American Feast's Sustainable Food Blog
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November 29, 2011
Milling Sustainably for Almost 200 Years in Upstate New York
Historic New Hope Mill (photo courtesy of New Hope Mills)
New Hope Mills has produced quality products for more than 180 years; earning it the distinction of being one of America's oldest flour mills. It may be one of the oldest, but this water-powered mill is also one of the most environmentally sound.
Leaving Clear Skies & Clean Water Over the Centuries
The mill has been operating on water power since 1823, leaving clear skies and clean water by milling the old fashioned way. In fact, at New Hope Mills, the water is improved by its use; it is aerated as it passes over the waterwheel or through the turbine. The wheel does not put a drop of oil into the water because the wheel bearing is made of a rare wood, Liqnum Vitae, that has its own lubricant.
The mill originally contained three runs of stone capable of 200 bushels a day. In 1892, the mill began grinding with roller mills which are still there today. Just over 60 yeasr ago the mill was purchased by Howard Weed, Hubert Latta, & Leland Weed. To this day it remains in the capable hands of the Weed family.
The big waterwheel is the mill's most visible feature, but the mill's real power comes from the water turbine underneath the mill. The turbine can run all year round providing there is sufficient water. The mill has an ideal location and facilities for water power near a mill pond with a 28-foot waterfall. With solid management by the Weed family this venerable operation remains competitive while operating much as it did in the 1800's.
No Chemical Additives or Artificial Ingredients
For the Weed family the quality of the product is paramount. Any product that is made at New Hope Mills is absolutely free from chemical additives & artificial ingredients. The family’s commitment to quality has made New Hope Mills Pancake Mixes the number one pancake flour in central New York.
Most old mills today are a novelty. If still standing, they are deteriorating fast. At New Hope Mills, the Weed family takes pride in preserving an important piece of our American Heritage. You’ve got to love how they preserve our Heritage by making delicious products that protect the health of our families, while using methods that protect our environment.
There is FREE SHIPPING on all premium pancake mixes from New Hope Mills. For further info on them, go to:
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O Tannenbaum (photo by Michael S. Richter, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
The season's entrepreneurs have set up shop on the sidewalks, bringing the scent of fresh pine to the sidewalks of the city. Many American families will be concerned that the cutting down of so many pine trees every Christmas is poor practice when it comes to conservation and the environment. Some opt for trees with the roots intact so that they can be replanted.
But our friends at American Farmland Trust assure us that Christmas trees can be farmed and enjoyed by those of an eco-friendly way of mind:
Tis still the season for farming at 21,904 Christmas tree farms throughout the country. Christmas tree farms can help sequester carbon dioxide, prevent erosion, protect water and provide habitat for wildlife; for every tree cut down, two to three seedlings are planted. Some tree farms are taking extra steps by adopting integrated pest management or organic practices to reduce pesticide use and by planting buffers to prevent runoff. Christmas trees have always been cherished for their green branches, and the many environmental benefits of live trees give us another reason to praise “O Tannenbaum.”
And here’s what Dr. Patrick Moore, founder of Greenpeace has to say about it:
I often say that one way to protect the environment is to choose renewable materials and energy wherever possible. Artificial trees are made from non-renewable plastics and petroleum-based products. Although some people claim that these trees last a lifetime, most are thrown away within nine years – and remain in landfill sites for centuries… The growing and production, use of and disposal of real Christmas trees could not be more sustainable and continues a tradition of thousands of years of decorating trees in mid winter and providing a focal point for the community, customer or family during the festive season.
Still thinking of getting an artificial this year to help protect the environment? Think again! Great Britain's Pines and Needle Company cites a study from Holland by J.M. Hekhuis, that found, "Natural trees use ten times less basic materials to produce and five times less energy. Their CO2 emission is four times lower and all waste is reusable."
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
The Delaware River basin is one of Nature’s great gifts, providing clean drinking water to 16 million people. For years it has been under threat of being polluted by deep drilling for methane gas, commonly called “natural gas”. But for today at least, it is safe.
The Delaware River Basin Commission just canceled a vote to allow fracking in the basin that was scheduled for November 28. It appears they wouldn't have the votes they needed to allow it. The delay is a testament to the power of people coming together to do what's right for their communities. Thousands stood up against corporate lobbying and a pricey ad campaign and won a round in a critical fight.
Courtesy of Halliburton
Hydraulic fracturing (also called "fracking"), is a method for extracting oil and gas lying deep below the layer of shale that below the surface of the basin. The process of fracking comes to us courtesy of Halliburton, the giant energy corporation headed by Dick Cheney before he became the Vice President of the United States.
Fracking accesses the gas beneath the shale by injecting millions of gallons water, toxic chemicals and sand under high pressure, cracking the shale and tight rocks to allow gas to flow more freely from the well. It is a poisonous mixture and believed to be the prime culprit in the pollution of groundwater in areas surrounding drilling sites. Even drinking water hundreds of miles from a well can be contaminated. Some scientists have speculated that fracking may trigger earthquakes.
Fracking in Gasland
Director Josh Fox made the Sundance award-winning documentary “Gasland” after he was asked to lease his land for gas drilling. That led him to embark on a cross-country odyssey. His journey led to a film accusing fracking of causing chronic illness, producing toxic waste deadly to farm animals, dangerous explosions, and an abominal record of government agencies failing to protect public safety. The most famous scene in “Gasland” shows tap water being set ablaze.
Residents who get their drinking water from the Delaware river Basin are not alone in facing a threat to the safety of their drinking water. According to an article published by ProPublica in December of 2009:
In the next 10 years, the United States will use the fracturing technology to drill hundreds of thousands of new wells astride cities, rivers and watersheds. Cash-strapped state governments are pining for the revenue and the much-needed jobs that drilling is expected to bring to poor, rural areas.
The Struggle Ahead
A battle to keep water safe for drinking has been won, but the struggle is far from over. Big energy companies are expected to continue to pour corporate cash into the fight across the United States. In many parts of the country they have already won and ordinary people have paid a terrible price. Besides being able to set their kitchen tap water ablaze, American families have been told that taking a shower at home could lead to an explosion that will kill them. Their children have been made sick by the pollutants unleashed and many have seen their homes become virtually impossible to sell.
Incredibly, a loophole exempts natural gas drilling from the Safe Drinking Water Act. Drilling companies don’t even have to disclose the almost 600 chemicals that might be used in fracking and find their way into drinking water.
To see a trailer for the documentary film cited above, go to: Gasland the Movie
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
More than 300 chefs and members of the culinary community gathered in New Orleans, from October 23 to 25, for the Chefs Collaborative third Annual National Summit.
The Collaborative galvanizes and educates culinary professionals, from farmers and fishers to chefs and writers, on issues where food and sustainability intersect. Summit attendees fully embraced the conference theme of “Hands on New Orleans – Sustainability in Action” with four butchery workshops and demos, charcuterie and classic cocktail workshops, and numerous conversations and practical workshops on timely topics including grass-fed beef, Gulf seafood, dead zones, farm worker justice and climate change.
The centerpiece of this year’s National Summit was the Sustainability Awards dinner at the Riverview Room held last night featuring Mistress of Ceremonies, Poppy Tooker, guest speaker, author Jessica Harris, and a dinner prepared by Chef Adolfo Garcia of Rio Mar, and a team of some of the Crescent City’s best chefs.
Sustainability Award Winners
The 2011 Sustainability Award winners, chosen by a panel of their esteemed culinary peers, are:
Chef Sam Hayward of Fore Street in Portland, Maine
Hayward was honored with the “Sustainer of The Year” award, which recognizes a chef who has been both a great mentor and a model to the culinary community through his purchases of seasonal, sustainable ingredients and the transformation of these ingredients into delicious food. "Sam has very quietly been doing this for a long time and has trained generations of chefs," said chef Michael Leviton of Lumiere and Area Four restaurants in Newton and Cambridge and chair of the Chefs Collaborative Board. "Not only that, but he has been a champion of a cuisine that is uniquely representative of Maine's bounty,” added Leviton.
Fedele Bauccio, founder and CEO of Bon Appétit Management Company (BAMCO) in Palo Alto, Calif
Bauccio received the “Pathfinder Award,” which recognizes a visionary working in the greater food community who has been a catalyst for positive change within the food system through efforts that go beyond the kitchen. “This is a company that empowers its chefs to find creative ways to source, develop menus, motivate their staff and educate their customers,” said Melissa Kogut, executive director of Chefs Collaborative. “We’re impressed with Fedele’s vision and execution – once Bon Appetite Management is successful in one area of sustainability, they set new company-wide ambitious goals,” said Kogut.
Sal and Al Sunseri of P & J Oysters in New Orleans
Sal and Al Sunseri received the “Foodshed Champion Award,” which recognizes a food producer (farmer, fisher or artisanal producer) committed to working with chefs who also exemplifies the following principle: Good food begins with unpolluted air, land, and water, environmentally sustainable farming and fishing, and humane animal husbandry. “No institution has played a larger role in the advancement of south Louisiana's oyster industry than New Orleans' P&J Oyster Company, the oldest business of its kind in the United States,” said Kogut. “Since the oil spill, many are worried about the long-term sustainability of this important Louisiana business. P & J Oysters is working with amazing energy to ensure Louisiana oysters have a future," said Kogut.
“We were thrilled to recognize people in the food industry who have been doing outstanding work to positively and measurably impact the sustainable food landscape,” said Leviton.
The 2012 Chefs Collaborative National Summit will be hosted in Seattle, Washington.
Chefs Collaborative was founded in 1993, the Boston-based nonprofit a national network of chefs changing the sustainable food system landscape using the power of connections, education, and responsible buying decisions.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
We’ve just received some exciting news from our friends at the Organic Consumers Fund. They have undertaken a campaign to make it the law to label genetically modified organis (GMOs).
For years American families have been unwittingly consuming GMO foods because unlike many countries around the globe, no labeling is required, even though there is scientific evidence that GMOs pose a threat to the health of people and the environment. Contamination of farm fields by by gmo seeds blowing in the wind may be the greatest threat to organic farming in the U.S. today.
Here’s what we’ve learned from our friends at Organic Consuners Fund:
• California is poised to be the first state with mandatory GMO labeling laws through the 2012 California Ballot Initiative process.
• Polls show support to get this initiative on the ballot & voted in. Over 80% of those polled supported mandatory labeling.
• A win for the California Initiative would be a huge blow to biotech and a huge victory for food activists.
• Monsanto and their minions have billions invested in GMOs and they are willing to spend millions to defeat this initiative.
• California is the 8th largest economy in the world. Labeling laws in CA will effect packaging and ingredient decisions nation-wide.
• The bill has been carefully written to ensure that it will not increase costs to consumers or producers.
Have you heard the saying, "As California goes, so goes the nation?" California has the biggest economy in the country and a win in CA would be a huge blow to biotech and a huge victory for food activists everywhere.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
The Non-GMO contest that drew more than 40,000 votes on 139 designs has a winner!
The winner was selected by Threadless Tees, a company working in cooperation with the Institute for Responsible Technology, one of the world's leading sources of information about genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
There's an amazing $10 sale price (regular price $24) that ends today, October 11th for this organic shirt, in guys or girls styles: Wear it for GMO rallies! Buy them as holiday gifts! Give one to your favorite teacher!
IRT FACEBOOK T-SHIRT CONTEST PHOTO GALLERY: Take a picture of yourself in this winning design and upload it to our Facebook page! http://facebook.com/responsibletechnology
OUR GRATITUDE AND THANKS: So many talented designers entered, we can't thank you enough for your energy and passion!
OUR WORK: Threadless donates 25% of each sale to the Non-GMO Campaign of The Institute for Responsible Technology.
Thanks for your support!
The Staff of the Institute for Responsible Technology
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Two national surveys indicate that most Americans "constantly" think about food production, yet have little connection to farming or ranching.
Yesterday, the findings of two national surveys about food and how it is grown and raised were released by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). The surveys focused separately on the opinions, attitudes and questions consumers and farmers/ranchers have about the current and future state of how food is grown and raised in the U.S. Results reveal that lack of access to information, as well as no interest or passion for the topic, have divided consumer opinion on the direction of agriculture.
"Americans have a lot of questions about where their food comes from, how it is raised and if it is good for their health long-term," said Bob Stallman, chairman of USFRA and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. "The findings of both surveys indicate there is an opportunity for more dialogue between farmers, ranchers and the American public about how food is grown and raised in the U.S."
• While nearly all Americans agree that food production is important to the success of the country, they are split over whether it is going in the right or wrong direction
• Consumers think about food production constantly, yet know very little about how food is brought to the dinner table
• Overwhelmingly, farmers and ranchers share the same values as consumers on issues related to environmental stewardship and animal care
Additional Consumer Survey Highlights
The purpose of the consumer survey was to ask Americans what additional information they want to learn more about related to how food is grown and raised in the U.S. The survey revealed that consumers have become disconnected from their food, yet think about the subject regularly. According to the survey findings:
• 72% of consumers know nothing or very little about farming or ranching
• 69% of consumers think about food production at least somewhat often
• 70% say purchase decisions are affected by how food is grown and raised, with three-quarters (72%) of Americans saying they think about this topic while purchasing groceries
• 42% or two-in-five Americans say the way that food is grown and raised has improved in the last 10 years, while a slightly smaller group say it has worsened (37%)
• Those who say the way that food is grown and raised has improved cite food safety (22%) and food quality (17%), whereas respondents who said the way food is grown and raised has worsened also cite food safety (21%) and food quality (21%)
• Of all the aspects of how food is grown and raised, Americans are most satisfied with the availability of healthy foods (73%) and food safety standards (66%)
• One in five consumers who say food production has worsened in the last 10 years cite environmental impact as the top area of demise
• 79% of consumers say producing healthy choices for all consumers is very important for farmers and ranchers to consider when planning farming and ranching practices
Consumers also were asked to identify the Top 5 topics they want more information about; responses included:
1. How chemicals are used in farming/ranching
2. How pesticides are used in farming/ranching
3. Food safety standards
4. Effect of government regulations on farming/ranching
5. How antibiotics are used and genetic engineering in crops
Additional Farmer/Rancher Survey Highlights
The goal of the farmer/rancher survey was to identify topics that farmers and ranchers wished Americans had more information about when it comes to food and how it is grown and raised in the U.S. According to the survey, farmers and ranchers said the top misconception they need to overcome as an industry is that a few "bad actors" are representative of the entire industry. Additionally, farmers and ranchers identified the effect of pesticides, antibiotics and fertilizers on food as the most important priorities they should address when communicating with consumers. Additional findings included:
• 86% of farmers/ranchers responded that the average consumer has little to no knowledge about modern farming/ranching
• 58% of respondents in this survey felt consumers have a completely inaccurate perception of farming and ranching
• Nearly all farmers and ranchers say that protecting the environment (99%) and practicing humane animal care (96%) are very or somewhat important goals or practices related to their business
• 80% of farmers/ranchers say that consumers have little to no knowledge about proper care of livestock or poultry
• 83% of farmers/ranchers responded that new ways of improving yields with fewer environmental inputs will have a major impact on farming/ranching in the future
When asked which Top 5 topics were most important to educate consumers about, farmers and ranchers responded:
1. The effect of pesticides, fertilizers and antibiotics on food
2. Where food comes from in general
3. Proper care of livestock and poultry
4. Effect of government regulations on farming/ranching
5. Economic value of agriculture
"We want all Americans to join us to ask questions and regularly get information from farmers and ranchers who are growing and raising their food,” added Stallman.
About the Surveys
The 2011 USFRA Farmer/Rancher Survey was fielded by phone for USFRA by Ketchum Global Research Network and Braun Research between August 6-18, 2011, reaching 1,002 farmers and ranchers nationwide. The base sample has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%. The 2011 USFRA Consumer Survey was fielded by phone for USFRA by Ketchum Global Research Network and Braun Research between August 24-31, 2011, reaching 2,417 consumers nationwide. The base sample has a margin of error of +/- 2.0%.
About U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), established in 2010 and headquartered in Chesterfield, Mo., currently represents more than 50 of the top farmer- and rancher-led organizations and agricultural partners. The Alliance includes prominent agricultural groups at the national, regional and state levels that have collaborated to lead the dialogue about their commitment to continuous improvement and best production practices. For more information on the Alliance, affiliates and partners and the movement to lead the conversation with Americans about today's agriculture, visit: http://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Farmers-Ranchers-Alliance/103189669746931
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
The Other Inconvenient Truth: How Agriculture is Changing the Face of Our Planet
In this TEDx video, Institute on the Environment director Jonathan Foley offers a striking view of the impact of agriculture on Earth’s landscape and proposes a strategy for creating a future in which we can produce sufficient food while protecting the planet.
Jonathan Foley is the director of the Institute on the Environment (IonE) at the University of the Minnesota, where he is a professor and McKnight Presidential Chair in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior. He also leads the IonE’s Global Landscapes Initiative.
Foley’s work focuses on complex global environmental systems and their interactions with human societies. He and his students have contributed to our understanding of global-scale ecological processes, global patterns of land use, the behavior of the planet’s climate and water cycles, and the sustainability of our biosphere. This work has led him to be a regular advisor to large corporations, NGOs and governments around the world.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
In a previous post, we gave you a link to a shopper’s guide from Oceans Alive which helps you choose fish with the lowest amount of pollutants.
Now the Environmental Working Group has come out with a similar guide for produce buyers. This list will guide you to the fruits and vegetables that contain the lowest levels of pesticides and which ones you should buy organic.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced loans and grants for more than 500 agricultural producers and rural small businesses across the country to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in their operations.
"This funding is an important part of the Obama Administration's plan to help the nation's farmers, agricultural producers and rural small businesses conserve natural resources, create more green jobs and lead us on the path to becoming an energy independent nation," Vilsack said.
The grants and loan guarantees are being provided through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), a 2008 Farm Bill initiative. REAP offers funds for farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements. These federal funds leverage other funding sources for small businesses. In all, USDA announced today more than $27 million in energy grants and guaranteed loans for projects.
Converting Waste to Watts
The REAP program is helping many agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy consumption. For example, in Kirkwood, Pennsylvania, Jay Clifford Sensenig was selected to receive a $309,733 grant to install a co-op digester system that will process annually more than 16,800 tons of dairy, hog and chicken manure from four farms into methane gas, creating more than 879,000 kilowatts per year of electricity. In addition, the digester system is designed to accept and process food waste. The host farm uses 232,000 kilowatts annually; the excess energy produced from the digester will be sold to the local utility.
In Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, United Cooperative was selected to receive a $448,500 grant to help with the installation cost of 33 ethanol flex-fuel dispensers and 17 biodiesel dispensers. United Cooperative is a full-service cooperative that offers feed, grain, agronomy and energy products to south-central Wisconsin farmers and consumers.
Solar & Geothermal in the Mix
The REAP program is also funding several other types of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. For example, in Windham, N.H., the Pugliese Contracting Corporation was selected to receive a $99,500 loan guarantee and a $49,875 grant to purchase and install a 30 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system and a geothermal heating and cooling system in its 8,000-square-foot operations center. Once installed, the system will reduce energy purchased from the grid by 63%. The geothermal system will provide 100% of the business's heating and cooling needs.
Funding of each award is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant or loan agreement. Grants can finance up to 25% of a project's cost, not to exceed $500,000 for renewables, $250,000 for efficiency.
About USDA Rural Development
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $155 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
We once published a photo of a duck who keeps strawberries free of pests on an organic farm in the Catskills region of New York State. At Heidi's farm in Corrales, New Mexico a flock of native Rio Grande turkeys do the same amongst the hedge rows of raspberies. No need for poisonous pesticides!
It’s the combination of hard work and best practices on the part of Heidi and her brother Doug that make the incomparable organic jams of Heidi’s Raspberry Farm possible. It all starts with hand-picked, fresh fruit, and making their mouth-watering and nutrtious jams begins with a meticulous approach to sustainable methods on their farm in Corrales, New Mexico.
Corrales is a unique agricultural village farmed by families who have been living there for generations. Located on the Western bank of the Rio Grande, the land has been tilled since 500 A.D. Back then the ancestors of the present day Pueblo Indians reaped harvests in the fertile valley. Subsequent populations of Spanish, French and Italian families settled there to raise grapes, apples, livestock, and now, gloriously healthy raspberries!
Stewards of the Land
Having grown up in this special place Heidi and Doug are dedicated stewards of the land and keepers of a healthy environment. They are truly “walking the walk” when it comes to best practices for preserving the sustainability of their farmland and the health of their community. Doug has converted the farm to a drip irrigation system that makes the most efficient use of precious water. He provides hives in the field for the honeybees that pollinate the delicate raspberry blossoms.
Heidi, Maker of the Best Raspberry Jam We've Ever Tasted!
They’ve been selling organic raspberry jam, fresh raspberries and cut flowers at the local farmers markets in Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Corrales and Albuquerque for several years now. By personally selling their delicious fare Heidi and Doug have made a lot of wonderful friends. They’ve also built a loyal following of appreciative customers who keep coming back for more of their amazing jams!
If you'd like to order some of Heidi's incredible raspberry jams click on any of the following:
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Ever meet a serious person of science who didn’t believe that all the toxicity in our environment wasn’t directly related to our soaring cancer rates? Absolute causal links are hard to come by, but regular reports of toxic chemicals in the air, food, beverages, household and bodycare products should be enough to give pause about the dangers to the health of our families and loved ones.
If you’re worried, you’re far from alone. The Keep A Breast Foundation is conducting the Non Toxic Revolution campaign to inform and educate young people about the dangers of toxic chemicals in our environment and food supply and the link to breast cancer. The program focuses on prevention as a means to maintain long-term health and well-being by providing alternatives so that young people everywhere can make educated decisions.
Keep A Breast executive director Shaney jo Darden stated, “We are launching NTR because we care about people and their health. We want to provide people with information to empower their own lives, as well as to inspire them to empower their friends and family to do the same. We all have the right to safe products, healthy food and to live in a toxic free society.”
