Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Friday, March 22, 2013

Nano Labs Announces Assignment of Provisional Patent for LED Intelligent Lighting Systems for Agricultural Greenhouses

Novel Innovation in Programmable Lighting Systems for Greenhouses Improves Crop Yields and the Quality of Produce, While Maintaining Low Energy Consumption and Minimizing Environmental Impacts DETROIT, March 22, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nano Labs Corp. (OTCQB:CTLE) is pleased to announce it has been issued a provisional patent number for the Company's "intelligent illumination system" for greenhouses, that works with commercial light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to reduce energy consumption and improve processes contributing to the growth of plant life in agricultural greenhouses. Further to the Company's press release of December 18, 2012, with the filing of the patent application complete and the provisional patent number issued, the Company is moving forward with the commercialization of the product. The new system reduces energy consumption while at the same time providing improved control over artificial light used to stimulate photochemical activities in plants for growth and the production of chlorophyll. By employing a "The Pulse Modulated Chlorophyll Fluorescence Monitoring Stage," the innovative technology provides for the automatic control of light in relation to a whole range of greenhouse and plant conditions, including seasonal adjustments tailored to the type of vegetables and plants being illuminated. The technology claims better control in relation to light frequency (wavelength), light quality, and pulse width of the light beams emitted by the LEDs, which hold important advantages over other existing artificial illumination sources such as fluorescent lamps, metal halide lamps, and high-pressured sodium lamps. The system offers higher efficiency in terms of energy consumption and quantum efficiency of the light produced and also provides for a longer lifespan, a controllable emission spectrum, safer handling, as well as improved disposal procedures. The novel system for greenhouses has allowed Nano Labs to determine the effect of pulsed light, as opposed to simple continuous light, in a frequency range from 0.1Hz to 100 kHz, with red and blue LEDs on the chlorophyll fluorescence emission of tomato plants, demonstrating that it is possible through the Company's innovations to control and enhance plant growth at will. "The Company's proprietary technology represents an answer to problems facing greenhouse growers worldwide." restated Dr. Castano. "Our aim is to help growers increase efficiencies for better crop yields. At the same time, we want to help growers achieve lower energy consumption, with a favourable impact on the environment." Additional Information on Nano Labs' LED Smart Lighting and Monitoring System for Greenhouses The provisional patent describes a smart, programmable lighting system which has a digital interface to program plant and crop specific configurations. Compared with the conventional lamps and light bulbs, the use of the light emitting diodes (LEDs) with characteristics of narrow-band wavelength offers low power consumption and optimal light sources for plant cultivation. LEDs are the first light source to provide the capability of true spectral composition control, allowing wavelengths to match to plant photoreceptors to optimize production as well as to influence plant morphology and composition. The application of artificial light for plant growth with LEDs represents a very useful tool for research and development in terms of analyzing the effect of the amount and quality of the light utilized in greenhouses. In general, the use of LEDs for biological studies has important advantages as compared to other existing artificial illumination sources (fluorescent, metal halogenides, and high pressured sodium). Advantages include: higher efficiency in energy consumption in terms of released light (quantum efficiency), longer lifespan, controllable emission spectrum (since LEDs are available in different wavelengths), safer handling and disposal procedures, and the fact that LEDs are environmentally friendly. Pulsed light techniques have been applied to different frequencies and cycles for the study of phototropism induced in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings, showing that continuous lighting can be substituted by pulsed light. The photosynthetic response of tomato plants has been examined when applying both short pulses and continuous lighting to tomato plants and indicated that the photosynthetic rate was reduced to half with pulses of 2 ms of light and 198 ms of darkness periods, with respect to continuous light. In LED-based illumination systems the emission color can be selected without adding filters. Also, the LED market offers commercial ultraviolet and infrared LEDs that can be added to the existing artificial illumination systems for plant growth, for these wavelengths are also important for plant growth. The illumination based on LEDs makes monitoring of the intensity and quality of the emitted light easier than in the case of other light sources. Nano Labs' lighting system comprises a fluorescence monitoring system, for measuring and monitoring the fluorescence emitted by an illuminated plant. The fluorescence monitoring system is coupled to the custom crop program for accurate feedback controls. When light impinges on a plant leaf, part of the energy absorbed is dissipated as heat, another portion is used for the photochemical activity of the plant, and a smaller amount is emitted as fluorescence. Chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) is the red and far-red light emitted by photosynthetic tissue when it is excited by a light source. When plants are exposed to excess light, CF is a protective process by which plant chloroplasts dissipate light energy that exceeds photosynthetic demands. Chlorophyll fluorescence amounts to 1% - 2 % of the total light absorbed. Also, chlorophyll had been regarded as an intrinsic fluorescent probe of the photosynthetic system, and in recent years, the chlorophyll fluorescence has been used for studies related to the physiology of plants, to the extent that most articles involving the photosynthetic performance of plants include some fluorescence data. This technique is so effective to evaluate photosynthesis in investigations where fluorescence emission of land vegetation is analyzed from outer space. About Nano Labs Corp. Nano Labs Corp. (CTLE) is a nanotechnology research and development company which began during October 2012, but is able to access resources that encompass nearly 30 years of research and development in nanotechnology as well as hundreds of peer-reviewed and published research papers and other scholarly material. The Company's research and development team of scientists, designers, and engineers is focused on creating a portfolio of advanced products that could provide benefits to a variety of industries including: (i) consumer products, (ii) energy, (iii) materials, and (iv) healthcare. Through the use and integration of proprietary nano compounds, our goal is to evolve common products into new, revolutionary products in order to make the world a better place. Nano Labs shares are traded on the OTC Bulletin Board in the United States under the ticker CTLE. For more information, please visit www.NanoLabs.us.

