Archive for the ‘News Feed’ Category
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Judge Bans Genetically Modified Sugar Beets
Federal district court Judge Jeffrey S. White revoked the government’s approval of the planting of genetically modified sugar beets Friday, August 13, in a San Francisco court. The beets, like
“Roundup Ready” soybeans, are genetically engineered to resist Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller. Farmers that plant these varieties can use herbicides to kill weeds without hurting their crops, a process that is quicker than mechanical cultivation. The decision comes in the wake of the ongoing debate and increased concern that Roundup may be producing “super weeds.”Judge White ruled that the Department of Agriculture did not take into account the environmental consequences before approving the beets for commercial planting, reports the New York Times. The ruling stems from a lawsuit brought against the USDA by activist groups including the Center for Food Safety and the Sierra Club.
The affects of the new ruling won’t be seen for at least a year. The Wall Street Journal reports genetically modified beets that are currently planted will be allowed to be harvested, processed and sold as sugar. Genetically modified sugar beet seed will not be allowed to be planted until the USDA repeats its regulatory review process, which will include a mandatory written Environment Impact Statement.
This is the second challenge of Monsanto’s Roundup ready crops, the first being Roundup Ready Alfalfa, which is currently illegal to sell or plant after a Supreme Court decision last spring. The Supreme Court outlined in the ruling that “environmental harm” now may include genetic contamination.
More National News
Aug. 13: The value of farmland in the Central Plains region of the country has increased, despite lower reported farm incomes. Reuters
Aug. 12: Whole Foods and “Renegade Lunch Lady” Chef Ann Cooper are partnering to install nearly 300 salad bars in school cafeterias. Whole Foods Blog
Aug. 12: U.S. farmers are on track to produce the largest corn and soybeans harvest in history. Corn production is estimated at 13.4 billion bushels and soybeans are estimated at 3.43 billion bushels. USDA
Regional News
Aug. 16: Candidates running for Vermont governor lay out their views on environmental issues and policies. Times Argus
Aug. 16: The need for subsidized summer meal programs for low-income children has increased. Vermont Public Radio
Aug. 13: Maple Grove Farms of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, will no longer allow tourists to observe maple syrup production from the factory floor because of terrorism concerns. Associated Press
Aug.12: Vermont energy companies Green Mountain Power and Central Vermont Public Service have made a contract with HQ Energy Services, a subsidiary of Hydro-Quebec, to provide renewable low-emission energy. Market Watch
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Senate Passes Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act
The Senate passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act on Thursday, a bill that will provide $4.5 billion to make school food more nutritious. The New York Times reports the bill was passed unanimously by the Senate and will now move to the House of Representatives, where it is also expected to pass. The current school nutrition legislation will expire on September 30.
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act will continue the existing nutrition programs in schools and add the first non-inflationary increase in funding since 1973.The funding will allow schools to update their menus with healthier choices and set higher health standards that include more fruits and vegetables and less salt and fat. School vending machines will be overhauled to provide nutritious options instead of junk food.
The funding will expand afternoon snack programs into full meal services for needy children and will also provide an increased number of free or reduced-price school lunches.
Michelle Obama has voiced her support for the passage of the bill in conjuction with her Let’s Move campaign, which aims to reduce childhood obesity.
More National News
Aug. 7: Farm Aid announced it will hold its 2010 concert at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel
Aug. 6: Valley Meat Company, based in Modesto, California, has recalled one million pounds of ground beef for possible E. coli contamination. USDA
Aug. 6: Crayola LLC has installed 26,000 solar panels at its headquarters in Easton, Pennsylvania. Associated Press
Aug. 3: Heat in the Northeast has pushed up the apple harvest and may affect apple color. The Packer
July 30: New York Governor David Paterson signed a new law that will prohibit the sale of child care products containing bisphenol A. North Country Gazette
July 26: Despite the recession, sale of organic produce has grown by 12.1% for the year. Supermarket News
Regional News
Aug. 8: Late blight has affected gardens and farms in Vermont. Burlington Free Press
Aug. 7: Frank Perretta, the co-owner of the now defunct Vermont slaughterhouse Bushway Packing Inc., was arrested for animal cruelty charges. Associated Press
Aug. 4: Vermont will receive $116 million to increase broadband access in underserved areas. Vermont Business Magazine
Aug. 4: Vermont conservationist Elizabeth Putnam was honored at the White House with a 2010 Citizens Medal. Vermont Business Magazine
Aug. 2: The oldest family farm in the country is up for sale. The Tuttle Farm in Dover, New Hampshire, has been run by the Tuttle family for 378 years. NPR
July 31: Magic Hat Brewing Company may be sold to North American Breweries of Rochester, New York. North American Breweries owns Labatt USA. Boston Globe
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Chocolate’s Good for You, According to Hershey
If research statistics like “nine out of ten registered dietitians strongly believe that chocolate can be part of a balanced lifestyle” sound too good to be true, they just may well be–check the source.
