on the environment, threatening the livelihood of fishing communities, and significantly contaminating the water and food supplies in the US and abroad…. Read more »
(ALERT OVER) – Sow The Seeds Flood Relief Fund Designated to Help Midwest Farmers
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa Food Co-ops Join Efforts for Farm Flood Victims Margaret Bert, Director of Communications Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative Milwaukee, WI: The remnants of tropical storm Erin and the ensuing Midwest summer floods have literally washed away the harvest for many family farmers living and farming in the Kickapoo River basin and other… Read more »
Organics at a Crossroads in 2007
By Mark Alan Kastel Now that annual sales of organic food products have reached $16 to $17 billion, and increased marketplace demand is causing ramped-up offerings by major supermarket chains, can the organic industry retain the meaning behind the organic label? After all, no other product or market sector I know of better exemplifies the… Read more »