| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 |  |
| San Diego Going Local and Organic | 0 comments |
| 25 May 2005 @ 17:57 San Diego Going Local and Organic http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/louv/20050524-9999-lz1e24louv.html Making San Diego an 'edible' city UNION-TRIBUNE May 24, 2005 Nancy Hughes envisions San Diego as America's first "edible city." Those of us with no palate for stucco may find that hard to swallow. But there it is, the incredible edible city. Under Mayor Dick Murphy, Hughes is chairwoman of San Diego's Community Forest Advisory Board. As winds shift at City Hall, her attention has turned toward her budding nonprofit group, San Diego Urban Farms. Its goals are to set aside tracts of land inside city limits for organic urban farming and to create a regional agriculture policy that would emphasize locally grown food for local consumption. Such a policy, she believes, would save energy, create jobs and produce more healthful, better-tasting food. The average foodstuff, she argues, now travels over 1,500 miles from farm to table. "Why are San Diegans eating tomatoes from Florida when we are blessed with a year-round growing season?" she asks. Good question. Still, Hughes' dream of an edible city sounds a lot like the marginalized community gardens movement of decades past until you consider the booming organic food industry and add another ingredient: the percolating Slow Food movement. This movement was launched in 1986 by Carlo Petrini, an Italian who took one look at a new McDonald's restaurant being built at St. Peter's Square in Rome and decided the way to fight fast food was with better taste. He created the first Slow Food campaign in northern Italy, to protect "the pleasures of the table from the homogenization of modern fast food and life." Since then, Slow Food conviviums (from the Latin word for feast or entertainment) have sprouted around the world. The organization now boasts 83,000 members worldwide (nearly 5,000 in California). These folks do more than pay dues. Last year, Slow Food held a gathering in Europe that attracted 4,888 farmers from 128 nations. Scott A. Murray of Vista was a U.S. delegate to that gathering. Murray, who owns a small, highly specialized organic farm (producing 26 types of lettuce in the winter, along with a variety of herbs) helps lead Slow Food San Diego, with 320 members. "The Slow Food movement is made up of people dedicated to reawaking the enjoyment of food, buying higher quality, fresher food closer to home instead of trucked across the country, slowing down the preparation of our meals and enjoying our food more," he says. San Diego may well be primed to take advantage of the growing hunger for authentic, locally grown food. This may come as a surprise to those of us who hang out in the frozen food department, but our county is the nation's seventh most agricultural county, if measured by the number of its farms many of which are just a few acres. "In this county, we export 95 percent of the food we produce in the county, and we import 95 percent of what we consume," Marray says. "That doesn't make sense." But something's happening out there. In the two decades that Murray has been involved in local agriculture, the number of farmers markets (where people can buy fresh, locally grown produce) in the county has grown from a single market to 28. Immigration is one reason for example, Vietnamese farmers growing specialty foods for Vietnamese communities. But the main stimulant is the hunger for slow pleasure in a too-fast world. "People are rediscovering the pleasure of eating a peach ripened on the tree instead of one that was shipped hard," says Murray. Increasingly, he focuses on education. For example, Slow Food San Diego is currently raising money to help bring organic farming and agriculture education to Escondido's 240-acre San Pasqual Academy, a residential education campus for foster teens. Meanwhile, back at the edible city, the potential for the growth of urban agriculture may be greater than it seems. A report by Rutgers University and members of the Community Food Security Coalition's North American Initiative on Urban Agriculture charts the national trend: Across the country, "significant amounts of food" are cultivated by entrepreneurial producers, community gardeners, backyard gardeners, food banks in vacant lots, parks, greenhouses, roof tops, balconies, window sills, ponds, rivers and estuaries. A third of the 2 million farms in the United States alone are located within metropolitan areas and produce 35 percent of U.S. vegetables, fruit, livestock, poultry, and fish. "The potential to expand urban production is enormous," according to the report. Add one more ingredient: growing concern about community food security: "Times of war and conflict render tenuous our dependence on distant food sources, especially in this post-9/11 world," according to the report. But enough with fear already. Pleasure's more the point that and a connected community. That's how Murray and Hughes see the issue. Now all we need is a Slow City movemen |
| Seven Reasons Why Kids Should Drink Organic Milk | 0 comments |