That figure, and additional studies that cite the benefits of chocolate, are published by the Hershey Center for Health & Nutrition, the affiliated research branch of the Hershey Company that “promotes the chemistry and health benefits of cocoa, chocolate, nuts and other nutritious ingredients,” according to their website. The mix of science and marketing leaves the consumer to be the judge when determining the risks and benefits of eating chocolate.Publishing pro-chocolate stats from a research organization bearing the Hershey name is one thing, but last week, The American Dietetic Association announced that Hershey has joined the ADA, the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, as a corporate sponsor.
The ADA website states they are “committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.” Hershey isn’t the only name on the corporate sponsor list that might raise eyebrows: soda and snack producers Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Mars Inc. are also ADA sponsors.
More National News
July 24: Federal government moves to set strict standards for advertising of foods aimed at young children. New York Times
July 21: Perdue Farms has recalled more than 90,000 pounds of frozen chicken nugget products after consumers found blue plastic bits in the chicken. CBS News
July 21: Burger King is now introducing a kids’ meal option for breakfast. New York Times
July 21: Del Monte Foods Company announced its commitment to lowering sodium in broth products by 20 percent by 2015. Market Watch
July 21: Sodexo, the food services provider to 21 school districts in New York State, will pay $20 million as a settlement for overcharging school districts and the SUNY system for food services. WBFO
July 21: California farm workers are rallying to support a state bill that would require overtime pay. Fresno Bee
Regional News
July 21: Vermont Senators Sanders and Leahy introduced legislation that would allow the Marsh-Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park to acquire Woodstock’s King Farm. Vermont Business Magazine
July 21: The last dairy farm in Rockingham, Vermont, has sold its herd. Rockingham once had as many as 50 dairy farms. Vermont Public Radio
July 20: The Vermont Farm Bureau has broken tradition from the American Farm Bureau and announced their support for legislature geared toward ending milk surplus by enforcing a policy of mandatory supply management. Vermont Public Radio
July 20: The Village Grocery in Warren, Vermont, has created a “Giving Gas Station,” which will donate a penny to the Vermont Food Bank for every gallon of gas pumped. WCAX
July 19: In an attempt to prevent invasive species from entering Lake Bomoseen, boats will be screened when entering lake access points. Times Argus
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Hospitals Look to Sustainable Meats
Approximately 300 hospitals across the country have pledged to improve the quality of food served in their institutions by incorporating healthy, sustainable foods into their patients’ diets, reports the Chicago Tribune.
Fearing drug-resistant pathogens, medical professionals have started advocating for the use of antibiotic-free meats in hospitals. Antibiotics that are used to treat people, like penicillin and tetracycline, are also given to healthy animals to speed their growth and to compensate for tightly packed living conditions, which can increase the spread of disease.Because increased exposure to antibiotics can lessen their effectiveness against disease, some hospitals, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, are choosing instead to purchase antibiotic-free meat.
The Chicago Tribune reports, “Administrators say they hope increased demand for those products will reduce the use of antibiotics to treat cattle and other animals, which scientists believe helps pathogens become more resistant to drugs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that antibiotic-resistant infections kill 60,000 Americans a year.”
More National News
July 17: Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality, a food supplier for hundreds of elementary and high schools in Chicago has partnered with Family Farmed to increase its local food suppliers. News-Gazette
July 16: A Price Chopper store in Warwick, New York, has been awarded the Silver-Level Certification award from the EPA’s GreenChill Partnership for reducing the use of refrigerants. Supermarket News
July 13: The CDC reports nearly one in 25 outbreaks of foodborne illness in restaurants can be traced to fresh salsa or guacamole. CDC
July 12: The new “Traceability for Meat and Poultry: U.S. Implementation Guide” will help businesses identify the source and cause for recalled meat more efficiently. Supermarket News
Regional News
July 18: The Landscape Auction for Vermont’s Working Landscape will take place on August 14 to raise funds for conservation of the state’s natural resources. Burlington Free Press
July 16: Green Mountain Power will install 770 solar panels at Shelburne Farms, which will be designated as the “Solar Orchard.” Vermont Business Magazine
July 15: Revelation to Action Competition winners include: Vermont Feed, Yestermorrow Design/Build School’s Semester in Sustainable Design/Build, and Jr. Iron Chef, Vermont. Market Watch
July 13: Vermont dairy farmers voice their support of legislation announced by Vermont Senators Leahy and Sanders that will attempt to stabilize milk prices. Burlington Free Press
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Food News: Egg Laws, Food Safety Bill & Fracking
Only Free-Range Eggs in California.
