Growers and Grocers

Unless you don’t follow the news, you’re probably well aware of the latest food scare - tomatoes tainted with salmonella.
The big question that has yet to be answered is how do thousands of pounds of tomatoes get tainted with salmonella, a bacteria that originates in the digestive tracts of humans, birds, and other animals? As […]

On Wednesday, June 4th, 2008, The Discovery Channel premiered the first all green channel to the world: Planet Green!
Joining the ranks of TLC, Animal Planet, and FitTV, Planet Green is finding its place on your tv dial and bringing you all you need to know to make your life and our planet a greener, healthier […]

In a moment both shimmering and tantalizing, ramps have arrived.  Signifying the return of the fairy tale bounty of the summer Union Square Greenmarket, in flavor, ramps are a delightfully delicate cross between garlic and leek.
Trim off the bulb, and wash, pying attention to where the leaves separate.
Zucchini Ramp Omelet

Sauté one small diced zucchini in […]

The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY announced last week that they are undergoing a new “green” initiative, and to that end, they have removed paper cups and lids in all of their dining facilities. Considering the campus uses between 15,000 and 18,000 disposable cups a week, this is certainly good news.  
“We took a look at […]

Do you recall a time before beef recalls?  As an organic grass-fed farmer, I know the origin of 0157:H7, the e-coli bug that is the source of nearly every beef recall in the past decade.  Yet I’m still shocked and amazed that the American public has no idea at all why beef is recalled and […]

While most of us would love to go organic with our entire grocery basket, the cost is often very prohibitive. In my local grocery store a package of fresh strawberries might run $2.99, but its organic equivalent would set me back $4.99. Likewise, potatoes, apples, and other organic produce can easily cost double […]

Buying “organic” definitely comes with a heftier pricetag, so it’s a good idea to know when it pays to make that choice. Generally speaking, if you are eating the skin or leaves of a fruit or vegetable, it’s usually better to buy organic, says Richard Wiles, Executive Director of the Environmental Working Group in […]

In a letter made public on Friday the Federal Trade Commission asserted that U.S. dairy producers must discontinue all advertising and marketing activities, which involve weight loss claims. As reported by Reuters, the milk-weight loss connection is not supported by enough scientific evidence. More conclusive research must be completed before such dairy campaigns […]

A few days ago, the Associated Press had an article with some stunning numbers and information about food imports. In U.S. Food Safety Strained by Imports, Justin Pritchard looks at the rapid rise in imported ingredients–items like guar gum, maltodextrin, and casein (a protein in milk)–and lays out the big picture:
While Americans are consuming more […]

Sunday’s news feeds brought two interesting articles about genetically- engineered crops to my RSS reader. The first was a piece entitled How to confine the plants of the future? by biotech expert Denise Caruso (author of Intervention). Caruso’s article focuses on pharmaceuticals derived from genetically-modified plants and the challenge of keeping them separated […]