"Congress is fighting to keep pizza and French fries on the school menus when we have an obesity problem nationally."
-- Margo Wootan, "Potato politics, with a pizza side"
Plate Tectonics
Missing the watermelon days of summer
-- Karla Cook 09-28-2011
As a southerner, I was weaned on watermelon - big slabs of glistening red flesh, polka dots of seeds that we practiced spitting from the edge of the porch -- so mixing such ambrosia with other ingredients has always seemed inappropriate.
That changed a couple of years ago, when a friend brought a salad of watermelon, feta, red onions and kalamata olives to a potluck party. My mind was further opened by the best dish from a recent meal at the Fatty Crab, in New York's West Village: Cool watermelon and hot crunchy pork belly, with Thai basil, lime and scallions.
The regret? Watermelon season, always too short for me, is waning. At my supermarket here in New Jersey, bins of them have been replaced by wan sliced specimens wrapped in plastic.
Anticipating guests, hoping for sun on the fig
-- Karla Cook 07-04-2011
In a happy confluence, family and friends arrive just two weekends from now. Will the Marseilles figs be ripe?
And the question is whether we stand there, eating them from the tree and warm from the sun, or make Melissa Clark's fig tart with caramelized onions, rosemary and Stilton.
Figs are rich in potassium, calcium and Vitamin A. Tarts, especially Ms. Clark's, with pine nuts, honey and rosemary, could provide for us a virtual trip to the Mediterranean.
Arts, Ideas & Trends
Childhood obesity becomes factor in custody battles as parents' awareness grows on health problems, costs associated with fast food diet, sedentary lifestyle
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2011-10-29
Movement to make business heads, politicos liable for environmental destruction gains global momentum; campaigners say ecocide on par with other crimes against humanity
Time magazine 2011-10-24
In Big Fix report on food system, researcher argues for folding good ideas into conventional system if they increase supply, reduce environmental damage, improve food security
The New York Times 2011-10-12
Community & Culture
Opinion: Occupy Wall Street has its points, but occupying the kitchen will bring, keep families together, and when food is sourced locally, will 'stick it to the Man,' too
The Huffington Post 2011-10-27
From strategic placement of fresh flowers to ice and water around vegetables and faux stacks of cartons, Whole Foods, others prime us to shop, says author of "Brandwashed"
Fast Company 2011-09-15
Opinion: To become healthier, more sustainable population, we must encourage a shift from ubiquitous fast food to craft of cooking and associated thrift
The New York Times 2011-09-27
People
Rick Perry calls for rolling back environmental laws, suspending rule-making that would give EPA clout over large carbon emitters, opening federal land to more oil, gas production
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2011-10-14
Josh Beckerman, foodie magician, serves up sleight-of-hand at NY restaurants
The New York Times 2011-09-28
Zagats sell to Google for $100 to $200 million
The New York Times 2011-09-08
Food News
Editor rethinking viability of this site; in meantime, please read ethicurean.com, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, farmpolicy.com, newsletters of the RWJF, websites for USDA, FDA, CDC, and work of journalists worldwide
The Food Times 2012-01-05
Increased competition over land for growing biofuels, coupled with climate change and poor farming practices risks ability to feed growing population, UN warns
The Associated Press; The Washington Post 2011-11-28
Krypton 81 helps track ancient water source of Nubian Aquifer, shared by Egypt, Libya, Chad and Sudan; technique could track brine in NM, where radioactive waste is stored
The New York Times 2011-11-21
Smithfield - world's largest pork producer - making false claims, Humane Society says; group urges McDonald's to require speedier improvements in animal welfare practices
Chicago Tribune 2011-11-02
Massachusetts farmer makes farm-to-school movement a money-maker by buying from 30 other growers, lightly processing squashes and selling to UMass, public schools, others
The Boston Globe 2011-11-03
EPA to probe fracking sites in PA, CO, LA, ND, TX to measure impact of drilling on entire water lifecycle, from taking water from rivers to sequestering tainted wastewater
The Associated Press; St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2011-11-03
Despite public health threat of cadmium, Mexico continues use of it in production of fertilizer, toys, batteries; population absorbs toxin through foods, smoking tobacco
Inter Press Service (Rome, Italy) 2011-11-03
Number of Americans receiving food stamps reached a record 45.8 million in August, with Texas having the most - 4.12 million; spending was a record $6.13 billion
Bloomberg 2011-11-01
Fearing water shortages caused by climate change, food and beverage firms, tobacco companies, clothing makers and metal and mining companies reckon with dependence
The New York Times 2011-11-01
Dam-building project means switch to water from Calaveras Reservoir for San Francisco area; customers note foul smell, moldy taste caused by Aphanizomenon, an algae
San Francisco Chronicle 2011-11-02
Opinion: As Congress refuses to fix immigration and states run amok on enforcement, we need sensible policy that aids 11 million undocumented already here and working
The New York Times 2011-10-27
Oregon congressman urges revamp of farm bill, moving billions away from agribusiness and new focus on aid to family farmers, new farmers and production of healthy, local food