A new law says egg producers located outside California that want to sell their eggs in-state must meet the same humane requirements for their chickens as
California egg producers. The law says that hens must have enough living space to be considered “cage-free.” The cage-free ruling will most likely increase the price of California eggs for the consumer because the farmer’s overhead costs will be more expensive. However, the upside is that humanely raised chickens can improve food safety because hens living in stressful conditions have reduced immunity to illness, and their eggs can put the consumer at risk. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the new egg law last week and it will take effect in 2015.The FDA also upped national egg safety regulations, reports the Associated Press. The new laws require some egg producers to increase testing for salmonella. Large-scale producers will also be required to keep eggs constantly refrigerated during transport and storage. These changes were announced by the Obama administration last year and went into effect on July 9th.
New Food Safety Law Could be Stalled by BPA Amendment
Food safety groups are running newspaper ads to push the Senate to approve the new food safety bill that was passed a year ago by the House of Representatives. President Obama announced his support for the bill last Wednesday, reports the Washington Post.
California Senator Diane Feinstein has been leading efforts to include an amendment to the food safety bill that would include a ban on bisphenol A, a chemical widely used in food packaging that studies claim has been linked to health complications, including the early onset of puberty in girls.
If the amendment is added to the food safety bill, getting the bill passed could be much harder. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “thirty major chemical and food manufacturing industry groups have banded together to defeat Feinstein’s efforts,” in an attempt to block the FDA from gaining more regulatory power over their products.
Fracking Affects Cattle in PA
In Pennsylvania, the effects of fracking have led to a quarantine of 28 beef cattle. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a drilling technique that injects massive quantities of water, sand and chemicals at a high pressure into a horizontal well as far as 10,000 feet below the ground. The pressurized mixture causes the rock layer to crack and release natural gas.
The byproducts of the controversial process include groundwater pollution and chemical spills. On the Pennsylvania farm where the quarantine occurred, wastewater from a gas well leaked onto the farm’s fields and came into contact with the animals, reports ProPublica. The cattle were quarantined and will not be processed.
Regional News
July 12: The University of Vermont and other agriculture colleges are selling cows to cut costs. Associated Press
July 11: The 16th annual SolarFest will take place next weekend in Tinmouth, Vermont. Times Argus
July 9: Vermont trees and crops have survived the latest summer heat wave. Burlington Free Press
July 8: Fish near Brattleboro have tested positive for Sr-90, though the Health Department decided it is unlikely that the chemicals in the fish are a result of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant leak. Vermont Business Magazine
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NOAA & FDA Discuss Fishing In Wake of Oil Spill
In the wake of the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and officials from the FDA met in New Orleans with gulf coast state officials to coordinate a protocol for sampling and reopening waters that have been contaminated by the massive spill. Also present at the meeting were representatives from the National Marine Fisheries Service and the EPA.
A fishing boat cuts through oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico.
The goal for last week’s meeting was to establish a multi-agency program to ensure that any seafood coming from the Gulf of Mexico and certified for sale would be safe to eat. These measures are being taken to protect the consumer and to ensure that fishermen will be able to sell their products with confidence.
Eric Schwaab, the assistant administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service stated: “No single agency could adequately ensure the safety of seafood coming from the Gulf following this tragedy, but in working together, we can be sure that tainted waters are closed as appropriate, contaminated seafood is not allowed to make it to market, and that closed waters can be reopened to fishing as soon as is safe.”
The protocol agreed upon will be used by state authorities in Louisiana and by officials of the NOAA to determine the possible reopening of more areas of marine waters in Louisiana and Florida.
The agencies are currently testing fish caught outside closed areas for petroleum compounds to ensure that the closed areas are large enough to prevent contaminated fish from being harvested. The FDA reports, “so far, fish flesh tested from outside the closure areas have tested well below any level of concern for oil-based contamination.”