Keep A Breast has partnered with the design firm Studio Number One founded by artist Shepard Fairey, known for his widely recognizable and iconic Barack Obama “Hope” poster, to create a campaign that will encourage youth to embrace prevention as a deterrent to breast cancer and other diseases. NTR strives to enlighten youth about some of the common toxins that scientists and informed health advocates are advising the public to avoid. Keep A Breast believes the more this generation understands, the better choices they will make to stay healthy and cancer-free.
"I have been a supporter of The Keep A Breast Foundation for over 10 years,” stated Fairey. He went on to say:
When they asked me to be a part of their Non Toxic Revolution initiative, I jumped on the chance to help create images. Social causes and issues related to art is what drives the Obey Awareness projects, so a graphic program for Keep A Breast to raise awareness about toxic chemicals was a perfect fit. Breast cancer prevention is personal for me because I have lost two Aunts to breast cancer, and my Mother is a breast cancer survivor. I feel privileged to work with KAB and hope that the work my studio, Studio Number One, and I created can be helpful to this important cause.
The campaign includes information on how to make your environment non toxic by following ten simple rules for different aspects of your life including: Your House, Your Mouth, Your Body, Plastic Sucks, Heart and Soul and Your Pet. NTR breaks down scientific journals into easy to read and comprehend tips, as well as educate people on how they can get involved and petition for safer products and better legislation.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Sushi and sashimi are such an integral part of the Manhattan restaurant scene that it’s hard to imagine a time when the city’s diners would have been aghast at the notion of having raw fish and hot wine served for dinner. Now, whether it is served at the intimate Sasabune on the Upper East Side or a humble, neighborhood takeout place, artfully presented sushi sells and shows no sign of decline in its popularity.
But with ever growing concern about the depletion of the world’s fisheries, we’ve come to wonder if the seafood on those lovely platters is sustainable. Since we don’t want to give up enjoying sushi, we’re happy to report that a major sushi preparer believes it should be.
Genji Sushi is the provider of fine sushi and Japanese-inspired cuisine at 137 Whole Foods Markets around the country and in the U.K. Their traditional and modern menu items are made with all-natural ingredients, free of harmful chemicals.
“Seeking out environmentally-friendly sources is a company mission and we continuously strive to be at the forefront of our industry in the area of sustainability. Running our business in an environmentally sound manner is important to our company, our customers, and is vital to our planet,” says Shingo Kanai, President & CEO.
In April of 2011 Genji began featuring its newest addition, sustainable Bay Scallops, in a special Earth Month promotion at Whole Foods Markets. From March 28th thru April 24th 2011 5% of sales from three specially marked sustainable items were donated to the Whole Planet Foundation.
“Our world is calling for the sushi industry to be more environmentally conscious in our business practices and we’re heeding that call,” adds Kanai.
With 70% of the world’s fisheries harvested at capacity or in decline, it’s essential for companies and consumers to select seafood that is sustainable in order to keep the culinary art of sushi for future generations. Wild albacore tuna, wild salmon, shrimp and shellfish are delicious options for customers interested in eating sustainably.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
If more evidence was needed about the dangers of industrialized agriculture, with its densely packed animals and toxic waste, this week’s recall of 36 million pounds of ground turkey by agribiusiness giant Cargill should satisfy the remaining skeptics. Ironically, for years many Americans, including yours truly, have purchased turkey burgers as a healthy choice for their families.
In light of the massive recall Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch, released this statement:
Last night’s announcement by Cargill of a recall of 36 million pounds of ground turkey products is just the latest example of why we need strong regulatory and public health programs in place to protect consumers.
People have been getting sick with Salmonella for several months, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments struggled to identify a likely source of the contamination. Budget cuts have hampered the ability of federal and state health agencies to effectively protect public health, and this outbreak and recall offer compelling proof that there are human costs to budget cuts to critical public health programs.
The illnesses that triggered this recall were caused by an antibiotic-resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg, which makes the illnesses more serious and harder to treat. This once again points to the public health crisis that is being caused by the overuse of antibiotics in livestock production.
Unfortunately, it’s not the first time that meat and poultry have been recalled because of contamination with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and it’s not even the first time a Cargill meat plant has had this problem. Until the overuse of antibiotics in livestock production stops, consumers will be faced with the additional threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Because it covers several months of production at a very large plant, this recall covers a huge amount of product sold across the country, just the latest example of the tremendous impact that just one large plant can have on national public safety when something goes wrong.
As Congress gets ready to debate funding for federal agencies, this recall is a timely reminder of how vital public health programs like meat and poultry inspection and foodborne illness surveillance are to all of us.
To protect our families from the dangers of over centralized farmer we can make choices that make a difference. We can support local farmers by buying from them directly through community supported agriculture (CSAs) and at farmers markets, raise protein-rich beans in our gardens, and all the while spread the word that purchasing food from industrial farms comes at a price, one that can prove fatal.
About Food & Water Watch
The nonprofit organization works to ensure the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainable. So we can all enjoy and trust in what we eat and drink, it helps people take charge of where their food comes from, keep clean, affordable, public tap water flowing freely to our homes, protect the environmental quality of oceans, force government to do its job protecting citizens, and educate about the importance of keeping shared resources under public control.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
For those looking for some family-friendly, summer fun in Sonoma, the Bodega Seafood, Art & Wine Festival, Northern California’s largest seafood feast, will celebrate its 17th anniversary on the weekend of August 27th and 28th, 2011. Children under the age of 12 will be admitted FREE!
One of the most popular festivals in the Bay Area, the event annually attracts thousands of foodies, art aficionados, wine and beer connoisseurs and music lovers to picturesque Watts Ranch in the village of Bodega, where Alfred Hitchcock filmed his classic thriller, “The Birds.”
More than 25 wineries and 15 micro breweries will pour wine and beer, while 15 restaurants and catering companies will offer a bounty of seafood classics, including barbecued oysters, crab cakes, Key Lime calamari, clam chowder and other delicacies. Vegetarian options will also be available.
Fun for All Ages
The work of 100 artists and craftsman will be featured at the juried art show and sale, which attracts exhibitors from throughout the United States. In addition to seafood, wine, beer and art, the festival also has three stages with a variety of musical entertainment, this year including the outrageous Pride and Joy, and other stellar performances, Captain Jack Spareribs, and other activities for children.
“There’s something for everyone, from toddlers to senior citizens,” said event manager and artist Janet Ciel, who co-founded the festival with her then husband, Michael Ecton, 17 years ago. Although divorced for more than eight years, the couple continues to produce the event, which grew from their joint passion for similar festivals they participated in while spending time on the East Coast.
Crab, Avocado & Mango Stack
Support for Good Causes
Proceeds from the event will support two important causes, Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, which works in partnership with the California State Parks Foundation to provide environmental stewardship programs, and the Bodega Volunteer Fire Department.
• Festival hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 27, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 28.
• Admission is $12 for adults and FREE for children less than 12 years of age.
• Watts Ranch is located at 16855 Bodega Highway in the village of Bodega.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
It’s not easy being a seafood lover, not if you care about your family’s health and the health of America’s fisheries.
The fresh bluefish I grew fond of eating as a boy on Long Island is now a victim of pollution to the extent that it is only considered safe to eat when consumed very occasionally. The Atlantic cod, once so mighty an economic engine that one was proudly mounted on the wall of the Massachusetts statehouse, is now a depleted species with no encouraging signs of recovery.
What’s a seafood lover to do? Fortunately, our friends at the nonprofit Food & Water Watch have come up with some pretty good answers in their newly released, 2011 Smart Seafood Guide. Here’s what F&WW’s Lauren Wright has to say:
This year we recommend eating invasive species, many of which sound like they came straight out of a sci-fi flick! European green crabs, Asian swamp eels and rusty crawfish are just a few of the strange animals that are jeopardizing native species and taking over local ecosystems throughout the U.S. Our solution? Eat 'em!
The nonprofit organization recently had major event at NYC's famed James Beard House demonstrating how to prepare some of these species, including the deadly lionfish.
For those that might be feeling a bit squeamish about eating species they find strange, keep in mind that species have been going in and out of fashion for hundreds of years. The now venerated lobster served in the toniest of eateries was once considered so undesirable that it was largely fed to prison inmates, something the inmates resented. Prisoners complained that they were being fed far too much lobster!
About Food & Water Watch
The nonprofit organization works to ensure the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainable. So we can all enjoy and trust in what we eat and drink, it helps people take charge of where their food comes from, keep clean, affordable, public tap water flowing freely to our homes, protect the environmental quality of oceans, force government to do its job protecting citizens, and educate about the importance of keeping shared resources under public control.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Call for GMO-Free Labeling of Foods Whenever We Shop
Organic Farm (photo by Tana Butler, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
“If you put a label on genetically engineered food you might as well put a skull and crossbones on it.” – a Biotech Executive
For years American Feast has called for the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods because we believe consumers should be allowed a clear choice on the consumption of food we believe to be dangerous to human health and the environment.
The most prominent, nonprofit food safety organizations agree with us, as do many socially responsible businesses. We are not alone. Most Americans would like to know whether they are eating food from genetically modified organisms (GMO). A poll by CBS said that 87% of Americans want labeling and that 57% would not buy foods with GMO. More than 30 countries have mandatory labeling of GMO's, including all the European Union countries, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Of course, the Big Biotech industry, with many millions of dollars available for advertising, public relations, lobbying and campaign contributions, is fiercely opposed. As a president of a Monsanto subsidiary put it, “If you put a label on genetically engineered food you might as well put a skull and crossbones on it.”
The Revolving Door
According to Andrew Kimbrell, director of the Center for Food Safety, there has been a revolving door between the biotech companies producing GMO food and the FDA, which approves these foods. In Kimbrell's book, “Your Right to Know, Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food”, he writes about how Michael Taylor went directly from working as an attorney on Monsanto's behalf to becoming the FDA's deputy commissioner for food policy. Under his watch, rBGH (a GMO growth hormone for cows) was approved and studies indicating that rBGH posed health risks were virtually ignored. Eventually, large companies, including Walmart, banned it from their own brands of milk.
There are dozens of other individuals like Taylor, that alternate working for biotech companies and holding high positions in the FDA and other federal agencies pushing through GMO products without thoroughly evaluating their health risks. These officials regularly ignore warnings from scientists within the FDA that caution about placing GMO foods in our food chain without more testing.
Has Big Biotech Made a Single Credible Claim for GMO Foods?
Over the years we have published articles supported by research from independent scientists around the world that have refuted virtually every claim Big Biotech has made about the benefits of genetically engineered crops and animals. GE crops do not increase farm yields and have been shown to decrease them. They are not known to be safe to eat. They have caused severe consequences to the health of animals tested. Yet the industry continues running a grand experiment on human beings, mostly unaware they are consuming GE foods.
Here's Our Solution
There is a short term alternative. Companies, especially food producers and food retailers, can make “GMO-Free” labels on products and store shelves pervasive in the marketplace. A similar strategy has already enjoyed success with “Hormone Free” labels on dairy products. It did take a costly legal battle pitted against Big Biotech for companies like Ben & Jerry’s to establish their right to labels their products as such. (Note: The hormone in question was recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone or rBGH, now easily avoided!)
It is way past time that consumers were given a clear choice on what they purchase to feed their families.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
As a lifetime New Yorker it’s always been a great comfort (and a tasty treat) to have some of the world’s cleanest and most flavorful water available straight from the tap. So it is absolutely mindboggling that a precious water supply could be fouled with toxic chemicals from deep drilling for gas, despite dire signs of the potential consequences.
For years there have been media reports from Pennsylvania to Texas of drinking water so tainted by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, that folks are able to light the water from their kitchen tap on fire. There have been more than 300 instances of contaminated water in Colorado since 2003, and more than 700 instances in New Mexico, according to Bruce Baizel, senior staff attorney with Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project. In West Virginia a once lushly forested area has been transformed into a dead zone.
Fracking in Gasland
Film Director Josh Fox made the Sundance award-winning documentary “Gasland” after he was asked to lease his land for gas drilling. That led him to embark on a cross-country odyssey. As the show “Now” on PBS explained, his journey led to a film that “alleges chronic illness, animal-killing toxic waste, disastrous explosions, and regulatory missteps.” It will be broadcast on HBO through 2012. The DVD went on sale in December of 2010.
“Gasland” shows tap water being set ablaze and explores fracking, a technology developed by Halliburton. Millions of gallons water, chemicals and sand are injected into the ground under high pressure, cracking shale and tight rocks to allow gas to flow more freely from the well. It is a toxic mixture and believed to be the prime culprit in the pollution of groundwater in areas surrounding drilling sites. Even drinking water hundreds of miles from a well can be contaminated.
Hundreds of Thousands of New Wells Coming?
Residents of New York State are not alone in facing a future threat to the safety of their drinking water. According to an article published by ProPublica in December of 2009:
In the next 10 years, the United States will use the fracturing technology to drill hundreds of thousands of new wells astride cities, rivers and watersheds. Cash-strapped state governments are pining for the revenue and the much-needed jobs that drilling is expected to bring to poor, rural areas.
Rejection of Fracking Goes International
France became the first nation to ban the use of fracking on June 30th when French senators voted to ban the practice and revoke the fracking permits issued to oil and gas companies. French Environment Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet said hydraulic fracturing will be illegal and parliament would have to vote for a new law to allow research using the technique.
Back in the States, the New Jersey State Senate voted to ban the practice and North Carolina’s Governor Bev Perdue vetoed a state senate bill that would have allowed fracking in the state.
Jane Preyer, North Carolina’s director of the Environmental Defense Fund said, “The veto sends a clear signal to legislators that rolling back regulations that protect the state’s environment is not a viable business plan for economic recovery or the well being of North Carolina’s families.”
Think Global, Act Local
Though it is hard to believe that risking the health of millions in order to extract natural gas would even be considered, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo may lift a ban on fracking that took a great, popular effort to establish. The new guidelines will prohibit fracking in N.Y.S. parks and in the New York City and Syracuse watersheds, but allow it in other communities!
New York State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, an opponent of fracking, said, “If hydrofracking is not safe in the New York City watershed it’s not safe in any watershed…There’s a tacit admission on the part of the Department of Environmental Conservation that it is not safe and yet it is being allowed.”
Keep Drinking Water Safe
Incredibly, a loophole exempts natural gas drilling from the Safe Drinking Water Act. Drilling companies don’t even have to disclose the almost 600 chemicals that might be used in fracking and find their way into drinking water. Thankfully, our friends at Food & Water Watch have provided a way for concerned citizens to make their voices heard by contacting elected representatives.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
New Web Series Asks the Question: Is the Seafood Safe?
The Food Channel® (foodchannel.com) is releasing a WebTV video that takes a look at the future of seafood following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill which occurred a year ago, April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico. The crew shot in New Orleans, La., over a ten day period to catch up with what is happening.
“One of the goals of The Food Channel is to document what is happening in food,” said Kay Logsdon, editor of The Food Channel. “Obviously the story that has been unfolding over the past year in the Gulf has impact on the future of our seafood. We found out that the oyster is one of the most impacted products of the Gulf, and we wanted to bring that story to life.”
The program series, titled “Beneath the Surface: Gulf Seafood’s Fight for Survival,” is hosted by The Food Channel ’s Andy Ford, who spent time on the oyster boats, at the shucking house, and cooking with some of New Orleans’ finest chefs while researching the short-form series. “We uncovered a story of resiliency, combined with some of the creativity that is bringing the seafood back to the table,” said Ford. “We think it will give a different picture than a lot of the media coverage that focuses purely on the negative impact of the spill, and open people’s eyes to what the real impact is.”
The teaser is currently playing on foodchannel.com, with several segments set to air during the month of May. Additionally, features on some of the New Orleans’ restaurants, including recipes, will be available on the site.
About The Food Channel®
The Food Channel is a place for great food inspiration, the latest trends, the most compelling stories, and original perspective. This website offers insightful original content that is distributed to everywhere foodies interact with culinary creativity by influencing, contributing to, learning from, gaining inspiration through, and being a part of the experience around great food. For more information, visit foodchannel.com . Follow The Food Channel on Twitter at twitter.com/foodchannel or twitter.com/aford, or on Facebook at facebook.com/FoodChannel .
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Long ago in southern Arizona, the Hohokam people tapped the waters of the San Pedro River to irrigate their food crops. Today, so does third generation rancher Mike Mercer. Though Mercer runs a modern cattle operation—with tractors and center pivot irrigation rigs—you might say he’s gone “native.”
Eyes squinting in the mid-morning sun, Mercer jabs his boot at a clump of emerging grass. “Plains lovegrass is my favorite,” he says. “I’d like to grow more of that.”
Mercer’s ranch is nestled in the shadow of the Galiuro Mountains near the tiny town of Mammoth.
“There were Hohokam camps on all these buttes overlooking the river,” said Mercer. Below the most prominent of these buttes— Sombrero Butte—Mercer, like the Hohokam before him, is raising a crop on the river’s floodplain.
His 75-acre field is “greening up” with 14 native grasses, including Arizona cottontop, sacaton and plains bristlegrass.
Conserving Water and Growing Food in the Desert
Mercer began planting the native grass seed in the spring of 2008, purchased with financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. The Conservancy helped secured the financing.
The switch to native grass—after years of growing non-native sudangrass and sorghum grain—has been a big win for Mercer, and for the environment.
He estimates he uses about half the water that his father did. The perennial grass, once established, is low maintenance: No need for annual plowing, re-seeding or harvesting, except for occasional baling of some of the grass for feeding elsewhere on the ranch.
Using hay from these native grasses creates a new seed source in the grazed uplands, as the cattle spread the seed through their manure.
“We’re saving millions of gallons of water on this grass, and we are cutting our use of equipment and fuel,” says Mercer, whose family has ranched here since the 1920s.
Mike Mercer, Arizona Rancher
The Land Responds
The switch to native grass wasn’t risk free. The first year, coming off a decade of drought, “the grass didn’t look that great. I was sweating it. But I decided to plant some more last year, and so far this year, it’s really taking off.”
The land is responding in kind. “Since we planted this I’m seeing less run-off of water, because the grasses are helping the ground soak it up. I figure if times get tough again and there isn’t enough water in the river to irrigate, this seed will just go dormant and then sprout when the moisture is available again.”
Mercer learned of the Partners program through Rob Burton, the Conservancy’s former Lower San Pedro preserve manager. Rob had planted the grasses at the preserve, restoring what were once catfish ponds.
“We’re pleased at how well this has worked out,” says Kris Randall, state coordinator for the Arizona Partners program. “Grasslands are a declining plant community in Arizona. We are interested in providing financial and technical assistance to private landowners who want to do restoration projects.”
Dan Wolgast, who now manages some of the Conservancy’s properties, echoes the benefits of native grasses. “We’ve had some successes and challenges, but this grass is helping us control weeds. It’s very adaptable to unpredictable weather systems, and it’s a good thing for the river because it improves the health of the floodplain,” says Wolgast.
Seeding the Future
Something as seemingly simple as planting native grass is actually part of a paradigm shift for the Mercers. Not only is it a change in how they operate, but also who they work with.
One change is the market for their beef. By feeding their cattle native grass, the Mercers are tapping into the grass-fed, locally grown beef market. The Mercers sell their beef—under the name Sombrero Butte Beef—at local farmers’ markets and at a gourmet Tucson restaurant.
Mercer’s cattle are Brahman cows bred by Angus-Charolais bulls, which makes them genetically well suited for the desert; they withstand heat well, according to Mercer, and they eat desert plants like cat claw, cholla and jojoba leaves. Two months before they are butchered, Mercer grazes them on the native grasses to tenderize their meat.
“My cows love it,” he says. “They see me coming to open the gates, and they run to get there.”
Grazing issues have historically been a point of contention between ranchers and conservationists. The Conservancy, in Arizona and around the country, has been working to improve its relationships with those who produce the food we eat.
Mike Mercer’s willingness to work with the Conservancy signifies a sea change for his family. In the early 1990s, Mike’s father, Virgil, filed an appeal with the Bureau of Land Management to gain grazing access to the Conservancy’s public land leases at Aravaipa Canyon Preserve and the Muleshoe Ranch Cooperative Management Area. The Conservancy found itself on the opposite side from the Mercers in the judicial process. That appeal was tied up within the BLM for several years, and Virgil didn’t prevail.
So, the result has been that the Conservancy and BLM have continued a limited grazing regime at Aravaipa and no grazing at the Muleshoe in order to restore the properties. In the meantime, Virgil passed away in 2006, and his son Mike took over the ranch. Now he not only actively works with the Conservancy, he is also our neighbor—the Conservancy manages the 3,100-acre 7B Ranch adjacent to the Mercer property.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Genetically engineered alfalfa poses so severe a threat to the $2 billion organic dairy industry that a lawsuit has been filed to prevent its introduction to the nation’s farm fields. The suit was filed by attorneys for the Center for Food Safety (CFS) and Earthjustice against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The GE crop is engineered to be immune to the herbicide glyphosate, which Monsanto markets as Roundup. USDA data show that 93% of all the alfalfa planted by farmers in the U.S. is grown without the use of any herbicides. With the full deregulation of GE alfalfa, USDA estimates that up to 23 million more pounds of toxic herbicides will be released into the environment each year.
Watching Out for Consumers or Big Biotech?
“USDA has once again failed to provide adequate oversight of a biotech crop,” said Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director of the Center for Food Safety. “This reckless approval flies in the face of overwhelming evidence that GE alfalfa threatens the rights of farmers and consumers, as well as significant harm to the environment. The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has refused to apply and enforce the law and instead has chosen to bow to the wishes of the biotech industry.”
This is the second case challenging the legality of USDA’s handling of GE alfalfa. In 2007, in another case brought by CFS, a federal court ruled that the USDA’s approval of the engineered crop violated environmental laws by failing to analyze risks such as the contamination of conventional and organic alfalfa, the evolution of glyphosate-resistant weeds, and increased use of Roundup.
Toxic Monsanto
Earthjustice attorney Paul Achitoff commented: “We expect Monsanto to force-feed people genetically engineered crops—that’s its business model. We hoped for better from the USDA, which has much broader responsibilities. GE alfalfa will greatly increase use of toxic chemicals from coast to coast, threatens the organic dairy industry, and will have farmers going back to Monsanto every year to buy its patented seed and Roundup.”
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
U.S. Government Poster from World War II (courtesy of Library of Congress)
Could a quick history lesson lead to a better future?
