What's in Season this May...

Produce: Blackberries, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Cauliflower, Chinese Cabbage, Collard Greens, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Grapefruit, Green Beans, Green Onions, Green Peppers, Hot Peppers, Kale, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Onions (bulb), Oranges, Pole Beans, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Snow and Sugar Snap Peas, Southern Peas, Strawberries, Swiss Chard, Tangerines, Tomatoes, Turnip Greens, Turnips, Watermelon, Winter Squash, Yellow Squash, and Zucchini.

Herbs: Arugula, Basil, Burnet, Chives, Cilantro, Culantro, Celery Leaf, Dill, Fennel, Garlic, Lovage, Lemongrass, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Marjoram, Mints, Nasturtiums, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Winter Savory, Tarragon, Thyme

Newest GMO Study Results...

Longest-Running GMO Safety Study Finds Tumors in Rats

Are GMOs dangerous? A new study shows that Monsanto’s genetically modified corn and Roundup herbicide cause negative health effects in rats, and is raising questions about the safety of GMOs.

via By Tom Philpott, Mother Earth News-April/May 2013

More than two decades ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted GMOs “generally regarded as safe” status, meaning the industry had no obligation to conduct long-term safety studies. And while GMOs don’t have what scientists call “acute” effects, what about “chronic” effects — those that come on gradually and can’t easily be tied to one cause? The French study — the most comprehensive GMO safety assessment ever conducted — highlights that concern. It involved 200 rats and spanned two years, the life expectancy of the species of rat used. Previously, the longest study had lasted 240 days, says Michael Hansen, senior scientist at Consumers Union and an expert on GMO research. Industry-funded studies typically last just 90 days.

USDA Grant Panelist

img-usdaLogo This has been a busy week here in Washington DC. I was flown up here as a Grant Review Panelist for USDA and NIFA's Community Food Project grant program. What a great learning experience to be involved in and responsible for deciding which projects will be ranked high enough to be considered for grants.

I was with 12 wonderful folks from across the country with a wide range of culture and backgrounds to form this year's panel. Prior to arriving we all spent 6 weeks reading and evaluating proposals at our homes, then submitting our evaluations to the NIFA project Director. Once submitted we were all provided transportation to Washington, DC where for three days diligently discussed, evaluated and ranked all the proposals before us. They were long days but filled with good conversation and discussion and it really felt good to all of us to have been asked to play this important role in deciding the priority ranking of over 85 grant proposals.

The review panel consisted of a great cross section of academia, food security coordinators and administrators. I and another colleague were the two 'grassroots' panelists who were actual growers as well as having been involved in community food projects in our states. Naturally he and I became friends and formed a nice relationship. All the panelists were passionate about food security and it felt great to be apart of this group.

I will look forward to offering advice to those who are writing grants, as I now have first hand knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes in evaluating them, understanding the strengths and determining the weaknesses and how each grant could be strengthened. Good knowledge to have!

Published on 25 April 2013

Trader Joe's - Fair Food

Trader Joe's and The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Sign Fair Food Agreement

February 9, 2012

To Our Valued Customers:

Trader Joe's and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) announced today that they have signed an agreement that formalizes the ways in which Trader Joe's will work with the CIW and Florida tomato growers to support the CIW's Fair Food Program.

The Fair Food Program is a groundbreaking approach to social responsibility in the US produce industry that combines the Fair Food Code of Conduct – a set of labor standards developed in a unique collaboration among farmworkers, tomato growers, and the food industry leaders who purchase Florida tomatoes – with a small price premium to help improve harvesters' wages. The goal of the Fair Food Program is to promote the development of a sustainable Florida tomato industry that advances both the human rights of farmworkers and the long-term interests of Florida tomato growers.