Commercial fishermen have lost huge amounts of income due to the closing of some fishing grounds and oyster beds since the spill on April 20. Fishermen have also made their case that their businesses are suffering because many Americans already consider Gulf seafood to be contaminated and have stopped buying it, despite the results of the safety tests.
More National News
July 5: 66,000 pounds of bison products from Rocky Mountain Natural Meats have been recalled for potential E. coli contamination. Food Safety News
July 2: The House of Representatives held its first hearing on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill. If passed, the bill would provide $8 million to set standards to improve the food sold in schools. Food Safety News
June 30: The National Research Council published a report that endorses the sustainable food movement. San Francisco Chronicle
June 29: The FDA released a policy document that states giving animals antibiotics like penicillin and tetracycline should be limited. New York Times
June 29: The CDC and the FDA continue to investigate and track infections in multiple states tied to the consumption of raw alfalfa sprouts. CDC
Regional News
July 5: Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, Vermont, expanded to offer year-round courses, greatly benefitting the school’s extensive agriculture program, since classes will now also take place during the growing season. Burlington Free Press
July 3: The Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery’s Bijou took home a 2010 sofi Gold award at the Fancy Food Show in New York City in the perishable foodservice product category. WCAX
July 3: Raw milk sales in Vermont have helped sustainable dairy farmers in a tough economy. Just Means
July 2: Vermont will receive $47 million to revamp broadband access across the state. Vermont Business Magazine
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“Take Our Jobs” Highlights Immigration Issues for Ag Workers
Farm workers tired of being blamed for taking American jobs have countered with the tongue-in-cheek campaign titled “Take our Jobs.” Organized by the United Farm Workers of America, the campaign calls the bluff of the many Americans who claim undocumented workers and immigrants are taking American jobs by asserting that most unemployed American citizens find farm work too labor intensive for the compensation received.
The Associated Press reports three out of four farm workers were born abroad and more than half are illegal immigrants. The “Take our Jobs” initiative “spotlights the immigrant labor issue and underscores the need for reforms without which the domestic agricultural industry could be crippled, leading to more jobs moving off shore.”Arturo Rodriguez, the president of the United Farm Workers, asserts in the Associated Press piece, “The reality is farm workers who are here today aren’t taking any American jobs away. They work in often unbearable situations. I don’t think there will be many takers, but the offer is being made. Let’s see what happens.”
The United Farm Workers state on their website that they are “ready to welcome citizens and legal residents who wish to replace immigrants in the fields.” The “Take our Jobs” website includes an online form applicants can fill out to be connected to a farm job and training.
The “Take our Jobs” initiative has received attention from comedy news pundit Stephen Colbert, who will feature the campaign on his Comedy Central show The Colbert Report on July 8, in an effort to highlight the unlikely possibility of Americans suffering through the hard conditions of farm work.
The “Take our Jobs” initiative is a call for legal reform for immigrant agricultural workers. The United Farm Workers are in support of the AgJobs bill, which, if passed, would allow agriculture workers in the U.S. to get legal status if they have worked for at least 150 days in two years.
Vermont’s Senator Patrick Leahy is another major supporter of the AgJobs Bill. In Vermont, immigrant farm workers are a huge part of the dairy industry, and total an estimated number of 1,500. The struggling dairy farmers of Vermont rely on immigrants to do the jobs that otherwise have gone unfilled.
Leahy supports the AgJobs bill because it would protect farm workers from unsafe work conditions and allow them to have fair pay. The senator has argued that dairy farmers would benefit from the AgJobs bill because they would no longer be at risk of arrest for hiring illegal immigrants and they no longer have to fear their workforce being deported, reports the Times Argus.
A new film titled “Silenced Voices” that shows the hardships of migrant workers in Vermont will premier in Burlington on July 1st.
More National News
June 28: Wisconsin food safety laws have changed to allow homemade goods made in unlicensed facilities to be sold if the producer makes less than $5,000 per year in food sales. Associated Press
June 25: Kellogg cereals including Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Froot Loops, and Honey Smacks have been recalled. Supermarket News
June 24: Celebrities including Sarah Silverman, Scarlett Johansson, and Woody Harrelson have spoken out about improving school lunch programs by passing the Healthy School Meals Act of 2010. Boston Herald
June 21: A salmonella outbreak is being investigated at Subway restaurants in Illinois after nearly 100 people have been confirmed ill after eating at the restaurant chain. Reuters
Regional News
June 28: Green Mountain Beverage, the owners of Woodchuck Hard Cider, will use Cow Power to supply a quarter of the company’s electricity needs. Times Argus
June 28: Vermont officials have warned restaurant owners of a scam involving con men posing as food inspectors. WCAX
June 26: Vermont Agriculture Secretary Roger Albee said the price of milk has gone up a little in the past few months, easing the economic burden on Vermont’s dairy farmers. WCAX
June 24: Hunger Mountain Coop is considering adding a second store location in Waterbury, Vermont. Vermont Business Magazine
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Cartoons on Snacks Appeal to Children
A new study published by Pediatrics concluded that children would rather eat snacks that are packaged with images of familiar cartoon characters, like Dora the Explorer and Shrek.