During World War II Americans lived with rations of such necessities as tires, gasoline, sugar, and other foodstuffs. The US government encouraged ordinary people to create Victory Gardens; small plots of fruits and vegetables to stave off food shortages so more mass-produced food could be sent to feed the troops.
The people responded. Two million Americans created Victory Gardens in their backyards or communities. According to author Michael Pollan, "...during World War II, Victory Gardens supplied as much as 40% of the produce Americans ate."
A Social Phenomenon
Victory Gardens were more than a war time activity, they were a social phenomenon. Schools and families planted Victory Gardens together, often on communal land. Families caught up on news as they planted and harvested. Nutrition information was widely disseminated to help home cooks create balanced meals for their families. Our current obesity epidemic must have been unimaginable to those gardeners.
Today there are many gardens that are very much like the Victory Gardens of old. In backyards across America folks are growing their own produce, spices and herbs. They harvest fruits and vegetables that have been raised without pesticides and enjoy them when they are at the peak of their freshness and nutritional value. Adding home-grown fare to the fresh produce from a local farm stand or a farmers market gives gardeners the best of both worlds.
Community Gardens
If you’d like to try your hand at growing some food of your own but don’t have your own backyard, you can join a community garden. In 2004, the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) estimated that there were already 18,000 community gardens across the USA and Canada. Urban community gardens can be found from South Central Los Angeles to the Bronx in New York City. If there’s no community garden near your home, think about organizing your neighbors to get one started.
Funded by federal grants, GreenThumb has been a program of the NYC Parks Department since 1995. The nonprofit organization has over 600 member gardens serving 20,000 city residents. New York University released a study of the effect of community gardens on nearby property values. The study of 636 community gardens in NYC showed a positive effect on sales prices of residential properties within a 1,000-foot radius of a community garden when compared to properties outside the 1,000-foot ring, but still in the same neighborhood. The effect was significant and increasing over time. The tax benefit to the city over a 20-year period was estimated at $647 million dollars or $1 million per garden. Who knows how much might be saved on medical costs by the healthier diet the gardens make possible.
Not all benefits are measured in dollars. Here’s what Karen Washington from the Garden of Hope in the Bronx had to say about her experience:
To grow your own food gives you a sort of power and it gives people dignity. You know exactly what you’re eating because you grew it. It’s good, it’s nourishing and you did this for yourself, your family and your community.
Victory Gardens could bring down the cost of food for American families and make organic poroduce more widely available. We could reduce America’s reliance on oil simply by keeping vegetable gardens and cutting down on the amount of food that has to be transported by truck. Victory Gardens would reduce the need for petroleum-based fertilizers on giant corporate farms. If you’re unhappy about where all the money Americans spend on oil and gasoline is going, then spread the word: Bring Back the Victory Gardens!
If you'd like to start a garden in your community or your backyard here's some info that should help:
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
"We believe all food can be produced safely, including raw milk." - Tim Wrightman
A state assembly panel recently approved a measure sponsored by Assemblywoman Connie Wagner to aid New Jersey farmers by allowing them to sell raw milk. The neighboring states of Pennsylvania and New York already allow the sale of raw milk.
Many medical professionals and nutritionists have concluded that raw milk from grass-fed cows is more nutrient dense than conventionally produced milk, while foodies around the world have long appreciated the rich flavor of artisanal cheeses crafted with raw milk.
Family Farms Face Unhealthy Competition
A previous post on American Feast's Sustainable Food Blog explained further about what is at stake:
Family-scale dairy farms feeding free-roaming cows on healthy grass face tough competition from concentrated animal feeding operations. The densely penned cows at CAFOs are sickened from being fed the abundance of corn grown with massive government subsidies, posing a very real threat to human health. Cow droppings make good fertilizer on small farms, but at CAFOs the immense amount of waste is a toxic threat to the health of people and the environment.
Of course, people around the globe have been safely consuming raw milk and handcrafted cheeses for thousands of years.
According to the nonprofit Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund:
The bill (A-743) would create a permit program through the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to allow for the sale of raw milk in New Jersey. The legislation would require the testing of cows intended to be used for the production of raw milk, with ongoing testing as necessary. The permit holder would also be required to conduct tests to measure the levels of certain bacteria and pathogens in the raw milk produced. The bill also stipulates that no growth hormones can be used in the process of producing raw milk.
Safe & Nutritious
Food safety and optimal nutrition aren’t mutually exclusive goals according to organic farming legend, Tim Wightman. A farming expert of 35 years, Wightman teaches dairy farmers to reach well beyond conventional food safety goals. He mentors farmers in low-tech yet high quality approaches to production of intrinsically safe and optimally nutritious raw milk.
A modern pioneer of the cowshare/herdshare concept, Mr. Wightman now serves as president of the Farm-to-Consumer Foundation. The educational nonprofit aims to equip farmers and consumers with safety advice on raw dairy products via conferences, tele-seminars and printed materials.
Free Handbook & DVD Now Available Online
The Foundation now provides two of Mr. Wightman's educational tools to the public free of charge. These free resources include online copies of Raw Milk Production Handbook and a micro dairy farm educational DVD, Chore Time. Both are available at: Farm to Consumer Foundation
"We believe all food can be produced safely, including raw milk," says Mr. Wightman.
"These materials are the starting point for a collaborative effort to develop 'best practices' to guide dairy farms working to meet the rising demand for raw milk from pasture-raised cows, whether the legal framework is loose (as with voluntary farm-to-consumer standards for cow shares) or more formal (as with larger scale retail sales)."
Steve Bemis, attorney and Farm-to-Consumer Foundation board member, asserts that these free resources are an important step in building a working relationship on raw dairy safety issues.
Mr. Bemis explains, "In many cases, academic and government entities will not (for policy and ethical reasons) link to resources that are for sale; so, by providing these 'freeware' resources, we hope to encourage links from others' websites, and thereby engage a broader audience.”
There are currently 15 states that allow farmers to sell raw milk directly to consumers, while 10 states allow the sale of raw milk in retail stores.
About Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is a 501 (c) (4) non-profit organization made up of farmers and consumers joining together and pooling resources to:
• Protect the constitutional right of the nation’s family farms to provide processed and unprocessed farm foods directly to consumers through any legal means.
• Protect the constitutional right of consumers to obtain unprocessed and processed farm foods directly from family farms.
• Protect the nation’s family farms from harassment by federal, state, and local government interference with food production and on-farm food processing.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
The current industrial agriculture is heavily dependant on petroleum. It will not be sustainable forever.
Great chefs have been saying it for a long time. When you dine on fresh food produced locally through natural methods you enjoy it when the flavors are their most vibrant and the nutritional value is at its peak.
Besides making for pleasurable dining, it’s nice to know that a meal of seasonal ingredients is also an eco-friendly choice. Giant agribusiness likes to point out that their industrial farming methods have provided the most abundant and affordable food on earth. But it is grown with petroleum-barsed fertilizers and travels well over 1,000 miles before reaching the family table. It is an oil dependent system and oil is both an environmental threat and a finite resource.
Have the Saudis Been Lying?
So what happens when oil inevitably becomes more scarce and the law of supply and demand causes its price to climb sharply? We may find out sooner than we imagined. It seems that among the diplomatic cables published by Wikileaks there is one from the U.S. consul general in Riyadh warning that the Saudi government may be overstating the size of its oil reserves by as much as 40%. If so, oil prices may begin climbing, and soon.
According to a report in the Manchester Guardian, the “Saudi energy industry…overstated its recoverable reserves to spur foreign investment.” If Saudi Arabia and its OPEC cartel partners cannot pump enough crude to keep prices down, the cost of oil could begin escalating in 2012. Consumers will face rising prices for home heating fuel, gasoline and the food that comes from an industrial agricultural system.
No Doomsday Theorist
The U.S. consul general cites a warning from a senior Saudi government oil executive, who “is no doomsday theorist. His pedigree, experience and outlook demand that his predictions be thoughtfully considered."
The implications are profound. Rising food costs were among the grievances that sparked the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. In the U.S., consumers devoting more of their household income to food and fuel will have less discretionary income to spend on other goods and services, stifling economic growth and increasing the country’s trade imbalance.
Is There a Silver Lining?
Maybe. The locally produced food sold at farmers markets could become more price competitive than ever. Home and community gardens could proliferate out of economic necessity. Millions of families could find themselves enjoying meals that are healthier and more delicious than ever.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
"The herbicide doesn’t destroy plants directly. It rather cooks up a unique perfect storm of conditions that revs up disease-causing organisms in the soil, and at the same time wipes out plant defenses against those diseases."
While visiting a seed corn dealer’s demonstration plots in Iowa last fall, Dr. Don Huber walked passed a soybean field and noticed a distinct line separating severely diseased yellowing soybeans on the right from healthy green plants on the left (see photo below). The yellow section was suffering from Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), a serious plant disease that ravaged the Midwest in 2009 and ’10, driving down yields and profits. Something had caused that area of soybeans to be highly susceptible and Don had a good idea what it was.
The diseased field on the right had glyphosate
applied the previous season. Photo by Don Huber
Don Huber spent 35 years as a plant pathologist at Purdue University and knows a lot about what causes green plants to turn yellow and die prematurely. He asked the seed dealer why the SDS was so severe in the one area of the field and not the other. “Did you plant something there last year that wasn’t planted in the rest of the field?” he asked. Sure enough, precisely where the severe SDS was, the dealer had grown alfalfa, which he later killed off at the end of the season by spraying a glyphosate-based herbicide (such as Roundup). The healthy part of the field, on the other hand, had been planted to sweet corn and hadn’t received glyphosate.
This was yet another confirmation that Roundup was triggering SDS. In many fields, the evidence is even more obvious. The disease was most severe at the ends of rows where the herbicide applicator looped back to make another pass (see photo below). That’s where extra Roundup was applied.
Sudden Death Syndrome is more severe at
the ends of rows, where Roundup dose
is strongest. Photo by Amy Bandy.
Don’s a scientist; it takes more than a few photos for him to draw conclusions. But Don’s got more—lots more. For over 20 years, Don studied Roundup’s active ingredient glyphosate. He’s one of the world’s experts. And he can rattle off study after study that eliminate any doubt that glyphosate is contributing not only to the huge increase in SDS, but to the outbreak of numerous other diseases. (See selected reading list.)
Roundup: The Perfect Storm for Plant Disease
More than 30% of all herbicides sprayed anywhere contain glyphosate—the world’s bestselling weed killer. It was patented by Monsanto for use in their Roundup brand, which became more popular when they introduced “Roundup Ready” crops starting in 1996. These genetically modified (GM) plants, which now include soy, corn, cotton, canola, and sugar beets, have inserted genetic material from viruses and bacteria that allows the crops to withstand applications of normally deadly Roundup.
(Monsanto requires farmers who buy Roundup Ready seeds to only use the company’s Roundup brand of glyphosate. This has extended the company’s grip on the glyphosate market, even after its patent expired in 2000.)
The herbicide doesn’t destroy plants directly. It rather cooks up a unique perfect storm of conditions that revs up disease-causing organisms in the soil, and at the same time wipes out plant defenses against those diseases. The mechanisms are well-documented but rarely cited.
The glyphosate molecule grabs vital nutrients and doesn’t let them go. This process is called chelation and was actually the original property for which glyphosate was patented in 1964. It was only 10 years later that it was patented as an herbicide. When applied to crops, it deprives them of vital minerals necessary for healthy plant function—especially for resisting serious soilborne diseases. The importance of minerals for protecting against disease is well established. In fact, mineral availability was the single most important measurement used by several famous plant breeders to identify disease-resistant varieties.
Glyphosate annihilates beneficial soil organisms, such as Pseudomonas and Bacillus bacteria that live around the roots. Since they facilitate the uptake of plant nutrients and suppress disease-causing organisms, their untimely deaths means the plant gets even weaker and the pathogens even stronger.
The herbicide can interfere with photosynthesis, reduce water use efficiency, lower lignin, damage and shorten root systems, cause plants to release important sugars, and change soil pH—all of which can negatively affect crop health.
Glyphosate itself is slightly toxic to plants. It also breaks down slowly in soil to form another chemical called AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid) which is also toxic. But even the combined toxic effects of glyphosate and AMPA are not sufficient on their own to kill plants. It has been demonstrated numerous times since 1984 that when glyphosate is applied in sterile soil, the plant may be slightly stunted, but it isn’t killed (see photo below).
Glyphosate with sterile soil (A) only stunts plant growth.
In normal soil (B), pathogens kill the plant. Control (C)
shows normal growth.
The actual plant assassins, according to Purdue weed scientists and others, are severe disease-causing organisms present in almost all soils. Glyphosate dramatically promotes these, which in turn overrun the weakened crops with deadly infections.
“This is the herbicidal mode of action of glyphosate,” says Don. “It increases susceptibility to disease, suppresses natural disease controls such as beneficial organisms, and promotes virulence of soilborne pathogens at the same time.” In fact, he points out that “If you apply certain fungicides to weeds, it destroys the herbicidal activity of glyphosate!”
By weakening plants and promoting disease, glyphosate opens the door for lots of problems in the field. According to Don, “There are more than 40 diseases of crop plants that are reported to increase with the use of glyphosate, and that number keeps growing as people recognize the association between glyphosate and disease.”
Roundup Promotes Human & Animal Toxins
Some of the fungi promoted by glyphosate produce dangerous toxins that can end up in food and feed. Sudden Death Syndrome, for example, is caused by the Fusarium fungus. USDA scientist Robert Kremer found a 500% increase in Fusarium root infection of Roundup Ready soybeans when glyphosate is applied. Corn, wheat, and many other plants can also suffer from serious Fusarium-based diseases.
But Fusarium’s wrath is not limited to plants. According to a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, toxins from Fusarium on various types of food crops have been associated with disease outbreaks throughout history. They’ve “been linked to the plague epidemics” of medieval Europe, “large-scale human toxicosis in Eastern Europe,” oesophageal cancer in southern Africa and parts of China, joint diseases in Asia and southern Africa, and a blood disorder in Russia. Fusarium toxins have also been shown to cause animal diseases and induce infertility.
As Roundup Use Rises, Plant Disease Skyrockets
When Roundup Ready crops were introduced in 1996, Monsanto boldly claimed that herbicide use would drop as a result. It did—slightly—for three years. But over the next 10 years, it grew considerably. Total herbicide use in the US jumped by a whopping 383 million pounds in the 13 years after GMOs came on the scene. The greatest contributor is Roundup.
Over time, many types of weeds that would once keel over with just a tiny dose of Roundup now require heavier and heavier applications. Some are nearly invincible. In reality, these super-weeds are resistant not to the glyphosate itself, but to the soilborne pathogens that normally do the killing in Roundup sprayed fields.
Having hundreds of thousands of acres infested with weeds that resist plant disease and weed killer has been devastating to many US farmers, whose first response is to pour on more and more Roundup. Its use is now accelerating. Nearly half of the huge 13-year increase in herbicide use took place in just the last 2 years. This has serious implications.
As US farmers drench more than 135 million acres of Roundup Ready crops with Roundup, plant diseases are enjoying an unprecedented explosion across America’s most productive crop lands. Don rattles off a lengthy list of diseases that were once under effective management and control, but are now creating severe hardship. (The list includes SDS and Corynespora root rot of soybeans, citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), Fusarium wilt of cotton, Verticillium wilt of potato, take-all root, crown, and stem blight of cereals, Fusarium root and crown rot, Fusarium head blight, Pythium root rot and damping off, Goss’ wilt of corn, and many more.)
In Brazil, the new “Mad Soy Disease” is ravaging huge tracts of soybean acreage. Although scientists have not yet determined its cause, Don points out that various symptoms resemble a rice disease (bakanae) which is caused by Fusarium.
Corn Dies Young
In recent years, corn plants and entire fields in the Midwest have been dying earlier and earlier due to various diseases. Seasoned and observant farmers say they’re never seen anything like it.
“A decade ago, corn plants remained green and healthy well into September,” says Bob Streit, an agronomist in Iowa. “But over the last three years, diseases have turned the plants yellow, then brown, about 8 to 10 days earlier each season. In 2010, yellowing started around July 7th and yield losses were devastating for many growers.”
Bob and other crop experts believe that the increased use of glyphosate is the primary contributor to this disease trend. It has already reduced corn yields significantly. “If the corn dies much earlier,” says Bob, “it might collapse the corn harvest in the US, and threaten the food chain that it supports.”
A Question of Bugs
In addition to promoting plant diseases, which is well-established, spraying Roundup might also promote insects. That’s because many bugs seek sick plants. Scientists point out that healthy plants produce nutrients in a form that many insects cannot assimilate. Thus, farmers around the world report less insect problems among high quality, nutrient-dense crops. Weaker plants, on the other hand, create insect smorgasbords. This suggests that plants ravaged with diseases promoted by glyphosate may also attract more insects, which in turn will increase the use of toxic pesticides. More study is needed to confirm this.
Roundup Persists in the Environment
Monsanto used to boast that Roundup is biodegradable, claiming that it breaks down quickly in the soil. But courts in the US and Europe disagreed and found them guilty of false advertising. In fact, Monsanto’s own test data revealed that only 2% of the product broke down after 28 days.
Whether glyphosate degrades in weeks, months, or years varies widely due to factors in the soil, including pH, clay , types of minerals, residues from Roundup Ready crops, and the presence of the specialized enzymes needed to break down the herbicide molecule. In some conditions, glyphosate can grab hold of soil nutrients and remain stable for long periods. One study showed that it took up to 22 years for glyphosate to degrade only half its volume! So much for trusting Monsanto’s product claims.
Glyphosate can attack from above and below. It can drift over from a neighbors farm and wreak havoc. And it can even be released from dying weeds, travel through the soil, and then be taken up by healthy crops.
The amount of glyphosate that can cause damage is tiny. European scientists demonstrated that less than half an ounce per acre inhibits the ability of plants to take up and transport essential micronutrients.
As a result, more and more farmers are finding that crops planted in years after Roundup is applied suffer from weakened defenses and increased soilborne diseases. The situation is getting worse for many reasons.
• The glyphosate concentration in the soil builds up season after season with each subsequent application.
• Glyphosate can also accumulate for 6-8 years inside perennial plants like alfalfa, which get sprayed over and over.
• Glyphosate residues in the soil that become bound and immobilized can be reactivated by the application of phosphate fertilizers or through other methods. Potato growers in the West and Midwest, for example, have experienced severe losses from glyphosate that has been reactivated.
• Glyphosate can find its way onto farmland accidentally, through drifting spray, in contaminated water, and even through chicken manure!
Imagine the shock of farmers who spread chicken manure in their fields to add nutrients, but instead found that the glyphosate in the manure tied up nutrients in the soil, promoted plant disease, and killed off weeds or crops. Test results of the manure showed glyphosate/AMPA concentrations at a whopping 0.36-0.75 parts per million (ppm). The normal herbicidal rate of glyphosate is about 0.5 ppm/acre.
Manure from other animals may also be spreading the herbicide, since US livestock consume copious amounts of glyphosate—which accumulates in corn kernels and soybeans. If it isn’t found in livestock manure (or urine), that may be even worse. If glyphosate is not exiting the animal, it must be accumulating with every meal, ending up in our meat and possibly milk.
Add this threat to the already high glyphosate residues inside our own diets due to corn and soybeans, and we have yet another serious problem threatening our health. Glyphosate has been linked to sterility, hormone disruption, abnormal and lower sperm counts, miscarriages, placental cell death, birth defects, and cancer, to name a few. (See resource list on glyphosate health effects.)
Nutrient Loss in Humans & Animals
The same nutrients that glyphosate chelates and deprives plants are also vital for human and animal health. These include iron, zinc, copper, manganese, magnesium, calcium, boron, and others. Deficiencies of these elements in our diets, alone or in combination, are known to interfere with vital enzyme systems and cause a long list of disorders and diseases.
Alzheimer’s, for example, is linked with reduced copper and magnesium. Don Huber points out that this disease has jumped 9000% since 1990.
Manganese, zinc, and copper are also vital for proper functioning of the SOD (superoxide dismustase) cycle. This is key for stemming inflammation and is an important component in detoxifying unwanted chemical compounds in humans and animals.
Glyphosate-induced mineral deficiencies can easily go unidentified and untreated. Even when laboratory tests are done, they can sometimes detect adequate mineral levels, but miss the fact that glyphosate has already rendered them unusable.
Glyphosate can tie up minerals for years and years, essentially removing them from the pool of nutrients available for plants, animals, and humans. If we combine the more than 135 million pounds of glyphosate-based herbicides applied in the US in 2010 with total applications over the past 30 years, we may have already eliminated millions of pounds of nutrients from our food supply.
This loss is something we simply can’t afford. We’re already suffering from progressive nutrient deprivation even without Roundup. In a UK study, for example, they found between 16-76% less nutrients in 1991, compared to levels in the same foods in 1940.
Livestock Disease & Mineral Deficiency
Roundup Ready crops dominate US livestock feed. Soy and corn are most prevalent—93% of US soy and nearly 70% of corn are Roundup Ready. Animals are also fed derivatives of the other three Roundup Ready crops: canola, sugar beets, and cottonseed. Nutrient loss from glyphosate can therefore be severe.
This is especially true for manganese (Mn), which is not only chelated by glyphosate, but also reduced in Roundup Ready plants . One veterinarian finds low manganese in every livestock liver he measures. Another vet sent the liver of a stillborn calf out for testing. The lab report stated: No Detectible Levels of Manganese—in spite of the fact that the mineral was in adequate concentrations in his region. When that vet started adding manganese to the feed of a herd, disease rates dropped from a staggering 20% to less than ½%.
Veterinarians who started their practice after GMOs were introduced in 1996 might assume that many chronic or acute animal disorders are common and to be expected. But several older vets have stated flat out that animals have gotten much sicker since GMOs came on the scene. And when they switch livestock from GMO to non-GMO feed, the improvement in health is dramatic. Unfortunately, no one is tracking this, nor is anyone looking at the impacts of consuming milk and meat from GM-fed animals.
