Growers and Grocers

The dairy industry in Virginia is suffering, according this article by Barnie Day. The news carries a bit of irony, as milk is the state’s official beverage. Small dairies in particular have folded as their expenses outstrip their income. The milk buyers have a tremendous amount of power, and they set the market rate to […]

Anyone shopping at a California farmer’s market has heard the whispers and seen the grim shakes of the head. But now it’s official: The state’s stone fruit crop will hit the lowest point in many years, according to the Californa Farm Bureau Federation.
Heavy rains pummeled the state just as stone fruit trees blossomed, and the […]

After I read the Common Dreams article about shopping information, I explored other articles on the site’s front page.
One piece entitled “Welcome to ‘Whole-Mart’” caught my eye. Growers and Grocers readers know my feelings about Whole Foods, whose devilish business practices belie its saintly image. Author Mark Harris sums it up nicely:

Actually, there is a […]

Common Dreams Newscenter, a source for progressive news, has posted an article with basic information about the chemicals, politics, and environmental issues of 12 common ingredients. The article discusses the merits and demerits of tofu, eggs, apples, and others. The author targeted it at UK shoppers, but other Europeans and even Americans will find lots […]

Oregon cannery Truitt Brothers has earned the Food Alliance’s certification for sustainable practices.
The company’s site spells out the requirements for the label:

Create natural products considering purity and nutritional value
Ensure quality control and food safety
Responsibly manage water and energy resources
Responsibly manage waste with an emphasis on recycling and reuse
Provide a safe and fair work environment
Commit […]

A week ago, 70,400 acres of New Jersey oyster beds went on vacation after an oil spill in Delaware Bay.
Even though I didn’t know about the closure, I’m happy to report that inspectors have cleared the affected beds, according to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Start your slurping once again!

One of the basic tenets of Growers and Grocers is that shoppers have a right to information about the food they buy. Choosing what to eat is one of the most political things we do in modern society: Your food dollars vote for fragile agriculture, exploitive practices, and poor quality.
For the month of May, […]