The study is noteworthy in a time where childhood obesity has become an epidemic; one in three children is overweight. Advocates for childhood nutrition often criticize food companies for adding to the problem of childhood obesity by marketing fattening snack foods and desserts to appeal to children.The study was done by Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. The researchers polled 40 children ages 4 to 8 years old. Two-thirds of the children chose the snack with the cartoon character on the package over the snack with plain packaging, even though the contents were identical. Half of the children determined the snack with the cartoon character also tasted better.
Time reports that food companies spend more than $1.6 billion in advertising directed at children per year, and 13% of that budget is spent on licensing familiar characters and cross-promotions.
USDA Proposes New Laws to Protect Small Farmers
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced Friday the proposal of several new regulations that would add significant protection for small-scale farmers and increase fairness in the livestock and poultry market.
Vilsack announced in a written statement, “Concerns about a lack of fairness and commonsense treatment for livestock and poultry producers have gone unaddressed far too long. This proposed rule will help ensure a level playing field for producers by providing additional protections against unfair practices and addressing new market conditions not covered by existing rules.”
The changes reflect the hardships that small poultry growers and livestock producers have been burdened with when fulfilling contracts with large companies, which often require a lot of investment capital and little job security for the small producer. The new proposal speaks to this issue and includes a provision to “Establish new protections for producers required to provide expensive capital upgrades to their growing facilities, including protections to ensure producers have the opportunity to recoup 80 percent of the cost of a required capital investment.”
Additional proposals include standards on base pay, advanced notice of contract suspension and limits to exclusive arrangements between packers and dealers to create competition. For more information on the new proposals, see the USDA website.
More National News
June 21: Roundup-resistant weeds have sprouted, causing farmers to use herbicides that contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Associated Press
June 21: Food and drug recall data will be released and published online by the FDA. Wall Street Journal
June 19: The Obama administration is cracking down on laws that prevent child labor on farms. New York Times
Regional News
June 21: The Stowe Wine and Food Classic raised $20,000 for Copley Hospital in Morrisville, Vermont. Burlington Free Press
June 21: A proposal has been entered to build a new distillery that will produce specialty liquors in Marlboro, Vermont. Brattleboro Reformer
June 21: An old mill in Bennington, Vermont, will be resuscitated to source hydroelectric power. Vermont Public Radio
June 18: Vermont dairy farmers are advocating for legislation overhauls to improve milk prices. Vermont Public Radio
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Organic Food Inspection Group Banned By USDA
Foreign products that receive the USDA organic label can be found in supermarkets and natural food stores across the nation. To ensure products meet USDA organic standards, the U.S. government hires third party, independent inspectors.
The USDA announced on Monday that it will ban the Organic Crop Improvement Association from operating in China because of conflicts of interest and concerns on food safety. The non-profit group has been a leading inspector of organic food for U.S. markets in China.The Wall Street Journal reports that the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) “improperly used Chinese government employees to inspect Chinese farms that use state-owned land to grow crops for export to the U.S. bearing the USDA’s organic seal.”
In addition to the ban of OCIA, the USDA plans to send an audit team to China this year to broadly review the certification process, reports the New York Times.
OCIA is a non-profit based in Lincoln, Nebraska, that was founded by farmers in the 1980s. On its website, the group describes itself as “one of the world’s oldest, largest and most trusted leaders in the organic certification industry. A nonprofit, member-owned, agricultural organization, OCIA is dedicated to providing the highest quality organic certification services and access to global organic markets.”
The Wall Street Journal reports the USDA has been trying to take away OCIA’s authorization since 2007, when it was discovered that Chinese government employees had been working as farm inspectors, but the OCIA appealed the ruling.