Alfalfa Madness, Brought to You by Monsanto and the USDA
As we continue to drench our fields with Roundup, the perfect storm gets bigger and bigger. Don asks the sobering question: “How much of the hundreds of millions of pounds of glyphosate that have been applied to our most productive farm soils over the past 30 years is still available to damage subsequent crops through its effects on nutrient availability, increased disease, or reduced nutrient of our food and feed?”
Instead of taking urgent steps to protect our land and food, the USDA just made plans to make things worse. In December they released their Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Roundup Ready alfalfa, which Monsanto hopes to reintroduce to the market.
Alfalfa is the fourth largest crop in the US, grown on 22 million acres. It is used primarily as a high protein source to feed dairy cattle and other ruminant animals. At present, weeds are not a big deal for alfalfa. Only 7% of alfalfa acreage is ever sprayed with an herbicide of any kind. If Roundup Ready alfalfa is approved, however, herbicide use would jump to unprecedented levels, and the weed killer of choice would of course be Roundup.
Even without the application of glyphosate, the nutritional quality of Roundup Ready alfalfa will be less, since Roundup Ready crops, by their nature, have reduced mineral . When glyphosate is applied, nutrient quality suffers even more.
The chance that Roundup would increase soilborne diseases in alfalfa fields is a near certainty. In fact, Alfalfa may suffer more than other Roundup Ready crops. As a perennial, it can accumulate Roundup year after year. It is a deep-rooted plant, and glyphosate leaches into sub soils. And “Fusarium is a very serious pathogen of alfalfa,” says Don. “So too are Phytophthora and Pythium,” both of which are promoted by glyphosate. “Why would you even consider jeopardizing the productivity and nutrient quality of the third most valuable crop in the US?” he asks in frustration, “especially since we have no way of removing the gene once it is spread throughout the alfalfa gene pool.”
It’s already spreading. Monsanto had marketed Roundup Ready alfalfa for a year, until a federal court declared its approval to be illegal in 2007. They demanded that the USDA produce an EIS in order to account for possible environmental damage. But even with the seeds taken off the market, the RR alfalfa that had already been planted has been contaminating non-GMO varieties. Cal/West Seeds, for example, discovered that more than 12% of their seed lots tested positive for contamination in 2009, up from 3% in 2008.
In their EIS, the USDA does acknowledge that genetically modified alfalfa can contaminate organic and non-GMO alfalfa, and that this could create economic hardship. They are even considering the unprecedented step of placing restrictions on RR alfalfa seed fields, requiring isolation distances. Experience suggests that this will slow down, but not eliminate GMO contamination. Furthermore, studies confirm that genes do transfer from GM crops into soil and soil organisms, and can jump into fungus through cuts on the surface of GM plants. But the EIS does not adequately address these threats and their implications.
Instead, the USDA largely marches lock-step with the biotech industry and turns a blind eye to the widespread harm that Roundup is already inflicting. If they decide to approve Monsanto’s alfalfa, the USDA may ultimately be blamed for a catastrophe of epic proportions.
Please send a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, urging him not to approve Roundup Ready alfalfa, and to fully investigate the damage that Roundup and GMOs are already inflicting: Stop Roundup Ready Alfalfa
International bestselling author and filmmaker Jeffrey Smith is the leading spokesperson on the health dangers of genetically modified (GM) foods. His first book, Seeds of Deception, is the world’s bestselling and #1 rated book on the topic. His second, Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods, provides overwhelming evidence that GMOs are unsafe and should never have been introduced. Mr. Smith is the executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, whose Campaign for Healthier Eating in America is designed to create the tipping point of consumer rejection of GMOs, forcing them out of our food supply.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Herb & Kathy Eckhouse (Image courtesy of La Quercia)
The Good Food Awards honor people who make food that is delicious, respectful of the environment, and connected to communities and cultural traditions, so it comes as no surprise that La Quercia of Norwalk, Iowa has just been honored for its Green Label Prosciutto.
To celebrate, La Quercia is offering 4 ounces of its organic crumble with every order -- FREE! Yes, two 2-ounce packages of their delicious, versatile crumble, made with their award-winning, organic prosciutto, a personal favorite and what La Quercia's founding family eats at home! All that and FREE SHIPPING too!
Offer good until January 31st. Happy Good Food Month!
Green Label Prosciutto
Herb and Kathy Eckhouse founded La Quercia to create premium quality American prosciutto. Their appreciation of prosciutto grew out of the three and a half years they lived in Parma, Italy, prosciutto's area of origin. Herb and Kathy are contributing to the growth of premium, artisan-made American foods by offering fine quality, dry cured meats -- and Iowa with its abundance is a natural place to do this.
Says Herb, “I love making prosciutto; it's like assisting at a miracle."
If you'd like to learn more about La Quercia's critically acclaimed, artisan cured meats, click on any of the following:
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Grazing with Mom (photo by Emily Roesly, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
“Burrowing out of the recession, hungry consumers will be exploring more exotic territory in the quest for unique flavors and nourishing foods in 2011.” So writes the Center for Culinary Development (CCD), which will be profiling food and beverage trends it expects to be buzz-generating in its 2011 issues of the bi-monthly Culinary Trend Mapping Report.
CCD employs a signature 5-stage Trend Mapping® technique -- where Stage 1 trends are emerging from independent restaurants and Stage 5's have landed in the mainstream. We couldn’t help but notice that among the spotted trends, Grass-fed Dairy was designated Stage 3, indicating to us that huge numbers of consumers are well ahead of government regulators on the health and flavor benefits of products made from raw milk, free of artificial hormones and containing higher levels of healthful fatty acids.
According to CCD, “…products made from grass-fed dairy appeal to both health-focused consumers and those seeking more natural, traditional and authentic foodstuffs.” That observation is certainly in line with the enthusiastic response we have seen to America’s artisanal cheeses crafted from raw milk produced by grass-fed cows.
A previous post on American Feast's Sustainable Food Blog explained further about what is at stake:
Family-scale dairy farms feeding free-roaming cows on healthy grass face tough competition from concentrated animal feeding operations. The densely penned cows at CAFOs are sickened from being fed the abundance of corn grown with massive government subsidies, posing a very real threat to human health. Cow droppings make good fertilizer on small farms, but at CAFOs the immense amount of waste is a toxic threat to the health of people and the environment.
Of course, people around the globe have been safely consuming raw milk and cheeses for thousands of years.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
New York State Governor David Paterson has issued an executive calling a temporary halt to high volume hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling for natural gas, which is often referred to as fracking. Environmental activists have expressed concern that the governor’s order will allow vertical drilling. The governor contends that vertical drilling has been proven to be safe.
Fracking was deeply criticized in the Sundance award-winning documentary, “Gasland”. Josh Fox made the film after he was asked to lease his land for gas drilling. That led him to embark on a cross-country odyssey. His journey led to the film charging fracking with leading to chronic illness in humans, toxic waste deadly to farm animals, disastrous explosions, and poor regulation of the gas drilling industry.
States Differ on Approach to Fracking
In neighboring Pennsylvania fracking is already widespread, but NYS has been more cautious about its potential harm to the environment and the drinking water of millions of New Yorkers. Governor Paterson’s executive order will allow for another round of public review and input. It also calls for a revised draft of a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement. The DEC is directed to release a revised draft on or around July 1, 2011, after a public comment period lasting at least 30 days.
“New York’s draft plan to oversee fracking was fatally flawed and wouldn’t protect our waters or our health,” said Katherine Nadeau, Water & Natural Resources Program Director, Environmental Advocates of New York. “Re-releasing a revised draft plan for public comment will give New Yorkers another opportunity to demand the strongest possible protections.”
Prior NYS Legislative Ban Vetoed
The state legislature overwhelmingly passed legislation earlier this year that outlined a moratorium on both horizontal and vertical wells until May 15, 2011. Governor Paterson vetoed that legislation when he instituted the longer moratorium that more narrowly defines the types of drilling to be restricted.
The Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York (IOGA of NY) said in a statement, “We are grateful to Governor Paterson for his courage and clear-headed judgment in vetoing S.8129-B (Thompson)/A.11443-B (Sweeney). This bill would have had far-reaching consequences to the state’s oil and natural gas industry, and to the communities in which our member companies work.”
Long Battle Ahead
Kate Sinding, a senior lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council, wrote in her blog:
For anyone who has been following the dire staffing and budgetary cuts at DEC over the past several years, it is evident that an additional six months is nowhere near sufficient to generate a satisfactory new review. The state needs enough time to get it right this time – to fully consider the range of serious environmental and health threats associated with the risky new industrial activity that would take place, literally, in our backyards.
Actor and director Mark Ruffalo called on citizens to continue to protest against fracking. Last month he was placed on a terror watch list by the Pennsylvania Department of Homeland Security. He has been actively opposed to hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the Delaware River region, working to arrange screenings of “Gasland”.
The issue will soon be in the hands of the incoming governor, Andrew Cuomo. During the electoral campaign, the Governor-elect said he “would not support any drilling that would threaten the State’s major sources of drinking water.”
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Report Calls for Strict Standards for Eco-Friendly Seafood Labeling
Fresh Seafood (photo by Sister Rahel, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Consumer advocates at Food & Water Watch have called for “rigorous” government standards to help consumers make informed decisions as to which seafoods are environmentally sustainable. The organization contends that shoppers are currently unable to distinguish between eco-friendly labels that are valid and those that might be misleading.
“People often think that if they buy seafood with an eco-label, it’s automatically a good choice,” said Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch. “Unfortunately, these certifications don’t assure that the product consumers are getting is actually eco-friendly.”
The new guide from F&WW, De-Coding Seafood Eco-Labels: Why We Need Public Standards, lays out the differing approaches of six labeling organizations, highlighting the difficulty of coming to a consensus when it comes to defining ecological sustainability. In some cases there are organizational links to industry raising questions about conflicting interests and the neutrality of the labeling process.
The Marine Stewardship Council, Global Aquaculture Alliance, and Friends of the Sea are among those examined in the report, which finds that while a lack of national standards (such as USDA “organic” for seafood) has allowed private eco-labels to capture large portions of the market, they are not adequate indicators of sustainable seafood choices for consumers, restaurants or retailers.
“Consumers aren’t told that these labels often have a ‘pay to play’ aspect,” said Marianne Cufone, director of Food & Water Watch’s fish program. She explains:
A well-managed fishery that can’t finance certification may not have an eco-label, while one that is less sustainable could be certified because someone paid for it. As a result of this, labels can actually encourage consumers to buy less sustainable products, and it can be challenging for consumers to decipher whether labels are very meaningful.
About Food & Water Watch
The nonprofit organization works to ensure the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainable. So we can all enjoy and trust in what we eat and drink, it helps people take charge of where their food comes from, keep clean, affordable, public tap water flowing freely to our homes, protect the environmental quality of oceans, force government to do its job protecting citizens, and educate about the importance of keeping shared resources under public control.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Amid widespread concern that hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, or “fracking”, would endanger the high quality of the drinking water for millions in the region, the New York State Assembly has passed a moratorium on the practice. The vote in favor of the moratorium was 93-43.
The N.Y.S. Senate has already approved the measure and it appears likely that Governor David Patterson will sign it into law. The law will ban fracking in N.Y.S. until May 15, 2011. The measure is intended to provide time for a full review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the N.Y.S. Department of Environmental Conservation.
According to the New York Times, “This is the first time any state has ever taken this kind of action to protect the health and safety of its residents from the consequences of gas drilling,” said Kate Sinding, deputy director of the New York Urban Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “It sends a powerful message that New Yorkers don’t want new fracking here unless the industry proves it can be done safely.”
What are the Consequences of Fracking?
Over the last couple of years there have been media reports from Pennsylvania to Texas of drinking water contaminated by natural gas drilling. There have been more than 300 instances of contaminated water in Colorado since 2003, and more than 700 instances in New Mexico, according to Bruce Baizel, senior staff attorney with Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project. In West Virginia a once lushly forested area has been transformed into a dead zone.
The measure passed in the wake of revelations that actor Mark Ruffalo had been placed on a terror watch list by the Pennsylvania Department of Homeland Security. He has been actively opposed to hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the Delaware River region, working to arrange screenings of the documentary film, “Gasland”. The film was awarded a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010.
Fracking Courtesy of Halliburton
“Gasland” offers a devastating critique of the deep drilling practice, originally developed by Halliburton. The film includes footage of kitchen tap water being set ablaze by a homeowner near a site where fracking was taking place. Millions of gallons of water, chemicals and sand are injected into the ground under high pressure, cracking shale and tight rocks to allow gas to flow more freely from the well. It is a toxic mixture and believed to be the prime culprit in the pollution of groundwater in areas surrounding drilling sites. Drinking water hundreds of miles from a well can be contaminated.
Josh Fox made the award-winning documentary “Gasland” after he was asked to lease his land for gas drilling. That led him to embark on a cross-country odyssey. His journey led to the film charging fracking with leading to chronic illness in humans, toxic waste deadly to farm animals, disastrous explosions, and poor regulation of the gas drilling industry. It will be broadcast on HBO through 2012. The DVD goes on sale in December of 2010.
More Fracking on the Way
According to an article published by ProPublica in December of 2009:
In the next 10 years, the United States will use the fracturing technology to drill hundreds of thousands of new wells astride cities, rivers and watersheds. Cash-strapped state governments are pining for the revenue and the much-needed jobs that drilling is expected to bring to poor, rural areas.
Incredibly, a loophole exempts natural gas drilling from the Safe Drinking Water Act. Drilling companies don’t have to disclose the almost 600 chemicals that might be used in fracking and find their way into drinking water.
To purchase a DVD of the award-winning documentary by Josh Fox, go to: Gasland the DVD
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
EcoAware Moms Are a $1.45 Trillion Market in the U.S.
Mother & Child (photo by dee, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
The Desire for Sustainability Among Mainstream Moms Has Big Implications for Businesses.
Misleading claims from greenwashers may be rampant, but they are also an indication that large corporations are working hard to convince shoppers of the eco-friendly nature of their products. Women account for 70% of all retail sales in the U.S., representing a force marketers simply cannot ignore, including the environmental concerns of American Moms.
A report from EcoFocus Worldwide says the EcoAware Moms market in the U.S. includes more than 51 million women and 69% of American Moms, with a purchasing power of $1.45 trillion. The report is based on the "EcoFocus 2010 US Trend Survey" of 4,000+ Americans from 18 to 65 years of age.
Moms Want Sustainable Solutions
“EcoAware Moms are a receptive target market for sustainability. They are rethinking their decisions and often making new choices, creating unprecedented opportunities for businesses offering sustainable solutions for everyday living,” observes Linda Gilbert, CEO of EcoFocus.
According to the EcoFocus report:
The Top 5 Things EcoAware Moms are Using More Often:
The Top 5 Things EcoAware Moms are Using Less Often or Don’t Use:
• Plastic wrap – 50%
• Disposable cups or plates – 49%
• Bottled water – 40%
• Single serve beverages in plastic bottles – 46%
• Chemical pest controls – 45%
“EcoAware Moms are ready for changes and they are looking for brands to provide them with solutions that are convenient, affordable, and practical for their lifestyles.
“This is low hanging fruit that is ripe for harvest by marketers. These consumer driven opportunities are often surprisingly simple, immediately actionable, and profitable for companies to execute, says Linda Gilbert.
About EcoFocus Worldwide
EcoFocus Worldwide conducts consumer trend research and provides marketing consulting specializing in consumer perspectives on green and sustainable goods and services as well as insights into the health and wellness marketplace. Clients include businesses with products and services that touch consumers in their homes and daily lives: foods and beverages; personal care and cosmetics; household cleaning and home improvements; gardening and pest control; school and home office supplies; transportation; restaurants; packaging and recycling, and other consumer and B2B goods and services.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may soon approve the sale of genetically engineered (GE) salmon to American consumers. Incredibly, the FDA may do so without requiring that the fish be labeled as geneticall engineered.
Marion Nestle, a professor in the Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health Department at New York University has said, “The public wants to know and the public has a right to know. I think the agency has discretion, but it's under enormous political pressure to approve [the salmon] without labeling.”
Misleading Shoppers as a Sales Strategy?
Wild salmon delivers tremendous nutritional benefits, but the possible action by the FDA could lead shoppers seeking healthy food for their families tp unknowingly buy a GE substitute. Scientists have cautioned that there has been insufficient study of its impact on human health and the environment.
The nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists states on its web site:
So far, scientists have identified a number of ways in which genetically engineered organisms could potentially adversely impact both human health and the environment…In addition to posing risks of harm that we can envision and attempt to assess, genetic engineering may also pose risks that we simply do not know enough to identify.
Frightening New Revelations on Environmental Impact
After submitting a Freedom of Information Act request, the consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch received numerous recent internal documents and emails from the U.S. Department of Interior’s Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) exposing startling concerns about the GE salmon for which the company AquaBounty is seeking approval.
“Nice work Greg,” Denise Hawkins, PhD, FWS Regional Geneticist wrote to a coworker in September. “Especially pointing out that there is no data to support the claims of low survival in the event of escape, which I agree with you all is a big concern. I also agree…that using triploid fish [which AquaBounty claim have undergone a sterilization process] is not foolproof. Maybe they [the FDA] should watch Jurassic Park.”
A Very Real Threat to Wild Salmon
The FDA is required by law to conduct an environmental impact statement for any regulatory action that could negatively affect the human environment. The agency has not done so yet. Despite AquaBounty’s claim to produce only sterile salmon, the company admitted that up to 5% of their GE salmon eggs could be fertile, prompting the FDA to label the company's claims “potentially misleading”.
According to FWS internal emails, contrary to AquaBounty’s claims that GE salmon would be grown in closed systems (and therefore unable to escape), FWS employees received news of a proposal to grow the fish in a facility that would discharge into the ocean off the coast of Maine.
“No matter what precautions you take, fish escape and once they do, there is no closing that door. So, that being said, I think it is very bad precedent to set,” said one FWS program supervisor.
The FDA is closing a public comment period on November 22nd and could approve the product as soon as November 23rd.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Wild Sockeye Salmon (photo by Kayak Lady, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Wild seafood from the frigid waters of Alaska is distinctively delicious, coming from a naturally evolved ecosystem that can be found no where else on earth. While delivering a uniquely rich flavor to please the palates of seafood lovers, the wild salmon offers nutritional benefits to keep you young-of-mind and heart healthy over an active lifetime.
And there is another reason to love the bounty brought in by Alaska’s hearty fishing fleet. Under the Alaska State Constitution, all seafood from the state’s abundant waters must be harvested in a sustainable manner. So we can enjoy those delightful delicacies for years to come, without guilt, knowing that future generations will be enjoying the same for many years to come.
Be Very Wary of Farmed & GE Salmon
In contrast, there have been alarming reports regarding the safety of farm-raised salmon. One sample of farmed salmon studied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found levels of PCB's so high that it advised eating it no more than once every two months. PCBs have long been known to cause cancer.
Unethical sellers have been detected passing off farm-raised salmon as wild-caught, and now there is the dreaded prospect that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration may soon approve a genetically engineered (GE) salmon. It would be the first GE animal ever approved for human consumption. When GE salmon inevitably escape into the wild, they will forever alter what Nature created.
Vital Choices Need to Be Made
Distressed by the knowledge that farmed salmon threatened to replace wild salmon in the marketplace and destroy their livelihood in the process, Alaskan fisherman Randy Hartnell and his wife Carla started Vital Choice® in 2001.
Carla explained during a recent visit to Norma Kamali’s Wellness Café in midtown Manhattan:
Our goal was to let people know that when you choose sustainably harvested wild salmon, you are choosing more than just a fine meal. You are promoting your health, the health of coastal fishing communities, the environment, and the precious wild salmon it sustains. You really are making a vital choice.
Safe & Healthy Is Fashionable
When asked how someone from an industry so often associated with hardly eating at all, iconic fashion designer Norma Kamali mused on the thought of a drink from “a plastic water bottle with a cigarette chaser” for a moment, then commented on the absurdity of using harmful, chemical products to enhance one’s beauty. She said she couldn’t help but be distressed by the “toxicity” that surrounds us in so many aspects of our daily lives.
A tour of the great olive growing regions of Europe led Norma to networking with people who shared her concerns. Being a businesswoman extraodinaire, she shows a special affinity for people who meet daunting challenges with an entrepreneurial spirit, folks like Randy and Carla Hartnell. Having established her Wellness Café as a forum for educating people about alternatives for a healthier life, on Wednesday she had the dynamic couple and their daughter come by to illustrate their important work with appetizing samples.
Over the years the Vital Source product line has grown to include wild-caught halibut, cod, albacore, sardines, mackerel, smoked King salmon, organic wild blueberries, trail mix, and much more. Among the “much more” is some really savory dark chocolate, always crafted from Fair Trade cocoa.
A Down Side to Wild Salmon?
Is there a down side to wild salmon? Well, there is the cost. A recent trip to a specialty food store found fresh wild salmon beautifully displayed on a bed of crushed ice. It was $40.00 a pound, quite an extravagance for an American family on a grocery budget.
Randy and Carla Hartnell’s answer is to offer wild-caught seafood, flash frozen and sealed in a preservation packet within hours of its harvest, ready for direct sale to consumers online. Real wild flavors made affordable, but still naturally brimming with the antioxidants, vitamin D, and omega-3s essential to heart, skin, brain, and eye health, not to mention a vibrant mood.
To learn more about Randy and Carla Hartnell’s company, go to: Vital Choice®
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Wild Salmon Leaping Upstream (photo by Matthew G. Hull, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Concerned about the prospect of genetically modified (GM) animals making it into America’s food supply? We are, and we're very disturbed that GM salmon may soon be approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) with no labeling required.
The GM salmon would be the first genetically modified animal ever approved for consumption by American families. The freakish salmon produced by engineering grows to fives times the size of Atlantic salmon in the wild. Its approval would set a terrible precedent, certain to smooth the way for all manner of genetically modified animals making it into the food supply and untraceable.
The nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists states on its web site:
So far, scientists have identified a number of ways in which genetically engineered organisms could potentially adversely impact both human health and the environment…In addition to posing risks of harm that we can envision and attempt to assess, genetic engineering may also pose risks that we simply do not know enough to identify.
Health and environmental concerns have led many countries and regions around the world to ban various GM foods and crops.
