The safest food supply on earth? Survey says...

A recent consumer survey tells us what we already suspected. Repeated foodborne illness outbreaks are taking a toll on public confidence in the U.S. food supply. this link was passed along by Doug Powell of the Food Safety Network: We know the problem, but what is the solution?

Consumer confidence in food safety drops MNdaily.com

Only 22.5 percent of consumers surveyed at the beginning of February said they felt the country's food supply was safer today than a year ago, a drop of more than 20 percent since the salmonella outbreak, which first entered the national spotlight in January and has killed nine and sickened more than 500 .Researchers at the center have been using their survey since May 2008. It differs from others because it measures consumer confidence in food on a weekly basis rather than measuring a few times a year like other surveys, Jean Kinsey , co-director at the center, said.

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"One day you're doing good business and the next day you're out of business without doing anything wrong," Degeneffe said.Researchers are also using the survey to better understand how media coverage of food safety events affects consumer confidence.

Meeting covers local produce, fertilizer  issues Coverage from The Packer

Over the course of the meeting, USDA also discussed the role of the National Organic Program and commented on progress toward a U.S.-Canadian equivalency agreement and an investigation of Bakersville, Calif.-based Port Organic Products, Inc. "Stop using this stuff. Do not use it," said Barbara Robinson, acting director, of the USDA organic program, referring to Port Organic's apparent use of banned synthetic materials in its supposedly organic fertilizer.Use of synthetic materials could jeopardize a farm's organic status, and Port Organics is one of three companies in California suspected of illegally using banned substances in fertilizers. The AMS on Feb. 20 announced that it is requiring third-party reviewers to implement detailed audit and inspection protocols for all high nitrogen-content liquid organic fertilizers effective Oct. 1. "The prevalent use of liquid fertilizer is disturbing," Robinson said.

Some skeptical of China's new food safety law USA Today

Obamas turn the White House organic US News

It is considered a White House state dinner, and it happens every year when the nation's governors come to town. So planning for the event began even before President Obama was elected. Food would be seasonal and wine regional, an American farm-focused pattern pursued by former first ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush. But then Barack and Michelle Obama arrived, and, well, change happened. The kitchen staff, inspired by the Obamas' organic focus, tweaked the menu and even the wine choices to highlight organic foods.

California almond industry feeling the squeeze San Francisco Chronicle

While there have been record almond crops for the past three years, and new markets have always materialized, California's largest agricultural export is facing an unprecedented array of challenges.Among them: A severe drought, a court order that restricts water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to 220,000 acres of almond trees on the western side of the San Joaquin Valley, recession, falling prices for nuts, and the death of honeybees required for pollination. It all adds up to trouble."This is ground no one has been on before," said almond grower Matt Billings of Delano (Kern County).You can't sense the trouble by visiting the orchards. Almond trees are in glorious bloom in the Central Valley and 1.2 million colonies of honeybees are doing their duty. It's a pretty sight, but 2009 will be the toughest year many of the state's 6,000 almond growers have faced.

The tragedy that is North Carolina's pesticide regulatory system Beaufort Observer

Syngenta may bid for Dow AgroSciences if unit put up for sale Bloomberg

Local tomato growers struggle with low prices Bradenton Herald
Florida's tomato industry is being dealt another hard blow almost a year after becoming unfairly targeted for a salmonella outbreak caused by Mexican-grown peppers.Growing costs have exceeded the price growers are getting for the produce, said Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange.Regardless of what's to blame for the drop in prices — the lagging economy or the hangover from the salmonella outbreak last year — the losses cannot be sustained by the industry long-term, Brown said.


Offsets Will Re-Deploy Some Title I Commodity Program Money Farm Futures

Survey: Food gardening growing PR Newswire

Findings from the National Gardening Association's (NGA) new survey, The Impact of Home and Community Gardening in America, indicate food gardening in the United States is on the rise as 7 million more households plan to grow their own fruits, vegetables, herbs or berries in 2009, up 19 percent from 2008. This anticipated increase is nearly double the 10 percent growth in vegetable gardening activity from 2007 to 2008 as more food gardeners emerge this year.More Americans are recognizing the benefits of growing their own produce, including improved quality, taste and cost savings. In 2008, gardeners spent a total of $2.5 billion to purchase seeds, plants, fertilizer, tools and other gardening supplies to grow their own food. According to NGA estimates, a well-maintained food garden yields a $500 average return per garden when considering a typical gardener's investment and the market price of produce.

10-K Fresh Del Monte Produce Market Watch


Report on China's canned f/v sector PRinside.com

Canned or frozen: which is best? The Salt Lake Tribune

But neither should be overlooked as they are high in fiber, low in fat and provide heart-health vitamins and minerals.

Toilet paper and other moral choices NYT Opinion

Compared to producing vegetables or rice, beef uses 16 times as much energy and produces 25 times the CO2. A study on U.S. consumption from the University of Chicago estimates that if the average American were to reduce meat consumption by just 20 percent, that would be the equivalent of switching from driving a Camry to a Prius.