OCIA began shutting down its operations in China in March, due to financial difficulties and regulatory pressure, says the New York Times. The group signed a settlement agreement with the USDA on May 28 that bans its operation in China for one year. The company can reapply for accreditation after the one-year ban is up and can continue inspecting organic food in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Organic products from China are sold in supermarkets nationwide, including at organic retail leader Whole Foods. Whole Foods stopped stocking products inspected by OCIA last year. The grocery store has decreased its Chinese organic offerings in the past two years, going from selling 30 products made with Chinese organics to selling only 2, shelled and unshelled frozen edamame, by the end of this year. The shift away from Chinese products has come from customer complaints and better prices from other sources.
More National News
June 14: The “Go Local Chicago” initiative works to distribute locally produced food and beverages in corporate offices. Chicago Tribune
June 13: Wisconsin dairy farmers who want to legally sell raw milk will make their case in court on June 15. Chicago Tribune
June 12: Revolutionary British food critic Egon Ronay died at age 94. Associated Press
June 12: Despite an increase in milk prices, dairy farmers in New York state are still in financial trouble. Associated Press
Regional News
June 14: If approved, Williamstown, Vermont will boast the state’s largest solar farm. Times Argus
June 14: Woodchuck Cider donated 8,432 trees to plant as a part of the Global ReLeaf campaign. Burlington Free Press
June 14: NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, the housing non-profit, was awarded a $4.5 million grant for innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Vermont Business Magazine
June 11: Maple syrup production in Vermont has dropped 3 percent this year, but nationwide production of maple syrup has dropped by 19 percent. Associated Press
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Vilsack Works to Boost Rural Economies
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack spoke on the continuing need for an economic rehabilitation of the nation’s rural communities at last week’s National Summit of Rural America held in Hillsboro, Missouri.
At the summit, Vilsack announced $22.5 million in USDA funding for small farmers through the Value-Added Agricultural Producer Grant program, which was added in the 2008 Farm Bill.Said Vilsack, “This new program will help provide access to capital, business-based training and technical assistance to the smallest of small businesses. We need to embrace new strategies to help create a thriving rural economy.”
The grants can be used for enhancing business plans, executing feasibility studies, marketing value-added agricultural products and investing in farm-based renewable energy products. According to Vilsack, the grants will “improve financial returns and help create jobs for agricultural producers, businesses and families across the nation. USDA is investing in farmers, ranchers and cooperatives to strengthen the economic foundation of rural America.”
Independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives and agricultural producer groups are eligible for grants.
Vilsack posted an op-ed piece on the Huffington Post to further detail his goals to strengthen rural communities, explaining that developing new markets abroad, investing in rural broadband access and creating green jobs are key elements to making rural communities profitable and sustainable. He also encouraged the restoration and conservation of natural resources.
Despite Vilsack’s announcement of additional funding for small farmers to improve their business models and expand marketing efforts, the USDA is still under fire from critics who cite injustice in agriculture antitrust laws.
Eric Holt Gimenez, Executive Director of Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy, responded to Vilsack’s recent announcements on the Huffington Post that the USDA’s efforts to revolutionize rural economies was lacking. Gimenez argued that the Agriculture Secretary should have included in his plan an overhaul of agriculture antitrust laws to restore competition to the industry, which, Gimenez argues, is currently controlled by several large conglomerates.
In Vermont, Champlain Orchards, Screamin’ Ridge Farm, Artesano and Cellars Carbon Labeling Co., Inc. recently received Value-Added Producer Grants. For a national list of recipients, see the USDA website.
More National News
June 7: Large food companies are improving their recipes to preemptively comply with health regulations from the Obama administration. Business Week
June 7: Chipotle serves more naturally raised meat than any other national chain. 85% of Chipotle’s beef is naturally raised. Market Watch
June 5: More than 500 chefs gathered at the White House to support Michelle Obama’s “Chefs Move to School” program to work to end childhood obesity. Let’s Move
May 25: The USDA released a study that reveals where local meat processing facilities are needed most. USDA
Regional News
June 6: The Slow Money National Gathering will be held June 9-11 at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vermont. Burlington Free Press
June 6: Senator Patrick Leahy spoke on the difficult issue of immigration reform for immigrant Vermont dairy workers. Times Argus
June 4: Senator Bernie Sanders announced $120,000 has been awarded to schools throughout Vermont to establish community gardens. Bernie Sanders
June 4: The federal government decided to close the small U.S.-Canada border station at Morses Line rather than close the Rainville family dairy farm. Associated Press
June 4: The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation is awarding $531,119 in grants to reconstruct and expand hiking trails throughout the state. Vermont Business Magazine
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