GM Foods Are Not the Answer to World Hunger
As for the claim that GM foods are needed to feed a hungry world, Doug Gurian-Sherman, a senior scientist in the Union of Concerned Scientists Food and Environment Program has concluded "...that GE (genetic engineering) has done little to increase overall crop yields." And a major study conducted at the University of Kansas has found that the controversial technology actually reduces crop yields.
In 2009, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine called on “Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks."
Labeling GM Foods
We have long called for the labeling of GM foods. We believe giant biotech corporations resist labeling because they know consumers do not want to purchase GM foods. There doesn’t seem to be a single company that has voluntarily labeled its products as genetically engineered.
Marion Nestle, a professor in the Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health Department at New York University, has been quoted by the Washington Post, “The public wants to know and the public has a right to know. I think the agency has discretion, but it's under enormous political pressure to approve [the salmon] without labeling.”
Many people are unaware that they are regularly consuming GE foods because they are not labeled. As Elise Pearlstein, producer of the Oscar-nominated film Food Inc. has said, "It's outrageous that genetically modified foods don't need to be labeled...Whatever your position, you should have the right to make informed choices, and we don't."
Tell Congress to Protect Our Families
Now, Katy Kiefer of the nonprofit Food & Water Watch tells us a bill has been proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives that would ban genetically engineered fish from reaching our food system. Our elected representatives need to hear directly from every concerned citizen who supports such a ban.
Food & Water Watch is looking for volunteers to help collect postcards to support legislation that would ban GE fish. To learn more about how you might help, go to: Food & Water Watch – Take Action
To view tips from the Organic Consumers Association on avoiding GM foods, go to: Non-GMO Shopping Guide
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Vast Majority Say They Buy Sustainable Food & Drink
Farm Sunset (photo by Irish Eyes, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
It would be wise to be a little skeptical about the claims attached to many of the products on today's supermarket shelves. Marketers well know that shoppers want sustainable food, with more than 80% of consumers saying they regularly purchase sustainable food and drink, according to a survey conducted by Mintel, a global consumer research company.
Demand continues to grow, but Mintel says some are unaware of what the claims actually mean. The company has tracked more than 13,000 new food and drink products said to be sustainable since 2005.
“Packaging claims such as ‘recyclable’ or ‘eco- or environmentally friendly’ are fairly well known to consumers, but sustainable product claims such as ‘solar/wind energy usage’ or ‘Fair Trade’ have yet to enter the mainstream consumer consciousness,” David Browne, senior analyst at Mintel points out. “They may have heard of the terms, but they’d be hard-pressed to define them.”
Of those surveyed, 40% have never heard of the solar/wind energy usage claim. The 37% that have say they’ve never purchased food or drink bearing the claim. Reduced carbon footprint/emissions is another lesser-known claim, as 32% have never heard of it. Thirty-four percent say they’ve never heard of the Fair Trade claim.
So, why do they buy?
According to Mintel research, 45% of sustainable food and drink users cite a perceived belief in superior quality as the reason behind their purchases. Meanwhile, 43% say they buy sustainable food and drink because they’re concerned about environmental/human welfare and 42% say they’re concerned with food safety.
“These reasons vary in importance across different demographics. What’s most important to young adults may not be the primary deciding factor for affluent consumers,” notes David Browne. “Marketers should consider this in their claims closely; noting that health, welfare, and safety are important for nearly all consumers.”
Finding a Farmer to Trust
Healthy, safe and environmentally friendly is a pretty good description of the food and drink available from local farmers in virtually every part of the U.S. According to the USDA, there are now 6,132 farmers markets in the U.S., a tripling of the number for 1994. Like the farmstands set up by family farmers, farmers markets offer the opportunity to meet the folks who produced the food and learn more about it.
At the web site of the nonprofit Local Harvest, visitors can conduct a simple search to find farmers markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in close proximity.
To find sources of sustrainable food in your area, got to: Local Harvest
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Thousands Gather for Slow Food Conference in Turin, Italy
Organic Cherry (photo by xololounge, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
The frontline of the international food movement—sustainable producers, farmers, cooks, educators and activists—stormed Turin this week for one of the largest sustainable food gatherings in the world, the Slow Food international conference Terra Madre.
"There is a crisis in our food system with four people dying this week in the USA because of contaminated food and last month the recall of over half a billion salmonella tainted eggs," said Josh Viertel, President of Slow Food USA.
"I see people all over the USA and the world working to transform the way we row our food. We aren't settling for an industrialized food system that destroys the environment and makes people sick. There is a better way." he continued.
Slow Food USA, the fastest growing national Slow Food organization internationally, boasts 225 chapters across the country and over 207,000 supporters, with new chapters, in both communities and campuses across the country launching nearly every week. The international Slow Food network is now represented in 166 countries worldwide.
"There is now a new protagonist in the food system – the food movement."
In the fourth bi-annual Terra Madre conference, over 8,000 participants – 700 from the USA – gather to share stories and knowledge about projects as diverse as building edible schoolyards, pioneering the use of mobile slaughterhouses, greening supermarkets and running field to plate restaurants.
"The Terra Madre participants who are at the frontline of this movement are constantly innovating and exploring new ways to build a world where food is good for the farmer, good for the planet and good for those eating it."
To learn more about the Slow Food Movement and find a local chapter, go to: Slow Food USA
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
American Feast Talks with the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group
A Napa Oak Overlooks Vines (image courtesy of Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group)
There's an excellent chance that your favorite Napa Valley winegrower is a member of the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group which was formed in 1995 to promote integrated pest management practices in Napa County, California. The mission of the Group is to identify and promote winegrowing practices that are economically viable, socially responsible and environmentally sound.
Specifically, the Group promotes viticultural land stewardship through educational outreach to:
• Optimize ecological stability and winegrape productivity and quality by understanding and emulating natural processes such as biodiversity, carbon and nutrient cycling, and plant-soil interactions.
• Reduce pesticide inputs through cultural practices, biological control, and use of alternative materials.
• Promote soil health through erosion control, reduced tillage, soil analysis, and the amendment of soils with cover crops and compost.
• Enhance returns on investment by promoting the value-added nature of sustainable winegrapes along with terroir and increased vineyard longevity.
The Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group is comprised of members representing Napa winegrape growers, vintners, and local government and educational organizations. The Group represents over 25,000 acres of farmed vineyard land and over 20,000 acres of un-farmed/wild land as of March 2007.
In a 5-part podcast interview, American Feast's Doug Ferber has a talk with the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group to learn more about their important work.
Family Farmers Face Unfair Competition from 'Organic' Factory Farms
Brown Eggs (photo by Derek Lilly, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Factory farms, some confining hundreds of thousands of chickens in industrial facilities, sell their eggs to consumers as "organic."
Last week’s hearings before a Congressional Committee investigating the recent nationwide outbreak of salmonella poisoning only exacerbated worries about the food safety practices of some of the nation’s largest egg producers. Assertions by Austin “Jack” DeCoster and his son of their commitment to food safety were particularly ludicrous in light of a government inspection done after the egg recall.
The report that resulted from the inspection detailed the filthy conditions at the DeCoster’s egg facilities and vivid photos were presented that made their disgraceful and dangerous irresponsibility all too clear. It was also made clear that the DeCoster’s operations have a history of flouting food safety guidelines and environmental laws that dates back more than 30 years, and once led to their eggs being banned in New York State and Maryland.
Disturbing Research Findings from The Cornucopia Institute
Now an independent report has been released that focuses on widespread abuses in organic egg production, primarily by large industrial agribusinesses. The study profiles the exemplary management practices employed by many family-scale organic farmers engaged in egg production, while spotlighting abuses at so-called factory farms, some confining hundreds of thousands of chickens in industrial facilities, and representing these eggs to consumers as "organic."
The Cornucopia Institute, a Wisconsin-based farm policy research group, developed the report, Scrambled Eggs: Separating Factory Farm Egg Production from Authentic Organic Agriculture, following nearly two years of research into organic egg production. The report also contains a scorecard rating various egg brands on how their eggs are produced in accordance with federal organic standards and consumer expectations.
"After visiting over 15% of the certified egg farms in the United States, and surveying all name-brand and private-label industry marketers, it's obvious that a high percentage of the eggs on the market should be labeled ‘produced with organic feed’ rather than bearing the USDA-certified organic logo," said Mark A. Kastel, The Cornucopia Institute’s co-director and senior farm policy analyst.
According to the United Egg Producers (UEP), the industry lobby group, 80% of all organic eggs are produced by just a handful of its largest members. Most of these operations own hundreds of thousands, or even millions of birds, and have diversified into "specialty eggs," which include organic. At least one UEP member, Hillandale Farms, has been implicated in the recent nationwide salmonella outbreak affecting conventional eggs. At last week’s Congessional hearings the CEO of Hillandale Farms, Orland Bethel, cited his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and did not answer questions.
Cornucopia’s report focuses not on the size of some of these mammoth agribusinesses but rather on their organic livestock management practices. It says that most of these giant henhouses, some holding 85,000 birds or more, provide no legitimate access to the outdoors, as required in the federal organic regulations.
USDA Debates New Regulations for Poultry & Other Livestock
The new report comes at a critical juncture for the organic poultry industry. The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), the expert citizen advisory panel set up by Congress to advise the USDA on organic policy, has been debating a set of proposed new regulations for poultry and other livestock that would establish housing-density standards and a clearer understanding of what the requirement for outdoor access truly means. The industry’s largest operators, along with their lobbyists, have been loudly voicing their opposition to requirements for outdoor space.
"Many of these operators are gaming the system by providing minute enclosed porches, with roofs and concrete or wood flooring, and calling these structures ‘the outdoors,’" stated Charlotte Vallaeys, a farm policy analyst with Cornucopia and lead author of the report. "Many of the porches represent just 3% to 5% of the square footage of the main building housing the birds. That means 95% or more of the birds have absolutely no access whatsoever."
“If one animal has the legal right to be outdoors, then all animals have the same right, whether they choose to take turns or if they all choose to be outside at the same time," said Jim Riddle, organic outreach coordinator with the University of Minnesota and former chairman of the NOSB.
Industry Lobby Group Opposes Stronger Regulations
At previous meetings of the NOSB, United Egg Producers represented industrial-scale producers and publicly opposed proposals to strengthen regulations requiring outdoor access.
“We are strongly opposed to any requirement for hens to have access to the soil,” said Kurt Kreher of Kreher’s Sunrise Farms in Clarence, N.Y. And Bart Slaugh, director of quality assurance at Eggland’s Best, a marketer of both conventional and organic eggs based in Jeffersonville, Pa., noted that, “The push for continually expanding outdoor access … needs to stop.”
Family-scale organic egg farmers, and their allies, intend to challenge corporate agribusiness lobbyists and make their voices heard at the October 25th meeting of the National Organic Standards Board.
The Cornucopia Institute, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit farm policy research group, is dedicated to the fight for economic justice for the family-scale farming community. Their Organic Integrity Project acts as a corporate and governmental watchdog assuring that no compromises to the credibility of organic farming methods and the food it produces are made in the pursuit of profit.
To learn more about the research from the Institute cited above, go to: The Cornucopia Institute
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Will the FDA Protect Consumers or the Profits of a Few Corporations?
Spawning Wild Sockeye Salmon (photo by kayaklady, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
“The FDA has a flawed process for approving these GE salmon and unfortunately for us, the process isn't focused on what happens to people who eat genetically engineered animals.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent enforcement letters warning food makers that they cannot label their products as free of genetically modified or genetically engineered ingredients.
The letters were sent as a heated debate is taking place over whether the agency should approve a genetically engineered (GE) salmon that grows at twice the rate of salmon in the wild.
Sarah Alexander of the nonprofit Food & Water Watch says, “The FDA has a flawed process for approving these GE salmon and unfortunately for us, the process isn't focused on what happens to people who eat genetically engineered animals. If the FDA moves forward, these salmon would be the first GE animals approved for human consumption.”
An article in the Washington Post quotes Marion Nestle, a professor in the Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health Department at New York University. She said, “The public wants to know and the public has a right to know. I think the agency has discretion, but it's under enormous political pressure to approve [the salmon] without labeling.”
The nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists states on its web site:
So far, scientists have identified a number of ways in which genetically engineered organisms could potentially adversely impact both human health and the environment…In addition to posing risks of harm that we can envision and attempt to assess, genetic engineering may also pose risks that we simply do not know enough to identify.
Shades of the rBGH Milk Controversy
The FDA previously warned companies that they could not label products as hormone free. Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc., one of the first companies to label its ice cream as free of the synthetic hormone rBGH, joined a national campaign that included Stonyfield Farm and Organic Valley to block that effort.
According to the ice cream maker’s web site, “We’re still working to oppose the use of rBGH, a genetically engineered hormone given to cows to increase their milk production. We believe rBGH is an unnecessary technology that causes increased health risks to cows.”
The Concern About rBGH Dangers is International
Many countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and the European Union have banned rBGH due to health risks. According to Jeffrey M. Smith, the author of “Seeds of Deception” and “Genetic Roulette”, milk from cows given rBGH have much higher levels of IGF-1, a hormone considered to be a high risk factor for breast, prostate, colon, lung, and other cancers. The milk also has a lower nutritional value, leads to increased use of antibiotics, and more pus from infected udders.
Mr. Smith cites a statement from Fredrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, former Vice President of the Agriculture Committee of the European Commission, “We feel fairly confident in being able to demonstrate that the safety of European citizens who consume [rBGH] products cannot be guaranteed.”
GE Labeled Food Unlikely to Appeal to Consumers
Many believe the biotechnology industry does not want genetically engineered food labeled as such because consumers do not want to buy it. There doesn’t seem to be a single company that has voluntarily labeled its products as genetically engineered.
Among the recent enforcement letters, one company was told a label that included a red circle with a line through it and the words "GMO," implied that there was something wrong with genetically engineered food and could not be used.
Many people are unaware that they are regularly consuming GE foods because they are not labeled. As Elise Pearlstein, producer of the Oscar nominated film Food Inc. has said, "It's outrageous that genetically modified foods don't need to be labeled...Whatever your position, you should have the right to make informed choices, and we don't."
GE Foods Are Not the Answer to World Hunger
As for the claim that GM foods are needed to feed a hungry world, Doug Gurian-Sherman, a senior scientist in the Union of Concerned Scientists Food and Environment Program has concluded "...that GE (genetic engineering) has done little to increase overall crop yields." And a major study conducted at the University of Kansas has found that the controversial technology actually reduces crop yields.
In May of 2009, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine called on “Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM (genetically modified) foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks."
To view tips from the Organic Consumers Association on avoiding GM foods, go to: Non-GMO Shopping Guide
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Fresh & Local Fare Makes it to the Major Leagues at Fenway
Fenway Park (photo by Sita Magnuson, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Peanuts, Crackerjacks and the Fenway Frank remain in abundance at the venerable home of the Boston Red Sox, but locavores can take heart at the Park’s EMC Club, where local, seasonal ingredients go into the chefs’ preparations.
An article in the Boston Globe says, “Currently, nearly all of the ingredients used in the ballpark’s premium areas are local — particularly at the peak of New England’s growing season.”
Tradionalists Need Not Worry
Traditionalists looking forward to calorie-packed favorites while watching a game need not worry. Old favorites such as cheesesteaks, corn dogs, and Italian sausages are readily available. But those looking for fresher, healthier choices that will help support area farmers and producers have recently enjoyed Maine Lobster Ravioli, Local Sweet Corn, and Heirloom Tomato Panzenella at the EMC Club. Vermont cheddar graces the eatery’s cheeseburgers and filled grilled cheese sandwiches. Since seasonal means ever-changing, the menu is in a constant state of change.
“We found that our most important fan groups are making very sophisticated dining choices outside the ballpark, so we continue to innovate to appeal to their tastes, at every price level, once inside the ballpark,” said Marc Bruno, president of Aramark Sports, Entertainment and Conventions. Fenway’s EMC Club is operated by Aramark.
Sustainable Fare as a National Trend?
Sustainable fare at the ballpark could be a national trend. Kauffman Stadium, in Kansas City is also sourcing food locally and visitors from New York’s Citi Field and others have expressed interest in Fenway Park’s model, according to the Globe.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Consumer Choices Have Made Fair Trade Sales Soar to $5 Billion Annually
Cocoa Fruit (photo by Sanjay Pindiyath, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Once again consumers are having a tremendous impact through their purchasing decisions. It seems a very large number of shoppers want to purchase goods produced by people being paid fairly for their work because the sale of Fair Trade goods has gone from $0 to $5 billion in just ten years.
Since cocoa is not grown in the U.S., the country’s artisanal chocolate makers must buy it from overseas to craft their creations. The history of exploitation of agricultural workers around the globe is not a pretty one. After a long legacy of legal slavery, many farm workers still labor in conditions that are little better. But as the sales figures for Fair Trade products show, consumers demanding just treatment and fair compensation are having a salutary impact.
Ben & Jerry’s was the first ice cream company in the world to use Fair Trade Certified™ ingredients starting in 2005, and today it’s racing ahead as the first ice cream company to make such a significant commitment to Fair Trade across its global portfolio. The company has made a commitment to go fully Fair Trade across its entire global flavor portfolio by 2013. Two smaller American companies that craft their artisanal chocolate delights with Fair Trade cocoa have seen their companies flourish from this welcome consumer trend.
The Theo Chocolate Factory
Theo Chocolate in Seattle was the first to roast organic cocoa beans and the first roaster of Fair Trade certified cocoa beans in the United States. Founder and CEO Joe Whinney, witnessed the effects of unfair, unsustainable cocoa trading as a conservation volunteer in Central America. That experience led him to pioneer the manufacture and supply of organic chocolate products as the first individual to import organic cocoa beans into North America in 1994.
Food and Wine Magazine honored Theo with an Eco-Epicurean Award for making the world "a better — and more delicious — place." Theo also won "Outstanding Chocolate" at the NASFT Fancy Food Show in New York City.
Robin Jenkins
Awareness of global environmental issues is at the heart of Robin’s Chocolate Sauce in Portland, Maine. Founder Robin Jenkins became conscious of the not-so-sweet realities of the chocolate trade by researching where and how her ingredients are grown and produced, and by whom. She is committed to using organic, shade grown and local or Fair Trade Certified™ ingredients whenever possible. With every purchase of Robin’s Chocolate Sauce, you’re supporting the mission of the National Wildlife Federation to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.
If you’d like to purchase some of Theo’s award-winning gourmet chocolate click on any of the following:
For information related to the purchase of advertising space on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
USDA Moves to Strengthen Enforcement of Organic Standards
Organic Farm (photo by Tana Butler, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued new procedures that it says will increase the e enforcement of national organic standards. The new operating procedures are meant to ensure that all complaints of alleged violations and civil penalties are consistently handled.
“The changes we are making will ensure that all parties are given due process while increasing the effectiveness of enforcing organic standards,” said Miles McEvoy, National Organic Program’s deputy administrator. “At the same time we want to take steps so that those who are abiding by the regulations and rightfully marketing their foods as organic are not put at a disadvantage by those falsely labeling their products. It allows us to perform our job of assuring consumers they can trust the USDA organic label.”
Nonprofit advocacy organizations including the Organic Consumers Association and the Cornucopia Institute have been critical of lax enforcement of organic standards for many years. In 2005, Cornucopia filed a legal complaint alleging that the nation's largest organic factory-farm dairy operator "willfully" violated the federal organic standards. The USDA later found that the giant industrial-scale dairies, milking thousands of cows each, were not providing their cattle with pasture, as required by law, had illegally brought conventional cattle into their operations, and committed a number of other serious improprieties.
In the past, complaints of alleged standards violations were referred to accredited certifying agents for investigation and enforcement. With the implementation of new procedures, the NOP will collaborate with accredited certifying agents in investigating cases while handling all enforcement actions.
The new complaint handling procedures were put into effect as part of a continued effort by the NOP to increase enforcement actions and ensure greater compliance of the organic regulations. Since January of 2010, the NOP has closed 87 complaints and issued three civil penalties. The NOP accredits about 100 certifying agents around the world to evaluate agricultural production and handling operations and determine their compliance with the national organic standards.
It is USDA’s policy to investigate all complaints that allege violations of rules and regulations, whether submitted by independent claimants, filed by an accredited certifying agent, or initiated by the NOP itself. Any person may file a complaint if he or she believes a violation has occurred.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Food & Water Watch Releases 2010 Smart Seafood Guide
In the Pan (photo by Beglib, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
The new guide considers the socio-economic impact of consuming seafood and warns against turning to imported fish post-Gulf spill.
The national consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch has just released its 2010 Smart Seafood Guide to direct consumers in making safer, more sustainable seafood decisions. This year, researchers analyzed over 100 types of seafood (60% more than in 2009) to create the only guide assessing not only the human health and environmental impacts of eating certain seafood, but also the socio-economic impacts on coastal and fishing communities.
In their 2010 guide, Food & Water Watch highlighted what they refer to as the "Dirty Dozen" -- species that fail to meet two or more of their criteria for safe and sustainable seafood. This year, the worst offender was imported coastal-farmed shrimp. According to the guide, the shrimp mostly come from countries where health, safety, labor and environmental standards are much weaker than in the U.S. This often means the shrimp were raised in crowded, dirty farms, and doused with assorted chemicals, antibiotics and pesticides, some of which are illegal to use in the U.S.
Gulf Oil Spill Raises Food Safety Concerns
"The guide comes at a critical time. We've been fielding countless questions from consumers on seafood safety after the Gulf oil spill," said Marianne Cufone, Food & Water Watch's Fish Program Director. "Unfortunately, because of the spill, many people are considering imported seafood as a safer alternative to domestic. Often, it's not.
The guide not only educates consumers on seafood selection, but also offers information on U.S. seafood production and regulation. For instance:
• Less than 2% of imported seafood is inspected.
• Over 70% of domestic shrimp and about 60% of domestic oysters came from the Gulf of Mexico prior to the spill.
• The average consumer eats around 16 pounds of seafood annually, about 4 pounds of which is shrimp.
Guiding Consumers Away from Unhealthy Choices
The guide steers consumers away from certain types of seafood like fish raised in factory farm conditions that pose threats to both the marine ecosystem and public health; unregulated imports; depleted fish (like bluefin tuna); and fish more likely to contain harmful contaminants like mercury and PCB (like swordfish).
