The drumbeat continues....local farmers fear regulation

From the Naperville Sun a story headlined Local farmers fear regulation is another in a string of recent stories raising red flags about possible food safety legislation in Congress. From this story:

Growing fruit in one state and selling it in another could put the Gundersens in the path of new federal regulations proposed by several food safety bills under consideration in the House. One of those bills, called the Food Modernization Act, would create a new Food Safety Administration with power to inspect and regulate food establishments.Aides to the bill's sponsor, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-CT, say small growers wouldn't be affected by the bill because its focus is to ensure the safety of food sold across state lines. But even though the Gundersens' business is small, they don't fall into that category.


More headlines tonight....

TK: A contrary view....
Will HR 875 kill organic farming? Nope Mother Jones
When the Huffington Post spoke with Rep. DeLauro, she described the weird experience of watching her bill become the subject of what she describes as a "libertarian operation:"

"It was substantial and it wasn't just my office," DeLauro tells the Huffington Post. "All of my colleagues -- I have colleagues who come up to me on both sides of the aisle and they say to me, 'Rosa, what's this about 875?'"...The bill, it's argued, is being pushed quietly by big agribusiness, herbicide and pesticide behemoths such as Monsanto, who want to outlaw organic farming using backdoor food-safety rhetoric. The richest irony, for anyone who has followed DeLauro's career, is that she's as far from a friend of Monsanto as can be conjured.

And later:

"This notion that we're destroying backyard farms is absurd. It's ludicrous," she says. "I chair the agriculture subcommittee of appropriations. Why would I be putting farmers out of business?"

Some British farmers give up on organic UPI.com

The two largest groups certifying organic food said about eight farmers are dropping out of the program each month, The Guardian reported. The National Farmers Union said a number of others are forced to continue producing organic food because they have received subsidies they would have to repay if they leave within five years.

Mexican tariffs hurt California farmers San Francisco Chronicle
"The longer we wait, the more economic harm can be done to the agriculture industry," said Ken Gilliland, director of international trade and transportation for Arizona and California's Western Growers Association, which signed the letter. "It's pretty united that we need to resolve this as soon as possible."Though the dispute is not on the official agenda for Obama's meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderón in Mexico City on Thursday and Friday, it is likely to be brought up.

White House garden gets first seedlings AFRO

"It does have nutrients, it does make you strong, it is all brain food," Obama said about the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables to students from Bancroft Elementary School.She said that's something she learned from feeding her daughters, Malia, 10 and Sasha, 7.Based on what was planted Thursday, the first family will be eating a lot of spinach, assorted lettuce, cucumbers and peas flavored with an assortment of herbs, onions and shallots.

Big Fat Diet Lies Herald.com.au

You would have to eat six bananas to equal the kilojoules in a slice of pizza. A medium banana is a good source of fibre, magnesium and potassium. It is also fat free and a great source of vitamin B6, which boosts the immune system and helps in the formation of red blood cells. TIP Have a banana on cereal or as a mid-morning snack. Avoid banana "chips", as they contain added fat and sugar and are loaded with kilojoules.

Africa: A better banana for the continent AllAfrica.com

We have found that tissue culture bananas perform better in the field because they are more resistant to diseases than ordinary types of bananas. I have seen that when a banana is properly fed and has a lot of water, this reduces a lot of diseases." Mwinga says.TC bananas mature early, helping farmers recover costs of buying the planting material when they sell their first crop. Depending on the variety, a good bunch of bananas may weigh up to 50 kg and sell for nearly $12.According to the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), farmers lose over $500 million to pest and diseases every year. For instance, the BXW can wipe out entire fields of bananas. Pisang awak, a susceptible exotic variety from Asia widely grown to make banana beer, is especially vulnerable.

Oregon farmers oppose state's proposed carbon emissions cap Capital Press

Oregon Farm Bureau President Barry Bushue urged lawmakers to drop efforts to cap Oregon's carbon emissions. Establishing a cap, Bushue said, would drive up energy costs, crippling farmers at a time when they least can afford it. "I'm looking at 50 to 60 percent less sales," Bushue said. "Add $750 a month to my electricity bill and that effectively puts me out of business." Bushue's emotional testimony Thursday, April 9, came on the heels of testimony from utility representatives, who also opposed the cap. Lobbyist Dave Robertson said Portland General Electric estimated the cap would cost ratepayers $7 billion, driving up rates between 75 and 100 percent.ut first, they talk about the emotional toll that comes with being laid off, especially when it was from the only job they've ever held, Abraham said.

A snapshot of today's recession Chicago Tribune

"They went there to work out of high school and essentially grew up with their co-workers," Abraham said. "That becomes a very family situation, so they're dealing with not only a job lost, but they lost a family, too.

Recession taking toll on mental, physical health AZCentral.com

Recent studies suggest that more than 80 percent of Americans are stressed out by financial issues related to the economy. We're not sleeping. We're not eating right. We're just feeling lousy."Usually in a downturn, one part of the economy is hit harder than others," said Alicia Torruella, a Chandler-based psychologist and life coach. "But right now it's everywhere. If you aren't affected directly, you have a friend, a relative or know someone who is."

President making good on his immigration promise Daily News

Arrest data fuels debate on illegal immigration Washington Post

Not produce related, but....The USDA reports here that a Swedish cihicken facility may have been subject to sabotrage. From the report:

The largest producer of chicken products in Sweden, Kronfågel, is hit by a severe food safety scare. Consumers have found pieces of glass in a wide variety of Kronfågel's chicken products. Glass is prohibited in all of Kronfågel's facilities, which raises concerns about sabotage.