Growers and Grocers

The Salmon Safe Label
One of the most damaging side effects of agriculture is the soup of fertilizer, pesticides and sediment that flows from farmland after rain or irrigation. Salmon, one of the Northwest United States’ signature fishes, are particularly sensitive to water contamination: they need water that is clear, cold, and pure.* Streams and rivers […]

If you have been reading Growers and Grocers for a while, you will know that sometime next year the U.S. Congress will consider an overhaul of agricultural policy in the form of the “2007 Farm Bill” (previous G & G coverage is here). As the debate ramps up in 2007, you won’t be able to […]

In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration approved a form of “modified atmosphere packaging” that keeps meat looking fresher for an extended period of time by maintaining a bright red color, even after the meat deteriorates and spoils. The process involves extracting most of the gas from the package, and replacing it with a mixture […]

Earlier in the month, a flurry of articles and blog posts covered an article in Science magazine which predicted that without significant changes in fishing practices, coastal development, and how humans treat the oceans, the population of fish stocks could permanently collapse. This weekend, I ran across two stories about the subject of fish stocks, […]

Many of our kitchens contain products from all over the world. In my kitchen pantry, for example, you’ll find basmati rice from India, soy sauce from Thailand, sake from Japan, rice from Italy, and a few bottles of imported wine. These products enliven my diet, but they have costs that might not be apparent unless […]