The guide is offered as an online tool for consumers searching for seafood based on taste or U.S. region of origin. In addition, Food & Water Watch has developed a smaller, printed version for consumers to reference before making a purchase at markets or restaurants.
"It's really the most consumer friendly guide out there," Cufone said. "We're not telling you what to eat. We're providing you with important information so that you can make safer, more sustainable seafood choices based on your own personal tastes and priorities."
About Food & Water Watch
The nonprofit organization works to ensure the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainable. So we can all enjoy and trust in what we eat and drink, it helps people take charge of where their food comes from, keep clean, affordable, public tap water flowing freely to our homes, protect the environmental quality of oceans, force government to do its job protecting citizens, and educate about the importance of keeping shared resources under public control.
To learn more about the nonprofit organization’s new guide to sustainable seafood, go to: Food & Water Watch
For more information on the Gulf spill's impact on the availability of certain seafood items listed on the 2010 Smart Seafood Guide, check the latest government updates at:
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Thistle Hill's John & Janine Putnam (Images courtesy of Thistle Hill Farm)
Ever discovered an artisanal cheese at your local farmers market that you couldn’t stop raving about to fellow foodies? Well, there is an excellent chance that splendid cheese was made from raw milk, giving it the rich flavor that processed cheeses just can’t deliver.
Many medical professionals and nutritionists have indicated that raw milk from grass-fed cows is more nutrient dense than conventionally produced milk. They support the family farms feeding free-roaming cows on healthy grass that want to sell raw milk to folks who want to purchase it. Unfortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug administration prohibits raw milk for human consumption in interstate commerce.
The FDA Faces a Challenge in Court
The FDA’s prohibition has led the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund and eight other plaintiffs to mount a legal challenge arguing that the federal regulations are unconstitutional. The FDA filed a motion to dismiss, but last week federal Judge Mark W. Bennett denied the motion. It is a small, but important victory for small dairy farmers, the health of consumers, and the environment.
As part of his ruling, the judge ordered proceedings in the case to be stayed 60 days to allow plaintiffs time to decide whether to file a ‘citizen petition’ with FDA. The petition would ask FDA to clarify its interpretation of the statutes and regulations giving it the power to ban raw milk for human consumption in interstate commerce.
Having survived the first round in the case, the plaintiffs have until October 18th to determine what their next course of action will be.
Yes to Small Dairy Farms, No to CAFOs
A previous post on American Feast's Sustainable Food Blog explained some of what is at stake:
Family-scale dairy farms feeding free-roaming cows on healthy grass face tough competition from concentrated animal feeding operations. The densely penned cows at CAFOs are sickened from being fed the abundance of corn grown with massive government subsidies, posing a very real threat to human health. Cow droppings make good fertilizer on small farms, but at CAFOs the immense amount of waste is a toxic threat to the health of people and the environment.
Of course, people around the globe have been safely consuming raw milk and cheeses for thousands of years. Allowing the interstate sale of raw milk is an important step toward making family-scale dairy farms part of a healthier and more sustainable future.
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is a nonprofit defending the rights and freedoms of family farms by protecting consumer access to raw milk and nutrient-dense foods.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Native American Offering Thanks to Nature for Manoomin (photo by Greg Peterson)
Indigenous foods are true gifts from nature, and terrific for giving to discriminating foodies, slow food cooking enthusiasts, socially-conscious loved ones, or anyone concerned about the health of the environment.
Sacred Manoomin
Authentic wild rice, known as Manoomin and "the food that grows on water" to Minnesota's Native American Ojibwe communities, is hand-harvested from pristine lakes on the White Earth Indian Reservation, as it has been for centuries, using traditional methods.
Unlike the genetically modified "wild rice" grown in paddies, truly wild rice delivers a deep, rich flavor cherished by chefs and devoted foodies. Chef Alice Waters served it at Chez Panisse for a special New Year's dinner. Manoomin is a central aspect of Ojibwe culture and tradition, a part of the proceeds benefit the White Earth Land Recovery Project, which works to protect the integrity of this important heirloom food.
Sustainably Harvested Seafood
If it is indigenous gourmet seafood you crave, the freshest Paddlefish Caviar from the waters of Tennessee and Wild Salmon Roe Caviar from Alaska are delicious choices. Alaskan Smoked Wild Sockeye Salmon has exceptionally rich flavor, reddish color, and firm texture, prepared and smoked according to Alaskan tradition.
And it is nice to know that Alaska's State Constitution requires that all the seafood from Alaskan waters be sustainably harvested!
The American Eastern Black Walnut: The "Ultimate Nut"
Gathered in America’s heartland, the American Eastern Black Walnut is known to some as “the Ultimate Nut.” These walnuts are perfect for creating baked delights, and when added to salads or entrées, they turn everyday dishes into exciting signature creations with a rich, robust flavor.
"Pecan" is a Native American word from the Algonquin language, covering "all nuts requiring a stone to crack.” Creative bakers love the sweet tasting Native American Pecan because it is marvelous for any number of recipes. Both of the American wonder nuts come in a single package, the Bakers Bounty! Fancy Large Premium Black Walnuts & Native Pecan Halves.
Healthful Native Berries
The Wild Blueberry holds a special place in Maine's history, one that goes back centuries to Native Americans. They were the first to use the tiny blue berries, both fresh and dried, for their flavor, their nutrition and their healing qualities. Unlike the larger cultivated blueberries usually sold in supermarkets, Wild Blueberries are tiny and really are wild, having crept over Maine's rocky land naturally.
A Wild Blueberry Gift Basket is a wonderful way to send some love to someone special.
Cranberries were first used by Native Americans, who discovered the wild berry's versatility as a food, fabric dye, and healing agent. Later, American whalers and mariners carried cranberries on their voyages to prevent scurvy. All-natural Cranberry Sauce made from a Colonial recipe, Cranberry Apple Chutney, Cranberry Pepper Jelly spiced with medium hot chilies from the American Southwest, and several more delicious cranberry products, are all prepared in one of New England’s most creative kitchens.
Sweet Maple Syrup
The first people to make maple syrup were the Native Americans of the Northeast who called their delicious syrup, "sinzibukwud," which means, "sweet buds." The Native Americans used it as a flavoring for breads, stews, teas, and vegetables, including cranberries. We are all forever in their debt for teaching their skills to French and English settlers. Pure Organic Maple Syrup is available in beautifully decorated bottles. The syrup is Grade A Light Amber, the lightest of the USDA’s classifications, with the mild and delicate flavor preferred by knowing maple syrup connoisseurs.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Green Chefs Empower the Next Generation to Preserve Blue Oceans
Whale Breach (photo by Matthew Hull, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Two exemplary nonprofits, the Chefs Collaborative and the Blue Ocean Institute, believe “Chefs are the gatekeepers of the seafood industry.” That shared belief led them to join forces earlier this year and create Green Chefs, Blue Ocean to inspire the next generation of great chefs to make seafood sustainability an integral part of mainstream culinary practice.
Some 70% of the revenue generated by seafood sales in the United States occurs in restaurants and catering services, giving chefs a powerful influence over the purchase and consumption of the world’s seafood. To empower emerging talents to make wise choices Green Chefs, Blue Ocean offers an online course for chefs and culinary students to overcome the limitations of a traditional classroom and provide immediate access to cutting-edge information on seafood sustainability.
The seven lessons take about two hours to complete and are available free of charge during the first year. The course covers all facets of seafood sustainability including: fisheries and aquaculture, global supply and demand, and the challenges of purchasing and sourcing ocean-friendly seafood. Practical components include: determining the current “best” seafood choices; menu design; marketing sustainability; staff training; and consumer awareness.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Can a meal be truly great without a dessert? "Maybe" was a reply that came up a few times during a small, informal poll. And then there was a welcome completion of the thought: "But why chance it?"
Our friend Robin sees no need to to take that chance and she has created a selection of gourmet chocolate sauces capable of satisfying dessert lovers everywhere. Place a jar of her creation in a microwave oven for just 30 seconds and a warm sauce du jour is ready for service over a favorite treat. Ice cream, cheesecake, fresh fruit, or homemade pound cake will all do nicely.
Robin’s Chocolate Sauce is handcrafted in northern Maine from a family recipe using only the finest, freshest ingredients. She combines pure organic cocoa, organic cane sugar and organic vanilla with local farm-fresh dairy ingredients to create a dessert topping that is simple and sophisticated, exotic and homemade. No artificial ingredients, just pure decadent goodness.
What began as a holiday gift for friends and family has gained quite a reputation among sweet tooths, cocoa connoisseurs and grandkids throughout Maine. Robin made her first batch of “Original Recipe” organic chocolate sauce in a 12-gallon steam kettle in 2004. Since then, she, her husband, and their two sons have built up the family business to produce six distinct varieties. Robin processes the sauce patiently in small batches to produce a luscious, creamy texture and flavor.
Great Dessert for a Great Cause
Awareness of global environmental issues is at the heart of the business. Robin became conscious of the not-so-sweet realities of the chocolate trade by researching where and how her ingredients are grown and produced, and by whom. She is committed to using organic, shade grown and local or Fair Trade Certified™ ingredients whenever possible. These standards are crucial to maintaining a sustainable environment, protecting migratory birds and creating healthy communities—and your children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren will notice the sweet difference.
Robin Herself
Robin’s Chocolate Sauce is more than a delicious dessert topping. It’s a resource for the education, awareness and advocacy of the issues concerning communities and the environment both locally and globally. Every delicious spoonful of sauce is helping make a difference.
With every purchase of Robin’s Chocolate Sauce, you’re supporting the mission of the National Wildlife Federation to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. What could be better than getting some delicious treats and supporting a great cause!
If you'd like to order some of Robin's sublime chocolate sauces go to any of the following:
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Large Farms Receive Most of the Government Farm Payments
Pumpkin Patch (photo by Kevin Connors, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Small family farms made up 88% of U.S. farms in 2007, but “Medium-sales, large, and very large farms were more likely to receive Government payments, especially commodity-related payments, than smaller farms,” according to a new report from the USDA’s Economic Research Service.
A small family farm is defined as one with annual sales of less than $250,000. They held 63% of the land owned by farms in 2007, and small-farm households typically do not rely on their farms for their livelihoods. Most of their off-farm income is from jobs or self-employment.
The report says, “As custodians of the bulk of farmland, small farms have a large role in natural resource and environmental policy.” But, commodity-related payments are much larger than conservation payments, accounting for 75% of all Government payments made to farmers. Commodity programs target specific commodities, largely feed and food grains, cotton, and oilseeds. According to the report, “Medium-sales, large, and very large farms were more likely to receive Government payments, especially commodity-related payments, than smaller farms.”
Commodity payments are determined by output and though large-scale farms account for on1y 2% of U.S farms, they account for 84% of the value of production. The report notes three significant features of U.S. farms:
First, small family farms make up 88 percent of all U.S. farms. Second, large-scale family farms—only 9 percent of all farms—account for a disproportionately large, 66-percent share of the value of production. Third, farming is still an industry of family businesses. Ninety-eight percent of farms are family farms, and they account for 82 percent of production. Only 2 percent of U.S farms are nonfamily farms, accounting for the remaining 18 percent of production.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
“More than 93% of the general population has some BPA in their bodies.”
Bad news for folks drinking water from plastic bottles in pursuit of safety and good health, leading them to pay 1,000 times as much for their drinking water. They need to know that the water they are drinking is likely to be contaminated with highly toxic BPA.
BPA stands for Bisphenol A, a synthetic chemical that interferes with the body’s natural hormonal messaging system. According to the Environment California Research & Policy Center, which reviewed 130 studies on the topic, BPA has been linked to altered development of the brain and behavioral changes, a predisposition to prostate and breast cancer, reproductive harm, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. BPA can wreak havoc on children’s developing systems.
NRDC Files Lawsuit to Ban BPA
The Natural Resources Defense Council has filed a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration for its failure to act on a petition to ban the use of BPA in food packaging, food containers, and other materials likely to come into contact with food. NRDC filed the lawsuit in U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
In October 2008, NRDC petitioned the FDA to prohibit the use of BPA in food packaging to prevent the toxic chemical from contaminating food. The FDA has failed to take action in response to the petition for more than 18 months, although the agency expressed concern about the effects of early life exposure to BPA on brain development and the prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children.
BPA Is Ubiquitois in Food & Water Packages
BPA is found in wide variety of products, including the lining of liquid infant formula cans, soda or beer cans, fruit or vegetable cans, and pizza boxes as well as consumer products made from polycarbonate plastics, including baby bottles, sippy cups, and reusable water bottles. Much of that packing ends up in landfills, posing a severe threat to the health of the environment.
The re-use of plastic bottles leads to normal wear and tear and increases the chance that chemicals will leak out of the tiny cracks and crevices that develop over time. By law, tap water is subjected to more testing than bottled water and almost certain to be a safer alternative. More than 93% of the general population has some BPA in their bodies, primarily from exposure through food and water contamination and other preventable exposures.
Alternatives to BPA are Available
“BPA-free alternatives are already available and on the market. The FDA has no good reason to drag their feet on banning it,” said Dr. Sarah Janssen, a senior scientist in the Environment and Public Health program at NRDC. “It’s upsetting that food is most people’s primary source of exposure to BPA. The FDA should act now to eliminate this unnecessary risk.”
“The FDA has failed to safeguard the food supply and protect the public from harm,” said
Aaron Colangelo, an attorney with NRDC. “The FDA’s failure to regulate this chemical in food packaging in unjustified, and so we are forced to ask the court to intervene and order the agency to take action.”
About NRDC
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.3 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Shrimp & Clams (photo by joeb, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
In the film “Food Inc.” Gary Hirshberg, chief executive officer of Stonyfield Farm, asserts that large companies will respond to consumer pressure and offer sustainable foods when customers demand them. The filmed showed how Walmart began carrying Stonyfield Organic Yogurt, making Stonyfield the No. 3 brand in the United States.
Now Delhaize America has announced its 1,600 stores will operate under a new sustainable seafood sourcing program. The company is a major player in the supermarket industry. Its stores include Hannaford, Sweetbay, Bottom Dollar Food, Food Lion, Bloom, Harveys and Reid's. The supermarkets will move to selling seafood managed to sustain the availability of seafood for current and future generations.
Encouraging Local Sourcing
The supermarkets' new seafood policy requires suppliers to verify that seafood is coming from sources managed for sustainability and encourages sourcing locally. The requirement applies to all seafood in the stores, including fresh, frozen and packaged fish and shellfish. All suppliers are required to be compliant with the program by March 31, 2011.
"We want our shoppers to have confidence that seafood they buy from us is from fisheries that are viable and maintained for the future," said George Parmenter, a Corporate Responsibility manager for Delhaize America. "The health of fisheries is important to us as a retailer, both for the long-term product supply and for reducing the environmental impacts of products we sell. Our company is committed to operating responsibly."
Sustainable Certifications
The new sustainable seafood sourcing program was developed in close partnership with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), a non-profit marine science center. The comprehensive sustainable seafood policy requires all suppliers demonstrate that their seafood products come from well-managed fisheries. The fisheries, which could also be certified under a variety of sustainable certifications (such as the Marine Stewardship Council), must demonstrate a detailed management plan which includes the following components:
• Establishing plans to rebuild stock sizes within a specific timeframe if stock size levels are below target levels.
• Providing sufficient data to determine appropriate harvest levels or practices.
• Implementing monitoring and compliance measures to ensure harvest levels are maintained within acceptable limits.
• Maintaining enforcement policies to ensure harvesters follow regulations, and to prevent illegal practices and unreported harvest.
Farm-Raised Seafood
In the case of farm-raised seafood, suppliers must be certified by the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), a program of the Global Aquaculture Alliance. BAP certification ensures that the production of the product does not negatively impact communities, workers, the environment, or human health through inappropriate use of chemicals or drugs.
Sustainability Requires Traceability
Another core component of the policy is the requirement that all seafood be fully traceable to the port of landing or farm. As a result, all Delhaize America supermarkets will have immediate access to information about where the product was harvested, thus enabling the company to confirm claims around sustainable harvest.
The company has also built rewards into the system for seafood businesses that adopt sustainable harvesting practices, such as strategies to minimize accidental catch of fish not intended for market or to prevent damage to marine habitats. All seafood products sold in Delhaize America's 1,600 stores must demonstrate compliance with the policy or show a clear action plan to reach compliance by March 31, 2011.
"The new policy encourages ongoing improvement in sustainability practices and promotes local fisheries," added Parmenter. "Our customers prefer local seafood, and we believe buying local provides fresh food, supports our local economies, and reduces environmental impacts from transporting seafood from longer distances. Through this work, we will ensure that the local seafood we've always sourced for customers will be healthy for the local environment and around for future generations to enjoy."
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
The ordinary tap water available to 12 million residents in the New York Metropolitan area has been reliably clean and flavorful since 1842, when an aqueduct was built to bring pristine water from upstate to the city. For years the prideful city's water has been a consistent winner in blind taste tests. Easy to take for granted, it comes as a shock to learn it is now endangered by natural gas drilling.
For a couple of years there have been media reports from Pennsylvania to Texas of drinking water so tainted that folks are able to light the water from their kitchen tap on fire. There have been more than 300 instances of contaminated water in Colorado since 2003, and more than 700 instances in New Mexico, according to Bruce Baizel, senior staff attorney with Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project. In West Virginia a once lushly forested area has been transformed into a dead zone.
Fracking in Gasland
Josh Fox made the Sundance award-winning documentary “Gasland” after he was asked to lease his land for gas drilling. That led him to embark on a cross-country odyssey. As the website for the show “Now” on PBS explains, his journey led to a film that “alleges chronic illness, animal-killing toxic waste, disastrous explosions, and regulatory missteps.” It will be broadcast on HBO through 2012. The DVD goes on sale in December of 2010.
“Gasland” shows tap water being set ablaze and explores the drilling process known as fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, a technology developed by Halliburton. Millions of gallons water, chemicals and sand are injected into the ground under high pressure, cracking shale and tight rocks to allow gas to flow more freely from the well. It is a toxic mixture and believed to be the prime culprit in the pollution of groundwater in areas surrounding drilling sites. Even drinking water hundreds of miles from a well can be contaminated.
Hundreds of Thousands of New Wells Coming
It is hard to believe that risking the health of millions in order to extract natural gas would even be considered, but the N.Y.S. Department of Environmental Conservation is close to issuing a final Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement on gas drilling using hydraulic fracturing near a major watershed in upstate New York. The SGEIS is expected to facilitate the process for fracking near a vital watershed. Concerned citizens are asking for a delay until DEC can study and integrate the conclusions of a full report on gas drilling from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Residents of New York are not alone in facing a future threat to the safety of their drinking water. According to an article published by ProPublica in December of 2009:
In the next 10 years, the United States will use the fracturing technology to drill hundreds of thousands of new wells astride cities, rivers and watersheds. Cash-strapped state governments are pining for the revenue and the much-needed jobs that drilling is expected to bring to poor, rural areas.
Keep Drinking Water Safe
Incredibly, a loophole exempts natural gas drilling from the Safe Drinking Water Act. Drilling companies don’t even have to disclose the almost 600 chemicals that might be used in fracking and find their way into drinking water. Fortunately, our friends at Food & Water Watch have provided a way for concerned citizens to make their voices heard by contacting elected representatives. Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer organization that works to ensure clean water and safe food. The organization challenges abuse of food and water resources by empowering people to take action.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Worries Rise about Safety of Seafood from the Gulf & Beyond
Sunset on the Gulf Coast (photo by Keyseeker, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
For generations families have earned their livings by harvesting the Gulf’s abundance of oysters, shrimp and fresh fish. Their livelihoods are now devastated by BP’s criminally reckless and predictably disastrous business practices. Only the hopelessly optimistic can believe those livelihoods will return any time soon.
Americans are almost universally aware of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the vast majority is understandably worried about the safety of Gulf seafood, according to a consumer confidence poll conducted by The Food Industry Center at the University of Minnesota. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of those surveyed for the study said they were aware of the spill. Eighty-five percent (85%) said they are following news about it closely or have heard a lot about it.
"Given the amount of news coverage the oil spill has received, these results may not be surprising, but it does show that consumers are connecting the event to food safety," said Dennis Degeneffe, a research fellow at The Food Industry Center.
The Center’s poll indicates that harvesters living along the Gulf coast won’t be alone when it comes to losing income. When asked how the oil spill will affect their consumption of seafood, 54% of respondents said it will have some impact. Forty-four percent (44%) of that group said they no longer eat seafood that comes from the Gulf of Mexico. Another 31% said they will eat less seafood regardless of where it comes from.
Largest Gulf Spill Facing Hurricane Season
Using the high-end numbers of the latest government estimates, 140 million gallons of oil have spilled into the Gulf since BP’s Deepwater Horizon exploded on April 20th, killing eleven platform workers. That makes it the largest oil spill that has ever struck the Gulf of Mexico, with a flow rate roughly equivalent to an Exxon Valdez disaster every week. There is no definitive date for when the flow will be curtailed.
Hurricane Alex made landfall near the Texas-Mexico border late Wednesday and early Thursday morning and has hampered cleanup efforts. Meteorologist Joe Bastardi of Accuweather.com forecasts 18 to 21 named storms for the hurricane season running from June 1st until November 30th. Only five years in the 160 years of records had 18 or more storms in a season.
"The hurricane season should have several hits on the U.S. coast from July through September, mainly in the Southeast and Gulf," said Bastardi.
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Urging Congress to Protect Historic Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay (photo by Michelle Kwajafa, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
The devastation of the Gulf’s seafood industry by the BP oil spill is a disaster that will be felt for years to come. Livelihoods that have supported families for generations have been destroyed and seafood lovers will not be enjoying the Gulf’s bounty of shrimp, oysters and crab as they have in the past.
The Chesapeake Bay is another of America’s great sources of seafood in need of protection if the harvesting of shellfish including scallops, clams, blue crab, soft-shell crab and oysters, and fresh fish such as flounder, mackerel, croaker, and striped bass is to be preserved for future generations. It is the nation’s largest estuary and one of the most popular travel destinations in the U.S.
