In another sign that the Department of Agriculture is embracing sustainable food, the agency today will unveil expanded plans for a People’s Garden that will include the entire six-acre grounds of the Whitten Building, the department’s neoclassic marble headquarters on the Mall.
Archive for April, 2009
For Vilsack, the Proof Is in the Planting
April 29, 2009Positive Outlook for Bison
April 29, 2009At the recent Bison Producers of Alberta Annual General Meeting held at Leduc, Alberta, Chair Tom Olson provided an industry outlook that forecasts a continued upward trend in market prices being paid for Bison.
The positive outlook for Bison is also a reflection of a strong consumer demand for a heart healthier red meat that is lower in fat and cholesterol and provides more protein with essential vitamins and minerals, when compared to most other meat choices.
Fresh Bison meat is non-allergenic, has no low-level antibiotics, no hormones, no drug residues and no preservatives.
Full Story Here
Texans raise beef cattle the old-fashioned way
April 29, 2009As one of a dozen qualified ranches who make up the Grassfed Livestock Alliance, NNB sells to Whole Foods stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Rather than “lighter” pasture-raised beef that first appeared in the American market, NNB and its associates produce USDA Prime.
Hospitals adding fresh, organic food to the menu
April 29, 2009The days of bland chicken, reconstituted potatoes, frozen peas and a side of syrupy, canned peaches appear to be coming to a close at a growing number of hospitals across the U.S.
Spurred by patient demand, concerns about setting a healthful example and a desire to make notoriously bad hospital food nutritious and appetizing, more hospitals are making strides in serving their patients fresh, organic and local produce alongside meats and dairy foods that are hormone- and antibiotic-free, as well as minimally processed.
Organic Milk Producers and Processors
April 29, 2009Interesting (and short) story on some growing pains in organic dairy.
More on the USDA Organic Production Survey
April 28, 2009The U.S. government will make its first in-depth survey of organic farming this spring, an eight-page questionnaire on which crops and livestock are produced, how they are grown and where they are sold.
Leaders in the organic movement have pressed for a USDA survey as the first step to more USDA research and aid to their sector.
“This is great news,” said Bob Scowcroft of the Organic Farming Research Foundation in Santa Cruz, California. “We feel very strongly this will show a need for a fair share of research, which has been our mantra for years.”
Link to USDA survey page
Shows how to participate!!!
EU, US Seek Solution to Beef Hormone Dispute
April 28, 2009In a telephone conversation yesterday, EU Trade Commissioner Ashton and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk discussed the long-running dispute over hormone-treated beef. They agreed to further talks in order to find a negotiated solution.
Foodies Will Welcome Foodzie
April 28, 2009The online specialty grocer is trying to help artisan food producers jump from local farmers’ markets to virtual store shelves
Foodzie’s site, which sells products from small producers in 25 states, relies on attractive photos and an uncluttered design to appeal to customers’ palates. “What was lacking in online (food stores) was an experience that makes you hungry,” Bauman says.
Latest on the Humboldt Creamery
April 28, 2009It’s not just that virtually every one of the 1,400 or so people who live in town have family, friends and acquaintances who work in the creamery-dependent dairy industry. It’s also that just about every business in town is directly or indirectly dependent on dairy dollars.
Swine Flu info from the USDA
April 28, 2009Many answers to producer-related questions.
Meat Packaging: On the Innovation Trail
April 27, 2009Consumers expect a lot from meat and poultry packaging. Their wish list includes a diverse set of attributes, including sustainability, convenience, freshness indicators and on-label nutritional data.
Packers are addressing those expectations with concepts ranging from compostable foamed trays to easy-open vacuum bags to smart freshness sensors. In addition, some new packages target supply chain needs by extending shelf life or reducing package size.
Locally grown is becoming the new mantra
April 27, 2009Even the Alachua County government is looking for ways to help people grow food through community gardens, policies and possibly starting a garden at the jail to offset food costs there.
First organic farming survey set
April 27, 2009The USDA announced on Thursday that it was conducting the wide-scale survey. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the federal government wants “to find out how the growth of organic farming is changing the face of U.S. agriculture.”
A rare education in beef
April 27, 2009Growing up, the only question was, how do you want your steak cooked?
These days, you hear terms like natural, organic, free-range, corn-fed and a host of other labels referring to how the cows were raised. In our first report, we’re taking a look at what all those USDA labels mean as well as the key differences between corn-fed and grass-fed.
Organic Dairy Farming Avoided 40M Pounds of Fertilizer in 2008
April 27, 2009According to the Organic Center, organic milk production in the U.S. avoided some 40 million pounds of fertilizer in 2008. The 761,000 acres of organic feed cropland or organic pasture also dodged the use of 758,000 pounds of pesticides. Cows also given 1.7 million fewer drug treatments, including antibiotics and hormones.
