Growers and Grocers

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 […]

With all the recent promotion in the produce aisle for buying local and buying fresh, even city dwellers can get in on the sustainable food choices movement. Over the past decade, a growing number of urban agriculture projects (let’s just call them farms) have sprung up in America’s major cities. Typically not more than an […]

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 […]

But not just any farm. This one is special. Using a 1-1/4 acre lot in Chicago’s Cabrini Green neighborhood, this organic farm is growing from hard work, passion, and a whole lotta helping hands. City Farm, as it’s called, grows lettuce, beets, herbs, tomatoes, carrots, melons and more, and it’s run by […]

This past Monday, I attended the 2007 International Boston Seafood Show and got to sample quite a few products. I also had to pace myself because there were so many tempting foods.
One product that I sampled toward the end of the day was the frozen sushi by Polar Seas (a PDF of their products), a […]

This post is about two areas of the food business that don’t receive a lot of coverage, either intentionally or accidentally.
1) Who Owns Organic?
For a long time, the word “organic” was synonymous with “small”: it brought to mind an independent farmer or a small company. These days, however, that association is not always accurate. Some […]

The FDA is expected to approve the use of a powerful antibiotic in cattle, despite warnings it would speed the appearance of resistant microbes.  InterVet, Inc. has applied to market their drug Cefquinome for treatment of a pneumonia-like disease in cows.  It seems that the application will probably be granted due to a change in […]

Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are what can happen when efficiency and cost are the only considerations in food production. Cramming multitudes of animals into close quarters, they create vast amounts of waste, an oppressive stench, plumes of air pollution, inhumane conditions, and additional health hazards or nuisances. As an […]