Major New Online Campaign
Now the great bay is the focus of a major new online campaign, “Restoring our Waters”, that aims to ensure Congressional support comparable to that already in place for other major American bodies of water.
The new Web-based campaign targeting transplanted natives, outdoors enthusiasts, vacationers, travelers and others around the United States is being launched in advance of the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee markup this month of S. 1816, the Chesapeake Clean Water Act.
“Restoring our Waters tells the story of how people around the country consider the Chesapeake a national treasure, worthy of protection,” Hilary Falk, director of the Choose Clean Water Coalition (CCWC), which is organizing the national effort.
Those who love the Chesapeake Bay know it deserves the national attention and iconic status of the Florida Everglades, the Gulf Coast, the Great Lakes, or the Mighty Mississippi. Having Americans who care about clean water and the great outdoors sign this petition and contact their legislators will demonstrate how important the Chesapeake is to our nation.
Peter Johnson, manager of the Restoring Our Waters campaign added:
Thousands of gallons of oil a day are spilling into the Gulf of Mexico. We are all astonished by this thought and the fact that we are largely helpless to stop it. But nutrients have been pouring into the Chesapeake, its rivers and streams for decades now. Its effects are more subtle than the startling images of oil-soaked birds and wildlife; yet nitrogen and other pollutants strangle the very life-blood out of the Chesapeake and the economy of the region. The federal government is finally starting to realize the devastating impact that decades of neglect and misuse have had on the waters of the Chesapeake.
Prevention as the Wise Choice
Johnson said, “Unlike a disaster situation, preventing more of this pollution from happening in the first place is a far better and more cost-effective solution. The Chesapeake Clean Water Act (S.1816) introduced by Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland will provide the tools and resources to address the persistent pollution plaguing the Chesapeake Bay.”
“What happens with this bill will show the concern Americans have for clean water in iconic places like the Chesapeake or the Gulf Coast. Passage of this bill depends of the support of citizens across the country, and now is finally the time to demand clean water.”
About Choose Clean Water & Restoring Our Waters
The Choose Clean Water coalition brings together people and more than 130 organizations from Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, working together to help everyone in the region choose clean water.
The Restoring Our Waters campaign was launched in June 2010 to build the national case for support of the Chesapeake Bay as an Iconic American Waterway.
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Farm-to-table dining has been a growing trend for some time and there is no sign it will slow anytime soon. The movement to serve fresh, local, sustainably harvested food is offering truly distinctive dining experiences and helping raise awareness of the delicious alternative to heavily processed foods shipped from factories.
One meal at a good farm-to-table restaurant should convince anyone that foods are at their most flavorful and nutritious when served at their freshest. Eating seasonal foods produced without chemicals, whether grown at home or in a community garden, or purchased from a trusted local farmer, makes for better health and a cleaner environment.
The Bounty of California’s Napa Valley
The Napa Valley in California is one of America’s most rare and precious agricultural preserves. Home to the founders of America's fine wine industry, its towns and villages also present a bounty of crops for an authentic farm-to-table dining experience regularly enjoyed by visitors and locals alike. The very word Napa stands for ‘Land of Plenty’, the original meaning given to the region by its first inhabitants, the Wappo Indians.
Many Napa Valley restaurant chefs cultivate their own orchards, vineyards and gardens teeming with rows of basil, eggplant, squash, pomegranates, figs, tomatoes and of course grapes. The freshness makes a huge taste difference, as is regularly noted by restaurant patrons and those culinary institutions dishing up annual accolades. Even those who do not have gardens of their own largely rely on the bounty of area farms and local farmers markets.
The Napa Valley Destination Council has prepared a short list of those Napa Valley restaurants with gardens of particular note:
• Ad Hoc, Chef Thomas Keller’s casual restaurant located in Yountville, features American comfort classics in a relaxed setting reminiscent of home. The restaurant’s 4-course prix-fixe menu is crafted daily, featuring the finest, in-season ingredients sourced from its own culinary garden.
• Bouchon bistro, also in Yountville, and another of Thomas Keller’s restaurants, features traditional bistro inspired cuisine in a vibrant atmosphere reminiscent of classic Lyonese café dining. Fruits and vegetables, as expected, come from the restaurant group’s culinary garden, located across from The French Laundry.
• Again hailing from Yountville, the farm-fresh restaurant menu at the Bardessono Inn is based on locally sourced organic ingredients, with much of the produce coming from the hotel's organic gardens and an orchard on the old Bardessono estate. Inspired by the abundance of the Napa Valley, executive chef O’Toole’s menu draws from local growers, farmers’ markets and the restaurant’s own on- and off-site culinary gardens. Bardessono has earned LEED Platinum certification.
• Brix Restaurant and Gardens draws on the bounty of their vineyard, orchard, vegetable and flower gardens. Comprised of raised boxed beds and in-ground beds, Brix grows crops year-round including tiny salad greens, fava beans and strawberries in the spring; French beans, eggplant, tomatoes, berries and melons in the summer; apples and pears, hard squash, potatoes and fresh onions in the fall; and Meyer lemons and sweet limes, sweet peas, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower Romenesco and butter lettuce in the winter. It¹s not unusual to see the restaurant¹s chefs out in the garden gathering fruits, vegetables and herbs for the day¹s specials.
• Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen and Go Fish of St. Helena, along with Mustard’s Grill in Napa are owned and operated by Cindy Pawlcyn, one of the first female chefs to champion fresh, local, seasonal food. Along with cultivating a 1½-acre organic garden at her home, her Mustards Grill and Go Fish eateries feature organic gardens that supplement the other locally sourced produce used in her dishes. This culinary pioneer of Napa regional cuisine has made a solid commitment to seasonal inspiration and the use of the region’s bountiful harvests as the fresh ingredients for brilliantly delectable creations.
• The French Laundry in Yountville is known for being a perennial finisher in Restaurant Magazine’s list of Top 50 Restaurants of the World and since 2006 the sole Michelin 3-star recipient in the region. Lesser-known, but directly across the street from this esteemed restaurant is its three-acre garden that one can meander through in the morning before enjoying its bounty served in impeccable comfort and style that evening. Additionally, the nearby Jacobsen’s Farm offers a variety of organic produce and products which the restaurant has incorporated on their menus since opening. Not too surprising, vegetable dishes and salads are often unexpected stars of dinner, and so they also offer a vegetarian menu for the same price as their normal 9-course tasting menu featuring French cuisine with contemporary American influences.
• Chef Ken Frank is credited with pioneering a style of cooking that today is known as “California Cuisine.” For the past 30 years his focus has been on using only the finest, often local artisanal ingredients. His latest of many culinary ventures, La Toque Napa moved to its current location at the Westin Verasa in Napa in 2008 and subsequently earned a Michelin star in 2009. Frank, along with a small cadre of local restaurant chefs, work the one time Copia complex garden as a co-op that includes chefs from Hog Island Oyster Company, Zuzu, Angele, Restaurant Pearl and C Casa Taqueria, which is opening soon in Napa’s Oxbow Public Market.
• Long Meadow Ranch, Winery & Farmstead in St. Helena has opened the Long Meadow Ranch Winery & Farmstead restaurant, a sustainable food, wine and agricultural center. Farmstead restaurant offers fresh farm-to-table dining and is open for lunch and dinner daily. The new Long Meadow Ranch Winery Tasting Room, that opened in December, features wine and olive oil tastings, while docent-led vegetable garden and wine flavor tours provide engaging educational experiences for lovers of local food and wine. At their Rutherford Gardens, visitors can purchase fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, grass-fed beef, and flowers and enjoy a walk through the beautiful demonstration gardens.
• At the Meadowood Napa Valley in St. Helena, you should really experience Chef Christopher Kostow’s talents in The Restaurant at Meadowood. A Michelin 2-star recipient, this understated restaurant is pleased to serve wines from a neighboring vineyard while the honey on the table is from Meadowood’s own hives and the olives from their orchard. The heirloom tomatoes and other fresh produce, as well as edible flowers, are picked at the perfect ripeness each day from the restaurant’s gardens and taken straight into the kitchen.
• Ubuntu (which combines a highly praised "vegetable" restaurant with a yoga studio) is one of the nation’s most highly recognized vegetarian restaurants. They have recently earned a 2010 Michelin star rating for their surprisingly seductive dishes, have been listed as one of the ten best new American restaurants in The New York Times, and feature a chef who was nominated for a 2009 James Beard Foundation Award. As one would expect, their produce comes from its own gardens. Located in the city of Napa.
• The Carneros Inn is adding a new ½-acre culinary garden this summer, which will supply the Inn, restaurants, and spa with fresh vegetables, herbs and flowers year round.
For more information about America’s legendary wine, food, and wellness destination, go to: The Legendary Napa Valley
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U.S. Should Follow U.K.'s Lead on Oversight of Offshore Oil Drilling
Pelicans on the Florida Gulf (photo by Michael Richter, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
The oil disaster in the Gulf is now widely acknowledged to be the worst environmental disaster in the history of the United States. The seafood and tourism industries in several states now face devastation, costing many thousands of people their livelihoods. Billions of dollars in revenue that might have supported schools, hospitals and other vital services are now lost.
Media reports make it pretty clear that this should never have happened. Steps to insure safety were not taken by either BP or government officials responsible for oversight. As a result, eleven BP employees lost their lives and a criminal probe is underway. More people are expected to suffer poor health as a direct result of the spill and clean up efforts.
The United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne recently announced that the U.K. will double the number of inspections it makes to offshore oil rigs, while also increasing the number of personnel assigned to those duties.
BP’s Troubling Criminal Past
A nonprofit environmental organization, Food & Water Watch, has called on the British government to immediately investigate the five deepwater platforms operated by BP in the North Sea and the North Atlantic. According to a statement from F & W’s Executive Director Wenonah Hauter:
Even before the Horizon accident in the Gulf of Mexico, BP maintained a troubled safety record in the United States. In addition to 2005’s Texas City refinery explosion that killed 15 workers and injured more than 170, BP has been subject to at least $142.8 million in fines and penalties for workplace safety violations.
BP has a history of criminality, having pleaded guilty to a felony in 1999. The charges stemmed from having illegally disposed of hazardous waste and violated federal drinking water law in Alaska. As part of the plea agreement, BP admitted that it failed to provide adequate oversight, audits and funding to ensure proper environmental management on Alaska’s Endicott Island. The company paid the maximum criminal fine of $500,000. It also agreed to spend $22 million to resolve the criminal case and related civil claims.
Ms. Hauter also said, “The U.S. should take the U.K.’s move to step up its inspection of offshore oil rigs as a cue to intensify its own scrutiny of BP and the entire oil drilling industry’s operations in the Gulf of Mexico and beyond.”
The cost of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster is rising daily. Oil continues to wash ashore In Louisiana, where the seafood industry is said to be worth $2 billion a year. The toxic spill has also arrived on the beaches of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. A report in Reuters values Florida’s tourism industry alone at $60 billion annually.
About Food & Water Watch
The nonprofit organization works to ensure the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainable. So we can all enjoy and trust in what we eat and drink, it helps people take charge of where their food comes from, keep clean, affordable, public tap water flowing freely to our homes, protect the environmental quality of oceans, force government to do its job protecting citizens, and educate about the importance of keeping shared resources under public control.
To learn more about the nonprofit organization, go to: Food & Water Watch
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Drink Milk from Pasture Grazing Cows for a Healthier Heart
Grazing with Mom (photo by Emily Roesly, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Dairy cows grazing in pastures produce milk more likely to keep your heart healthy than cows raised in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), according to a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The report was based on research conducted by scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health, the Michigan School of Public Health, and the University of Costa Rica. The study was conducted in Costa Rica, where dairy cows are pasture-grazed.
The researchers concluded that dairy cows grazing in pastures have more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in their milk than cows fed grain. CLA and the omega 3 fatty acids considered beneficial to keeping a healthy heart are not typically found in the vast majority of cattle in the U.S., which are raised on corn in CAFOs.
One of the study’s authors, Hannia Campos of the Harvard School of Public Health, told Reuters, “Because pasture grazing leads to higher CLA in milk, and it is the natural feed for cattle, it seems like more emphasis should be given to this type of feeding.”
Graze Cows n Pastures for Less Foodborne Illness
Much of the foodborne illness plaguing the nation’s food supply could be eliminated by grazing cows in pastures. Deadly E. coli contamination comes largely from beef and dairy cows fed in CAFOs. Family farms caring for pasture grazing cows face tough competition from CAFOs, where most of the cattle in the U.S. is kept. The densely penned cows are fed genetically modified (GM) corn grown with massive government subsidies.
Pasture Feeding is a Better Environmental Choice
The corn fed to cattle in CAFOs requires a great deal of fossil fuel to produce and poisonous pesticides are used in growing that corn. The vast amount of manure produced by the thousands upon thousands of tightly confined animals poses a very real threat to human health and the environment. In contrast, the manure from the cows grazing in pastures serves as rich fertilizer for the grasses on which those cows feed.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requires organic animals to be out on pasture for not less than 120 days per year and to receive at least 30% of their feed from pasturing during the grazing season.
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BP's Gulf Oil Spill Has Wiped Out Vital Jobs in Fisheries in 3 States
Recreational Fishing (photo by Digger Danno, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Twenty years after the Exxon Valdez disaster in the once pristine waters of Alaska’s Prince William Sound oil still plagues hundreds of miles of shoreline. In some places the oil "is nearly as toxic as it was the first few weeks after the spill,” according to the council created to administer the $900 million that Exxon paid to settle lawsuits.
This week U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke determined there has been a fishery disaster in the Gulf of Mexico due to the economic impact on commercial and recreational fisheries from the ongoing Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The affected area includes the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The Gulf disaster is many times the size of the spill in Alaska.
Significant Economic Hardship
“We are taking this action today because of the potentially significant economic hardship this spill may cause fishermen and the businesses and communities that depend on those fisheries,” Locke said. “The disaster determination will help ensure that the Federal government is in a position to mobilize the full range of assistance that fishermen and fishing communities may need.”
The declaration was made in response to requests from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour based on the loss of access to many commercial fisheries and the existing and anticipated environmental damage from this unprecedented event.
Nearly 20% of Federal Waters in the Gulf Now Closed
Since May 2, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has closed a portion of federal waters affected by the spill to commercial and recreational fishing. This closure area, which is based on the scientific trajectory of the spill, now includes nearly 20 percent of federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico, largely between Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi and the waters off Florida’s Pensacola Bay.
“We stand with America’s fishermen, their families and businesses in impacted coastal communities during this challenging time,” Locke said. “Commercial and recreational fishing provides vital jobs to the region and is essential to the Gulf Coast’s unique culture and heritage.”
Commercial fishermen in the Gulf harvested more than 1 billion pounds of fish and shellfish in 2008. In addition, there are approximately 5.7 million recreational fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico region who took 25 million fishing trips in 2008.
Administration Expects Responsible Parties Will Pay Full Cost
The administration has requested $15 million of supplemental funding as a backstop to address this disaster, as well as $5 million of economic development assistance through the Economic Development Administration. In addition, the administration is requesting unemployment coverage for this disaster, and the Small Business Administration is offering economic injury disaster loans, which can help fishermen and other affected businesses. However, the administration expects that BP and any other responsible parties will cover the full costs of economic damages to and restoration of these fisheries.
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The Obama family is celebrating the first anniversary of their new kitchen garden, but in my house we're putting two candles on the organic carrot cake and making a wish for our national food gardening future.
Two years ago this week, my family and I planted a little garden of our own in the middle of our front yard. As luck would have it, we live in a little white cape with southern exposure which allowed us to claim that we had planted something much more noteworthy: a new food garden on the south lawn of the "white house."
Although the major networks were not present for our groundbreaking event, that didn't stop us from growing some media coverage of our own. We produced a short Internet video of our white house garden planting and used it to urge presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama to follow suit upon taking office.
The clip went as viral as a gardening video can hope to go, appearing on many busy websites and, ultimately, on national TV. Fast-forwarding to the present, I am happy to report that both "white house" gardens are flourishing and that a new food garden revival has taken root.
Like the Victory Garden movement of the previous century, war once again provides the context for this revival, but this time it's not nation against nation, but people waging a struggle for health, their own and that of the planet.
Whether the current home-grown revival sends its roots deeply and broadly enough in society to make a significant impact on social and environmental issues remains uncertain. According to a recent survey by the National Gardening Association, 1 million new food gardens are planned for 2010.
That may sound like a large number, but when it's compared with the estimated 20 million Victory Gardens planted in 1943 when the U.S. population was half what it is now, it would seem that we're only scratching the surface.
This brings me to my birthday wish. First lady Michelle Obama has been the best gift the food-gardening movement could ask for this past year, but I'm hoping that millions of new people will follow her example this year. To bring these new gardeners into the movement, we need to educate them about the diverse contributions food gardens can make to families, communities, and our country's national security.
Many people, including policy-makers, think that a number of new little gardens won't add up to anything more than a hill of beans, but our history proves otherwise.
At the peak of the Victory Garden movement, gardens behind homes, schools, prisons, workplaces and in vacant lots were growing 40 percent of the nation's produce and helping to conserve financial and natural resources at a time of crisis.
Last year, my wife and I did some garden math of our own to offer a more contemporary example. We weighed, recorded and priced every item coming out of our yard, front and back, over the course of the growing season. By the time we were done, we calculated that we had saved over $2,200 and had met roughly half of our family's produce needs for the year.
And the food was not only delicious and low in carbs, but also low in carbon, having traveled less than 50 feet from plot to plate. Saving money is one financial incentive for growing kitchen gardens, but it shouldn't be the only one.
Each year, we manage to find billions of tax dollars to subsidize corn and soybeans, which are used to sweeten soft drinks and fatten livestock.
Surely some of those funds would be better spent sweetening the deal for gardeners through innovative fiscal incentives and grants for new school and community gardens.
We already provide tax breaks to encourage families to put solar panels on their houses, so why not encourage them also to grow solar-powered food behind those houses?
Whether we organize it now or it organizes us later, a food garden revolution is coming and that's a very good thing.
In fact, the only downside I see is a nationwide glut of summer squash, but hopefully many new gardeners will follow Michelle Obama's lead in sharing some of their bounty with neighbors in need.
Doing so would not only make for a better-fed nation but a more socially just one too. When it comes to the next healthy, home-grown revival, everyone should have a place at the table.
Roger Doiron of Scarborough is the founding director of Kitchen Gardeners International, a nonprofit group promoting home gardens.
To learn more about Roger's organization and get some great gardeninbg advice, go to: Kitchen Gardeners
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Genetic Modification of Crops Leads to Superweeds Threat
Amish Farm (photo by Marianne Venegoni, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
May arrived with reports of “superweeds” that have developed a resistance to the herbicide Roundup, which is used extensively in monocultural agriculture where single crops predominate on large farming operations.
An alarming article in The New York Times says there are now "10 resistant [weed] species in at least 22 states infesting millions of acres, predominantly soybeans, cotton and corn."
Subsidized Failure
Soybeans, cotton and corn are heavily subsidized by the United States government. Those subsidies have helped them become some of the most widely grown crops in American agriculture. Those crops are now common ingredients in a tremendous number of products.
The plants were genetically modified (GM) to be resistant to Roundup, so the herbicide could be used to destroy weeds without harming crops. With the emergence of the “superweeds” farmers are likely to go back to conventional herbicides to kill the Roundup-resistant weeds threatening huge fields of GM crops.
A Predictable Disaster
Author and nutritionist Marion Nestle points out in a recent article for The Atlantic that the Union of Concerned Scientists predicted that the widespread planting of GM crops would produce selection pressures for Roundup-resistant weeds. The Union’s Jane Rissler and Margaret Mellon wrote that these would be difficult and expensive to control. They made that prediction in 1996.
Only the Most Recent Setback for GM Crops
This is just the latest in a string of failures for GM crops. In May of 2009, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine called on "Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM (genetically modified) foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks."
As for the claim that GM foods are needed to feed a hungry world, Doug Gurian-Sherman, a senior scientist in the Union of Concerned Scientists Food and Environment Program has concluded "...that GE (genetic engineering) has done little to increase overall crop yields." And a major study conducted at the University of Kansas has found that the controversial technology actually reduces crop yields.
Require the Labeling of GM Foods
Many people are unaware that they are regularly consuming GM foods because they are not labeled as such. Giant agribusinesses do not want the labeling of GM foods because consumers don’t want to buy them. They are even opposed to the labeling of foods as GM-free. (GM foods are prohibited from being used in food that carries the USDA’s organic label.)
As Elise Pearlstein, producer of the Oscar nominated film Food Inc. has said, "It's outrageous that genetically modified foods don't need to be labeled...Whatever your position, you should have the right to make informed choices, and we don't."
To view an interactive graphic by The New York Times on the spread of “superweeds” across the U.S., go to: Where Weedkiller Won’t Work
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Nicholas Kristof,of the New York Times, reported May 06, 2010 on the President’s Cancer Panel Report, a 200 page tome that warned of dire consequences to Americans’ health without a much more rigorous regulation of chemicals.
The report warns about exposure to chemicals, particularly among pregnant women. More than 300 chemical contaminants have been found in the umbilical cord blood of newborns, meaning that children born into this society come, pre-polluted.
The distinguished medical experts who comprise this sterling panel include Dr. Margaret Kripke, an immunologist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and Dr. LaSalle Leffall, Jr, an oncologist at Howard University. Both were appointed by President Bush.
A Toxic Chemical Stew
Weak laws, lax enforcement and fragmented authority have created a toxic chemical stew that we all live in. Dr. John Salerno has been writing about this topic for at least eight years and has treated patients in his New York practice for ailments ranging from heavy metals poisoning to cancers that can be traced back to chemical exposure.
“I have seen a serious rise in the number of patients coming to me suffering from toxic metals poisoning. I have a number of Japanese patients who suffer from mercury poisoning as a result of eating fish. I find that an aggressive course of action is necessary to resolve these serious health issues. We start with organic food and clean water,” says Dr. Salerno.
Protect Yourself & Your Family
One of the most alarming results of the study is that 41% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime, and many of those cancers can be traced back to a polluted environment.