The Hill 2011-10-26
Haiti, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe most vulnerable to extreme weather of climate change and lack social, financial ability to cope; areas of north America, northern Europe protected
The Guardian (UK) 2011-10-26
Opinion: House, Senate Ag panel leaders try to write new farm bill in private, with plans to take it to deficit committee to be enacted whole, without votes; farm bill sets food policy for 5 years
San Francisco Chronicle 2011-10-26
Opinion: Children's needs ignored as Senate protects potato farmers who complained over proposed anti-obesity rules limiting high-carb foods for school meals
The Washington Post 2011-10-20
Opinion: Proponents of urban homesteaders' backyard slaughter rights engage in exaggeration, omissions, other techniques similar to those used by industrial agriculture
The Atlantic 2011-10-12
Howard Buffett urges soil-health approach to helping African farmers end hunger, says crop diversity, not biotech seed and monoculture, will ensure families' survival
The Associated Press; The Washington Post 2011-10-12
Labeling genetically modified foods would scare consumers away from buying them, State Department says; virtually any U.S. food containing corn or soy would have to be labeled
The Des Moines Register 2011-10-12
Processed food industry group says draft voluntary guidelines for advertising its items to children would cause loss of 74,000 jobs annually, billions in lost sales
Politco 2011-10-12
Lamb, beef, pork and cheese generate the most greenhouse gases, tend to be high in fat and have worst environmental impacts, lifecycle assessment shows
Environmental Working Group 2011-10-01
High food prices mean feds providing less food to soup kitchens and food pantries even as need grows; USDA program props up prices for otherwise unsubsidized produce
The Des Moines Register 2011-10-08
FDA will support sale of genetically engineered fish for human consumption, source says; environmental groups, some in Congress, oppose farming and sale of such fish
Talking Points Memo 2011-10-10
25 states, House GOPs, industry want delay of mercury, acid-gas emission rules for coal-fired power plants; less air, water pollution will reduce mercury in fish
Reuters 2011-10-10
In mouse study, early exposure to ultrafine particulates of air pollution similar to those in U.S. cities led to accumulation of abdominal fat, insulin resistance with normal diet
Forbes 2011-10-10
As industry, Congress look to delay air pollution rules, research grows on pollution's link to obesity, diabetes; annually, obesity costs U.S. $270 billion; diabetes costs $174 billion
Forbes 2011-10-10
Opinion: As daily exposure to endocrine-disrupting toxins grows, academic scientists, clinicians need a place at regulatory table with EPA, FDA and industry scientists
Scientific American 2011-10-11
Opinion: As Occupy Wall Street draws attention to corporate control of democracy, government, we note lobbyists' role in shaping food/ag issues, even writing legislation
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy 2011-09-30
MyPlate, the federally recommended diet with abundance of fruits, vegetables, grains, doesn't jibe with federal pay to farmers who grow food for animals that become meat
The Washington Post 2011-10-03
Opinion: Self-sufficiency is a lot of work and it requires organization and improvisation, but it's no big deal; you just do it - if you're hungry
The New York Times 2011-10-09
Hunger in U.S. cost $167.5 billion in 2010; figure includes lost productivity, poor education, added healthcare costs and food donations; expanding SNAP would cost less
Bloomberg 2011-10-06
As Alabama immigration law takes effect, farm, construction workers flee; farmer sees only 8 of 48 Hispanic workers she needed for tomato harvest show up
The Associated Press; The Washington Post 2011-10-05
Scrutiny of sugar tariffs, corn subsidies shows reason for ubiquity of high-fructose corn syrup in diet and is example of corruption in Congress, says Lawrence Lessig, in "Republic, Lost"
Rolling Stone 2011-10-05
Coal-fired power plants' pollution costs U.S. $53 billion, more in health damage than those plants contribute to economy; crops and livestock production each cost $15 billion
The Charleston Gazette 2011-10-05
Enrolling overweight, prediabetic adults ages 60-64 in community-based weight-loss programs could save Medicare billions; diabetes costs U.S. $170 billion yearly
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 2011-10-05
Georgia projected to take $391 million hit, shed 3,260 jobs this year because of farm labor shortages; farmers complain about immigration law that scared farm workers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 2011-10-04
Opinion: Despite lure of $1 million gifts, those in Good Food Revolution aren't required to include Wal-mart, other entities whose practices undermine long-term goals
Civil Eats 2011-09-16
EPA proposal to cut mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants unites religious environmentalists, abortion foes; mercury in fish can cause prenatal brain, neurological damage
Time magazine 2011-09-23
Though health concerns from pollution near fracking are longstanding, neither states nor feds have systematically tracked reports or comprehensively probed effects
ProPublica 2011-09-16
Texas drought focuses researchers' warning that planners must incorporate vast water requirements of all energy production - except for that derived from wind
The New York Times 2011-09-18
Agricultural commodities betting fueled unrest in Africa, Mideast; speculation was enabled by market deregulation that also caused '07-'08 mortgage, market collapses
Scientific American 2011-09-22