| 25 May 2005 @ 17:44 Seven Reasons Why Kids Should Drink Organic Milk From: SOURCE Organic Valley Family of Farms Web Site: http://www.organicvalley.com http://www.drgreene.com In Recognition of June Dairy Month LA FARGE, Wis., May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Organic milk, produced without synthetic chemicals, hormones or antibiotics, is the best choice for kids And families, according to Dr. Alan Greene, one of the nation's leading pediatricians. Sought after for the wealth of information he gives parents At DrGreene.com, Greene is a pediatrician at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University clinical assistant professor of pediatrics, father of four and author of McGraw-Hill's "From First Kicks to First Steps." In recognition of June Dairy Month, Dr. Greene is offering the following seven reasons why families who drink milk should choose organic: 1. Produced without antibiotics. "Antibiotic overuse is a major public health problem. One of the main places where antibiotics are used today is in agriculture. Organic milk comes from organic cows that have not been treated with antibiotics, so it doesn't contribute to the growing problem of bacterial resistance." 2. Produced without synthetic hormones. "Hormones are powerful. Even trace amounts can cause dramatic changes in living beings. When you choose organic milk, you know that added synthetic hormones are not stimulating the cows' milk production." 3. Produced without harmful pesticides. "Agricultural pesticides are now widespread. They can even be measured in raindrops falling from the sky, fog rolling over the hills, 'fresh' snow, and in water we drink. Organic agriculture reduces pesticide exposure because it comes from organic cows that are fed food grown without chemical pesticides." 4. High in Conjugated Linoleic Acids (CLAs). "CLAs are important 'good fats' that have been linked to decreased heart disease and diabetes. In fact, in the May 9 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health reported low-fat dairy products, including milk, might lower the risk of type 2 diabetes in men. "Milk made from cows who pasture has higher CLA content. Since many organic farmers rely upon pasturing and give their cows fresh green grass whenever weather permits, organic milk often has a high CLA content." 5. Excellent source of calcium. "Most of America's school children are failing to get the calcium they need each day for their growing bodies. Kids 4-8 years old need 800 mg per day. Kids 9-18 need 1,300 mg of calcium per day. Organic milk contains about 300 mg per eight-ounce glass and is one great way to help kids get the calcium they need. Organically flavored milks, such as chocolate and strawberry, are popular options for kids, too" 6. Organic milk is wholesome. "Organic milk is a natural, whole food beverage - unlike most beverages promoted for kids that are packed full of artificial chemical ingredients. Many of them contain high fructose corn syrup, aspartame and/or artificial chemical dyes." 7. It's the right thing to do. "Unlike factory cows, organic cows must have access to open air. Organic cows from some dairy farms are allowed to graze freely in organic pasture when it is in season. This kind of farming is kind to animals, supportive of wildlife, healthy for rural communities, respectful of our air, water and soil, and healthy for children." "Parents need to practice the precautionary principle when it comes to the foods they feed their families," advised Greene. "This is especially true when it comes to eating higher on the food chain where pesticides and other toxins are stored in fatty tissue. By choosing organic milk, butter, and cheese, however, families can avoid this exposure." About Alan Greene, M.D. Dr. Alan Greene, a practicing pediatrician, father of four, and spokesperson for Organic Valley Family of Farms, has devoted himself to freely giving real answers to parents' real questions. His answers combine cutting edge science and practical wisdom with warm empathy and a deep respect for parents, children and the environment. Dr. Greene's Web site, [link] , was selected in July 2004 by the Wall Street Journal as one of the best health sites. He is also the Pediatric Expert for Yahoo! and for ParentsAction.org. Dr. Greene teaches at the Stanford University School of Medicine, and is an attending pediatrician at Stanford's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. He is a senior fellow at the University of California San Francisco's Center for the Health Profession and is a board member of the Organic Center for Education and Promotion. On June 18, 2005 Greene will hold "The First Kicks Celebration," a one-day event in Woodside, Calif. for moms and dads to-be, which is sponsored by Organic Valley. For more information, visit [link] . To register, email FirstKicksCelebration@DrGreene.com or call (925) 964-1793. Organic Valley: Independent and Farmer-Owned Organic Valley is one of America's leading national organic brands and is the largest independent and farmer-owned organic dairy cooperative in the United States. Organized in 1988, the cooperative represents nearly 700 farmers in 20 states. It owes its success to staying independent and true to its mission: keeping small and mid-sized farmers farming. As stewards of the earth who use nature as their teacher, Organic Valley farmers produce more than 130 delicious organic products. Look for their organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce, juice and meats in food cooperatives, natural foods stores and supermarkets throughout the country. For further information, contact Organic Valley at 1-888-444-MILK or visit [link] . |
| Organic News TidBits | 0 comments |