This includes food, and that is why the Silver Cloud Diet has always recommended a diet of whole, unprocessed, organic food. The good news is that the availability of organic food has gone totally mainstream. Even Walmart has become active, and now is the nation’s largest retail purveyor of organic produce.
Clean drinking water is another serious issue. While the use of plastic bottles and bottled water has come into question, it is best to filter tap water at home to guarantee a source of unpolluted water. Store water in stainless steel or glass containers.
If you have a job that exposes you to chemicals, remove your shoes before entering your house. This included medical workers, factory workers, and any other workers whose occupation exposes them to chemicals. Work clothes should be washed separately from the other laundry in the household.
Choose Food without Pesticides, Chemical Fertilizers & Growth Hormones
In addition to choosing food grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers and growth hormones, avoid meats that are cooked well-done.
Check radon levels in your house because this is a natural source of radiation linked to cancer.
For the sake of your children, choose foods, toys and garden products with fewer endocrine disrupters or other toxins. (see www.healthystuff.org for more information.)
We here at The Silver Cloud Diet have seen remarkable improvements in people’s health who adhere to our diet regimen. Not only does their weight normalize but their blood panels improve and their general sense of well being, health and vigor returns.
The body can heal itself with a bit of intervention on the part of the patient.
Linda West Eckhardt
To learn more about Linda’s most recent work on healthy weight control, go to: The Silver Cloud Diet
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Expect to Pay More for Gulf Shrimp, Oyster & Crab Dishes
Fresh Oysters (photo by Seemann, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
The impact of the massive oil spill in the Gulf won’t be limited to just those coastal inhabitants who earn their living from bountiful seafood harvests. Everyone who enjoys Gulf shrimp, oyster or crab dishes and the restaurants who serve them can expect prices to soar as shortages develop.
The Houston Chronicle quotes Jim Gossen, president and CEO of Louisiana Foods and someone who has been in the seafood business for 40 years, "There's already an extreme shortage of oysters. The diminishing supply of product is causing something of a frenzy.”
Gossen worries that restaurants will start taking favorite Gulf seafood dishes off their menus, and diners will begin to avoid regional delicacies. The worrisome situation is compounded by a recent determination by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Coastal Fisheries Division that Gulf shrimp are unseasonably small and need more time to grow. The Division will close the commercial shrimp season on May 15th and reopen it at some point in July.
Cajun crawfish should be spared the fate of seafood from the Gulf. According to an article on Viet-Cajun restaurants in the Boston Globe:
While there is great concern for the impact of the Gulf Coast oil spill on saltwater shellfish and fin fish, there is no expectation that it will affect Louisiana crawfish. Farmed Louisiana crawfish is raised inland in freshwater with 99 percent of farms more than 10 miles from the Gulf. Wild crawfish also live in freshwater six to 100 miles inland.
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Farm to School Programs Benefit Kids, Farmers & the Environment
Fresh Carrots (photo by Kevin Connors, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Reports of schoolchildren unable to identify common fruits and vegetables have been disturbing, to say the least. Obesity rates are at record levels and one of every three American kids born in this century is expected to develop Type 2 diabetes, a dangerous disease once virtually unknown to afflict children.
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) says Farm to School programs have a proven track record of increasing farmers’ incomes while also improving the nutrition and food literacy of schoolchildren. “Farm to school programs are cost effective and should be part of a robust child nutrition reauthorization that we hope will move soon,” said Kate Fitzgerald, Senior Policy Associate at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
Grassroots Effort Underway
NSAC is one of 41 national organizations that delivered a letter to House and Senate leaders last week, urging them to include $50 million in mandatory funding for programs linking farmers with local schools as part of the 2010 Child Nutrition Act reauthorization.
Says Ms. Fitzgerald:
We know that we need to do a better job of ensuring that school food programs provide the best food possible for children. This is the rallying call of many prominent dietitians, educators, and doctors, as well as First Lady Michelle Obama. Food sourced from local farms is freshest and combined with teaching children about where their food comes from, provides children the knowledge they need to make good food choices for the rest of their lives.
Long-Term Economic Benefits
Farm to school programs offer immediate and long-term economic benefits. According to a study in Oregon, every dollar school districts spent on purchases of local food stimulated an additional eighty-seven cents in economic activity. Keeping kids healthy should also impact soaring healthcare costs and lost productivity due to illness when those kids become adults.
“Farm to school increases farm sales and because the money stays locally, it generates a ripple effect throughout the area’s economy. In addition, delivering nutritious food to local schools can bring producers into neighborhoods that are now “food deserts,” creating an opportunity to expand good food choices to area stores and institutions. Farm to school is a winning idea nutritionally, economically, and environmentally,” Fitzgerald concluded.
Questions Over Proposed Sources of Funding
The Child Nutrition Act reauthorization has been slowed in both Houses by concerns about how funding increases will be paid for. The Senate bill approved by Committee increases funding for child nutrition programs by half of the Administration’s proposed $1 billion per year and pays for the increases mainly with cuts to nutrition education programs for SNAP (formerly food stamp) participants and to a popular conservation program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
Some anti-hunger and nutrition groups are disappointed that the bill does not achieve the President’s funding goal and are reluctant to support cuts to nutrition education while a coalition of farm and environmental groups, including the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, decried the use of conservation funds that would not only cut current expenditures but reduce the baseline for programs going into the 2012 farm bill reauthorization.
The House has yet to take up consideration of child nutrition reauthorization but Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, has said that he will not agree to cuts in farm bill programs, including cuts to EQIP, to pay for any funding increases.
Discussions of funding mechanisms continue, with attention increasingly focused on the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee. Closing tax loopholes were used to pay for improved food stamp benefits during the 2008 Farm Bill negotiations, and many observers have suggested a similar maneuver could be used to pay for improved school meals.
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Fresh Gulf Seafood Gets Added to the Cost of Offshore Oil
In the Pan (photo by Beglib, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Fresh oysters, shrimp and crab quickly come to mind when contemplating the pleasures of a stay in New Orleans, one of America’s best and most unique cities for foodies. Now those pleasant memories face the prospect of becoming nostalgia for a bygone era.
Still working to overcome the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi Delta communities are again bracing for an unthinkable environmental disaster emerging from the Gulf waters, a worse disaster than the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.
More than 200,000 gallons of oil is spilling off the sunken Deepwater Horizon oil rig into the Gulf of Mexico each day. Even as an already enormous oil slick washes onto the coast, Reuters is reporting that another offshore drilling rig has overturned near Morgan City, Louisiana.
Two Vital Industries Get Hurt
The amazing food of the Big Easy delights the visitors that help sustain the city’s economy. The region's tantalizing seafood comes from an industry that provides livelihoods for families from Florida to Texas. The Louisiana seafood industry alone is said to be worth $2 billion.
Harvesters of fresh seafood lost their livelihoods to the Exxon Valdes spill in the once pristine waters of Alaska’s Prince William Sound in 1989. They are still seeking redress of their grievances all these years later. Will the victims of the new disaster in Gulf waters share their fate?
Both oil spills already have one thing in common. When Big Oil was lobbying to set up those ultimately destructive operations they gave assurances that no such disasters would take place and their financial might overwhelmed the voices of those who warned of the dangers.
Clean & Renewable Energy
The disaster in the Gulf comes on the heels of an explosion that killed 29 miners at the Massey Energy coal mine in West Virginia. With lives and livelihoods being lost to fossil fuel extraction, it is clearly time for a better way to meet the country’s power needs.
The U.S. amazed the world by gaining independence from one of the world's great empires, building a transcontinental railroad in the shadow of a horrendous civil war, connected two oceans with a canal through terrain some thought impassable, and put a man on the moon. Surely it is time to be the country that shows the way to a future of clean and renewable energy by harnessing the power of the sun and the wind. We owe it to ourselves and generations to come.
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The Film "Tapped" Looks at the Billion Dollar Bottled Water Industry
Tap Water (photo by Jane M Sawyer, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce? Stephanie Soechtig’s award-winning feature film, Tapped is an unflinching examination of the billion dollar bottled water industry.
From the producers of Who Killed the Electric Car and I.O.U.U.S.A., this timely documentary is a behind the scenes look at the unregulated and unseen works of an industry that aims to privatize and sell back one resource that ought never become a commodity, our water. From the plastic production to the ocean where so many of these bottles end up, this inspiring documentary trails the path of the bottled water industry, and the communities that were unwitting chips on the table.
A powerful portrait of the lives affected by the bottled water industry, this revelatory film features those caught in the intersection of big business and the public’s right to water.
Producer Sarah Olson and director Stephanie Soechtig are driving across the country urging Americans to Get Off the Bottle! They will collect pledges for people to reduce their bottled water use and trade people their empty bottles of water for a free Klean Kanteen stainless steel bottle.
There will be a screening of the film on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22nd, at 7:00 PM at Sunshine Cinemas, 143 E. Houston Street in New York City,. Go at 6:00 pm to exchange your plastic water bottle for a free stainless steel bottle.
For more info and to view a trailer of the award-winning film, go to: Tapped
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Saving Fisheries for Future Generations a Major Challenge
Fishing Boats at Sunset (photo by Michelle Kwajafa, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Recent news reports and a spreading of the word by social media sites have made many aware that after being fished in the Mediterranean for centuries, the Atlantic bluefin tuna population is at serious risk of collapse, but there are a number of other fish species once taken for granted that are also in trouble.
Popular choices, including swordfish, red snapper and Chilean sea bass, are in real danger of being lost to future generations. Atlantic cod was once a vital part of the Massachusetts economy and been heavily fished for the last 50 years. The nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund says, “U.S. and Canadian cod stocks remain extremely depleted, and European populations have declined as well.” The organization asks consumers to look for cod that has been caught by hook-and-line and avoid Atlantic cod caught with bottom trawls.
Worrisome Stats
The Seafood Watch program of the nonprofit Monterey Bay Aquarium says the global catch of wild fish leveled off over 20 years ago and 70% of the world's fisheries are being harvested at capacity or are in decline. The National Marine Fisheries Service says 60 important fisheries in the U.S are overfished or undergoing overfishing.
Wild Salmon Harvests
There are reasons to be cautiously optimistic. Wild salmon populations in Southern Oregon and Northern California region have sharply declined in recent years. In April of 2009, commercial salmon fishing off the coast of California was banned for the second year in a row. The salmon industry received a miniature federal bailout in the amount of $170 million in emergency aid after the 2008 season was canceled.
The ban has been effective enough that salmon will be fished off the west coast of the U.S. in 2010. Concerned salmon lovers can also look for wild-caught salmon from Alaskan waters for a sustainable alternative. The Alaskan constitution actually requires that seafood be sustainably harvested.
Food Stores Step Up to the Plate
Greenpeace has rated supermarkets based on a number of factors: policy, initiatives, labeling, and sales of critically endangered seafood species in 2009. The top supermarket wasn't a pricey, boutique-style store. It was Wegman's, a regional supermarket in the mid-Atlantic that won top honors thanks to its sustainable seafood sourcing policy. Number two was Ahold USA, the company that owns the Stop & Shop and Giant supermarkets, known more for everyday staples than expensive delicacies.
Whole Foods has had a comprehensive policy for stocking sustainable fish seafood for some time and specialty food retailer Trader Joe's has just announced that it will shift all of its seafood purchases to sustainable sources by the end of 2012. The company is also in the process of enhancing package labeling for all seafood items to include information on species' Latin names, origin and catch or production method.
To download a pocket guide to help you choose local, ocean-friendly seafood wherever you live or travel, go to: Seafood Watch Pocket Guide
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
"Ever wonder about those people who spend $2 apiece on those little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backward." -George Carlin
Millions of Americans have taken to drinking water from plastic bottles in the belief that it is safer than tap water, leading them to pay 1,000 times as much for their drinking water. But evidence from scientific studies shows that bottled water is no less contaminated than tap. Jane Houlihan, Senior Vice President for Research for the Environmental Working Group (EWG) recommends that people worried about water contaminants should drink tap water with a carbon filter.
Dangerous Contaminants Found in 10 Popular Brands
A comprehensive testing by EWG reveals a surprising array of chemical contaminants in every bottled water brand analyzed. Contaminants including disinfection byproducts, fertilizer residue, and pain medication were found in 10 popular brands of bottled water, purchased from grocery stores and other retailers in 9 states and the District of Columbia. They contained 38 chemical pollutants altogether, with an average of 8 contaminants in each brand.
Plastic Bottles Contaminate Water with Bisphenol A
Studies have also indicated that water sold in clear plastic water bottles can contain trace amount of Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical that interferes with the body’s natural hormonal messaging system. According to the Environment California Research & Policy Center, which reviewed 130 studies on the topic, BPA has been linked to breast and uterine cancer, an increased risk of miscarriage, and decreased testosterone levels. BPA can also wreak havoc on children’s developing systems. The re-use of such bottles leads to normal wear and tear and increases the chance that chemicals will leak out of the tiny cracks and crevices that develop over time.
Tap Water is the Sustainable Choice
The vast majority of plastic bottles are made using petroleum and could be recycled, but three-fourths of the half-billion plastic water bottles sold in the U.S. go to landfills or incinerators. It costs our cities more than $70 million to landfill water bottles alone each year, according to Corporate Accountability International.
Some time back AmericanFeast.com reported on the trend toward serving tap water at some of America’s finest restaurants, including Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California. Chez Panise now serves house-made sparkling water. The owners and chefs of many fine restaurants have decided that since bottled water requires great amounts of fossil fuels for production, packaging, and transportation, tap water is the sustainable choice.
Taking Action
Sarah Alexander of the nonprofit advocacy group Food & Water Watch, is asking concerned consumers to sign her organization’s Take Back the Tap Pledge. She points out, “Bottled water is not safer than tap water. In fact, the federal government requires far more rigorous and frequent safety testing and monitoring of municipal drinking water.”
The person making the pledge simply agrees to:
• Choose tap water over bottled water whenever possible;
• Fill a reusable bottle with tap water;
• Support policies that promote clean, affordable tap water for all.
Support Family Farmers & Get Healthy with Raw Milk
Jersey Dairy Cows (photo by Emily Roesly, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Family-scale dairy farms feeding free-roaming cows on healthy grass face tough competition from concentrated animal feeding operations. The densely penned cows at CAFOs are sickened from being fed the abundance of corn grown with massive government subsidies, posing a very real threat to human health. Cow droppings make good fertilizer on small farms, but at CAFOs the immense amount of waste is a toxic threat to the health of the environment.
One way to support the farmers we need for good health and a clean environment is to make sure they are allowed to sell raw milk to consumers who want to purchase it. You may have already enjoyed the rich flavor of an artisanal cheese crafted with raw milk from a sustainable producer. Many medical professionals and nutritionists have indicated that raw milk from grass-fed cows is more nutrient dense than conventionally produced milk.
Unfortunately, there are those in positions of power who want to restrict consumer access to raw milk in the name of “public and food safety”. Making sure consumer access is protected will be of vital concern at the 2nd Annual Raw Milk Symposium coming up in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday, April 10th.
Conference Overview
Wisconsin was carefully selected as the site of this year’s symposium because of the recent spate of government actions taken against Wisconsin raw dairy producers and their customers. Wisconsin, as the second largest dairy state in the union and the state with the most small dairies, is crucial for raw milk activists and defenders against the erosion of consumer rights.
The conference will begin with the personal stories of Wisconsin producers, Wayne and Kay Craig and raw milk consumer activist, Emily Matthews. Sally Fallon Morell and Dr. Ted Beals will delve into the science of raw milk nutrients, microflora and benefits. Then, the role of raw milk from an international perspective will be explored with speakers from Germany and Slovenia.
German biodynamic academic researcher Prof. Dr. Ton Baars will describe his research exploring unique raw milk healing properties and Syliva Onusic, Ph.D. will illustrate what enlightened leadership in other countries are embracing on behalf of their citizen’s health. The lawyer defending Wisconsin farmers, Elizabeth Rich, Esq., will discuss the legal distinction between the public good and the private right which will set the stage for the grand finale.
Michael Schmidt, in a rare public appearance (outside of the Canadian courtrooms), will kick off the highlight of the symposium and introduce “Joining in the Battle for Food Rights” panel discussion, moderated by a champion of raw milk rights, blogger David Gumpert.
Who’s Invited
Raw milk producers and their consumers, grass based farmers fed up with the low commodity milk prices looking for alternatives, folks that have seen healthier days, Future Farmers of America wanting to check out the buzz about direct sales of raw milk, constitutional scholars and lawyers looking for work that makes a difference, mothers and fathers looking for answers to their children’s chronic health and obesity problems, college students cutting classes and stumbling into some life changing information, new couples considering having a family, doctors and dentists interested in pragmatic prevention based solutions, teachers and parents concerned with sugared milk in school lunches and you!
Special Invitation
In particular, a special invitation of free registration is extended to any employee of these Wisconsin agencies - the Governor’s office, Wisconsin Senate and House of Representatives, DATCP and Wisconsin Raw Milk Board appointees. The symposium organizers will be happy to take their registrations personally, at 703-208-3276.
Featured Speakers
• Prof. Dr. Anthonie (Ton) Baars (biodynamic research, academics)
• Ted Beals, M.S., M.D. (medicine, pathology and microbiology)
• Wayne Craig, B.S. and Kay Craig, M.S. (producer’s perspective)
• David E. Gumpert (noted author and blogger)
• Pete Kennedy, Esq. (raw milk legal authority)
• Emily Matthews, RN (consumer’s perspective)
• Mark McAfee (entrepreneur, trail blazer)
• Sally Fallon Morell, M.A. (Founder, A Campaign for Real Milk)
• Sylvia P. Onusic Ph.D. (international raw milk perspective)
• Elizabeth Gamsky Rich, Esq. (Wisconsin raw milk legal authority)
• Michael Schmidt (Canadian pioneer of legal cow-shares)
• Tim Wightman (American pioneer of legal cow-shares)
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Slope Farms is one of very few providers of sustainably raised, grass-fed beef in New York State, but there’s reason to believe that such farms could dramatically grow in number.
“There are 3 milion acres of unused pasture land in New York State. That’s enough land to raise all the beef consumed in New York City,” said Ken Jaffe, the proprietor of Slope Farms in East Meredith, New York. He made his remarks as a panelist at “Meat and Potatoes: A local solution to a National Problem,” an event produced by the American Institute of Wine & Food on a recent night in Manhattan.
E. coli & Mad Cow Come from CAFOs
To make that happen will require a good deal of change. Current U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations are more favorable to the corn-fed beef raised on CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) that pose the dangers of E. coli contamination and Mad Cow Disease, the commonly used name for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. Cows raised on CAFOs are administered antibiotics to counter the ill effects of their unnatural corn diet. They are fed corn made cheap and plentiful by heavy subsidies of taxpayer dollars. Cows in CAFOs are also given growth hormones to add to the weight of each animal, though panelist George Faison of DeBragga.com said the use of hormones diminishes the quality of the meat.
Family farmers like Ken Jaffe produce beef that are free of the diseases brought on by the unnatural corn diet and closely confined conditions, but still face a system of legal requirements developed in the face of the threat to human health posed by cattle raised in CAFOs. One such rule makes it difficult for a farmer like Jaffe to have his animals humanely slaughtered, a hurdle that needs to be overcome to make much of New York’s unused pastures financially viable for family farmers who want to raise grass-fed beef.
Healthier Families & a Healthier Environment
The benefits of greater grass-fed beef production would be prodigious. Raising beef on grass would eliminate much of the foodborne illness plaguing the nation’s food supply. The beef raised on grass contains nutrients such as CLAs and omega 3 fatty acids, which are not typically found in animals raised in CAFOs.
Besides the health benefits there would be enormous environmental benefits. The corn fed to cattle in CAFOs requires a great deal of fossil fuel to produce and poisonous pesticides are used in growing that corn. The tremendous amount of manure produced by the thousands upon thousands of tightly confined animals is another environmental hazard. In contrast, the manure from the cows on the Jaffe’s farm is a marvelous fertilizer for the grasses on which those cows feed.
Restaurants Making a Difference
Panelists Andrew Taylor, owner of Diner and Marlow & Sons, and Chef Sean Rembold are set on a future of serving their customers fine, grass-fed beef and using the entire animal. They take delivery of whole animals from Slope Farms then age their beef to an extraordinary degree to maximize a rich flavor. They are committed to training their chefs to make use of the entire animal, even using the fat to fry potatoes. Their staff members visit farmers to deepen the food knowledge that gets applied in their kitchens. After the panel discussion those in attendance were delighted by the taste of the tender braised brisket they prepared.
Is there a down side to the story? Yes, grass-fed beef is roughly twice the price of corn-fed beef from CAFOs. One answer is to eat less and eat better. And what price should we place on healthier families and a cleaner environment?
To learn more about AIWF, the sponsor of the event, and the events they will be presenting in the future, go to: The American Institute of Wine & Food
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
Farmers in Missouri Win a Battle with a Hog Production Giant
A Healthy Pig (photo by vnyberg, courtesy of morgueFile.com)
Many people see CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) as a problem some distance from home, but those who live near the “manure lagoons” created by such mega-farms cannot escape the terrible odors emitted.
In northern Missouri a group of farmers living near a CAFO decided that they had enough of the awful smells and decided to sue Premium Standard Farms, a hog production group owned by Smithfield Foods. A jury in Kansas City has awarded $11 million to the plaintiffs, who claimed, “…odors from the operations nauseated them and forced them to stay indoors with the windows shut,” according to the industry publication, Pork. The facility in Berlin, Missouri is said to produce 200,000 hogs annually.
It was the second such suit brought by locals against the facility. The first was in 1999, when 52 farmers received $5.2 million. The second suit was brought because the farmers claimed the odor problems had not been corrected. The jurors agreed that the local farmers had been deprived of the enjoyment of their property by the stink from the PSF facility, and that they were not just normal odors to be expected in an agricultural community. PSF is appealing the decision. A battle has been won, but the war goes on.
There is nothing new about complaints of environmental degradation, animal cruelty, and the threat to human health posed by CAFOs, where hogs are kept in extremely close quarters, fed growth hormones, and administered antibiotics, and the list of reasons to oppose CAFOs keeps growing. There seems little hope that they can be improved. The intense c
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