Growers and Grocers

Food Quality Sensor International has developed a new packaging system that will communicate the freshness of the food to the consumer, according to this MS-NBC story.
My not-so-inner technology geek is infatuated with the idea. A material that uses the gaseous waste products from spoilage bacteria to give good information to the user? Neat.
Of course, […]

The New York Times is running an article about the way Wal-Mart imposes its will upon producers who want space on their shelves. Think Coca-Cola can call the shots? Think again. Even that megacorporation has to bow to Wal-Mart’s will about its products. The article reminds me of how chains such as Barnes & Noble […]

California farm workers predict an economic disaster if the U.S. government builds a high-security fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to this Fresno Bee article. They’re agreeing with comments made by Mexican President Vicente Fox earlier this week.
The U.S. government proposed the border fence to seal off an entrance route for terrorists, but a cynic […]

Today’s San Francisco Chronicle has an article about the problems with Oregon’s Klamath River salmon fishery. The salmon population there has been falling steadily, and now it’s fallen so far that it’s below sustainable levels.
Next week, the Pacific Fishery Management Council will put forth three proposals for fixing the problem, and there’s a good chance […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a draft of guidelines for pre-cut vegtables.
When I first read this, I thought, “Oh, come on!” But after I thought about it, I was surprised they didn’t already have guidelines for this common convenience. When you cut vegetables in advance, you provide more surface area for […]