 25 May 2005 @ 17:42EXPLOSIVE MONSANTO DOCUMENTS REVEAL SERIOUS HAZARDS OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CORN A May 22 headline news story in the London Independent has rocked Monsanto and the biotech industry and fueled the controversy over the safety of genetically engineered food. The story reveals that internal Monsanto documents, reviewed by EU scientists, show serious health damage to laboratory animals fed Monsanto's new genetically engineered "rootworm-resistant" corn. Rats who consumed the mutant corn developed smaller kidneys and exhibited blood abnormalities. Scientists say these are "red flags" for immune system damage and/or cancer tumor promotion. Although the EU will now undoubtedly ban Monsanto's new GMO corn, this same rootworm-resistant corn is already being grown and consumed on a major scale in the United States. Monsanto has denied that the corn can harm humans, but nonetheless refuses to turn over its data to the media, claiming that the lab studies are "Confidential Business Information." Learn more and take action: http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.htm __________________________________ CALIFORNIA MAN'S DEATH MAY BE LINKED TO MAD COW DISEASE The USDA has recently been accused of been covering up cases of mad cow disease for over a decade. Now a deceased California man's family and doctor have announced they believe Patrick Hicks, aged 49, died late last year from variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease, or vCJD. The fatal disease is contracted from eating beef contaminated with the mad cow disease. Dr. Ron Bailey, a neurologist at Riverside Medical Center, believes this will be the first documented case of vCJD in the U.S., and in order to bypass the hand of the USDA, is sending brain samples overseas for testing to an independent laboratory. Over 150 Europeans have already died from vCJD, with thousands more believed to be incubating the disease. http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/CAman051605.cfm __________________________________ EUROPE DEBATES THE MOST MASSIVE CHEMICAL BAN IN HISTORY The European Parliament is set to debate new regulations that would dramatically increase the number of banned chemicals in the EU. The law would require manufacturers of some 30,000 currently legal chemicals to provide scientific evidence that their products are safe for human health and the environment. If the legislation passes, it would have a major impact on thousands of chemicals and products manufactured and sold in the U.S. Despite much weaker regulations in the U.S. many American companies have no choice but to adhere to European regulations given that the EU, with 25 countries and 460 million people, represents an even larger market than the U.S. http://www.organicconsumers.org/Politics/strict051805.cfm __________________________________ AVIAN INFLUENZA DEEMED MOST SERIOUS GLOBAL HEALTH THREAT World Health Organization Director, General Lee Jong-Wook opened the 58th World Health Assembly last week by saying avian influenza is the most serious health threat facing the world. "The timing cannot be predicted, but rapid international spread is certain once the pandemic virus appears," Lee said. "This is a grave danger for all people in all countries." Lee strongly advised leaders of every nation to implement, as a top priority, systems for responding to the onset of the virus. http://www.organicconsumers.org/Politics/avian051805.cfm __________________________________ CORPORATE DOLLAR OVERPOWERS SCIENCE...AGAIN The American Diabetic Association (ADA) is suddenly countering decades of scientific studies that have consistently linked diets high in sugar to diabetes. In a May 16 interview, Richard Kahn, the chief scientific and medical officer with the ADA said "What is the evidence that sugar itself has anything to do with diabetes? There is no evidence." Coincidentally, last month, the ADA announced a "three-year, multi-million dollar alliance" with Cadbury Schweppes, which is the third largest producer of soft drinks in the world. http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/diabetes051705.cfm __________________________________ BILL SAYS SODA POP IN SCHOOLS IS GOOD The Oregon Senate Education Committee has rewritten a law that would have banned soft drinks from vending machines in the state's schools. In a complete turnabout, the new law actually gives the green light to sugary beverages in schools. Lawmakers instrumental in the rewrite process claim the change of heart has nothing to do with the fact that the Oregon Soft Drink Association, a powerful industry lobby group opposed to banning junk foods in schools, contributed $91,000 to their election campaigns in 2004. http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/coke050905.cfm __________________________________ REMOTE CONTROL HUNTING Texas entrepreneur John Lockwood, whose new internet business advertises a "real time on-line hunting and shooting experience," has spurred emergency proposed legislation in 14 states. Lockwood's website charges a monthly fee to subscribers who can then sit at their computers, anywhere in the world, watch live web cameras situated on Lockwood's game farm, and remotely shoot guns at real-life animals with the click of a mouse. Animal rights groups, the National Rifle Association and legislators across the U.S. are teaming up to pass laws that would ban such activity, referencing dangers of the spread of remotely fired guns, while Lockwood argues that this is a more ethical way of harvesting food than buying factory farm meats from the slaughterhouse. http://www.organicconsumers.org/corp/hunt.cfm __________________________________ NEW "MONSANTO LAWS" AIM TO MUTE COMMUNITY RIGHTS Responding to the growing number of localities whose citizens are voting to regulate or even ban genetically engineered crops, the biotech industry, led by Monsanto and Syngenta, has brought new legislation to ten states in the U.S. that would remove the rights of communities to have any control of agricultural regulations in their area. On one side of the issue, citizens and farmers in counties that have banned GE crops, like Mendocino, Calif., say they have a right to protect their predominantly organic county from contamination by GE pollen from neighboring crops. On the other side of the issue, the biotech industry is investing tens of millions of dollars to remove these local rights, saying anti-GE citizens and farmers "lack the education to make these kinds of decisions." http://www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/laws052005.cfm |