Friday, March 15, 2013

National Restaurant Association Launches Pizzeria Industry Council

One of First Events Includes White House Meeting on Menu Labeling (Washington, D.C.) The National Restaurant Association (NRA) has launched a new Pizzeria Industry Council to engage the operator community and address the concerns and issues specific to pizza operators. The group is modeled after the NRA’s Fast Casual Industry Council, formed in 2009. The NRA’s Industry Councils address priority issues of specific industry segments and underscore the importance of collaboration within the diverse restaurant industry to reach common goals. “With a workforce of more than 13 million and total sales of $660 billion in nearly one million locations, the restaurant industry is vast and diverse with a range of opportunities and challenges,” said James Balda, senior vice president of Innovation and Business Development for the National Restaurant Association. “We are excited to launch our Pizzeria Industry Council to better serve our members in the pizza operator community and improve the benefits and resources we offer to these restaurants.” “We look forward to working with the NRA on key issues that impact pizza operators, such as implementation of the new menu labeling and health care regulations and how to address elevated food costs,” said Marla Topliff, CEO of Chicago-based Rosati's Pizza and chair of the NRA’s Pizzeria Industry Council steering committee. “We will be working to produce resources and tools to help pizza operators increase profitability and productivity, as well as raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges that are unique to our industry segment.” The goal of the Pizzeria Industry Council is to convene senior executives from the pizza operator segment of the restaurant industry to discuss common concerns and advise the NRA on how the overall industry’s priority issues would impact their restaurants. As one of the first events involving the group, members of the Pizzeria Industry Council joined National Restaurant Association staff at a White House meeting last week to discuss the need for flexibility to be considered in upcoming menu labeling regulations. The group will also serve as a networking and educational venue, and provide input on research and NRA member benefit program development. The council’s founding members include: Topliff; James Greco, Sbarro; Richard Wolf, Papa Gino’s Pizzeria; Pete LaChapelle, International Pizza Expo and Pizza Today; Adam Goldberg, Fresh Brothers Pizza; Anthony Rosati, Rosati’s Pizza; Don Vlcek, Marco’s Pizza; Eric Greenwald, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria; Ivan Matsunaga, Connie’s Pizza; Janelle Reents, Monical’s Pizza Restaurant; Scott Anthony, Fox’s Pizza Den; Shane Womack, Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza; Trey Hester, Rocky Rococo Pizza and Pasta; Geoff Goodman, CiCi’s Pizza; Sam Facchini, Metro Pizza; Michele DiMeo, Squisito Pizza and Pasta; and advisor Louis Basile, Wildflower Bread Company.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

National Restaurant Association Statement on Ruling to Overturn New York City Beverage Ban

(Washington, D.C.) The National Restaurant Association released the following statement about the decision by a New York state judge who today struck down the New York City beverage ban. The ruling by State Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling in Manhattan came down just one day before the ban was supposed to take effect. Tingling said he found the ban to be arbitrary and capricious. The National Restaurant Association joined the American Beverage Association and others in filing the lawsuit challenging the ban last fall, saying it was arbitrary and subjected restaurateurs to a standard that many of its competitors, including groceries and c-stores, didn’t have to meet. The Association said the judge’s decision to overturn the ban was a huge win. “This is a great victory, particularly for thousands of restaurant operators and industry suppliers serving New York City who would have experienced financial hardships had the ban been enacted,” said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “We are extremely pleased that the judge recognized that the Board of Health exceeded its authority when it initially passed the ban.” The ban would have prohibited restaurants, delis, stadiums and arenas, concession stands and food carts from selling sugar-sweetened beverages in containers above 16 ounces. Banned beverages would have included soda, sweetened iced tea, some smoothies, coffee drinks and lemonade. Sweeney added, “We look forward to working with public health officials to engage in a constructive dialogue that will have a positive and sustained impact on the people of New York City.”

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Family Farmers and Organizations Ask FDA for More Time to Analyze New Food Safety Rules

Joint Letter Says Comment Period Too Short for Complex 1,200-Page Proposal http://www.cornucopia.org/2013/03/family-farmers-and-organizations-ask-fda-for-more-time-to-analyze-new-food-safety-rules/ AUSTIN, Texas – Over 270 organizations, food businesses and farms requested an extension today of the comment period for two major proposed food safety rules. The groups seek more time to assess the effects of the 1,200 pages of rules on family farms and small food businesses. The new regulations are an effort to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act passed by Congress and signed into law by the president in 2011. Unless extended, the public comment period closes May 16, 2013. In a letter to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the organizations cite the sheer volume and complexity of the proposed rules and the timing of the comment period during spring planting among the reasons to lengthen the comment period until September 13, 2013. Photo: Judith McGeary "Hundreds of thousands of family farmers and family-scale food producers will be subject to extensive new regulations," said Judith McGeary, Executive Director of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance. "FDA took two years to develop the proposed rules, and our members need more than 120 days in order to understand all of the implications and submit substantive comments." The letter also notes that many farmers, including those of Amish faith, do not have easy access through the internet to FDA documents or information on the proposals. "Many of our members, in rural areas across the country, rely on the good old-fashioned snail mail," explained Mark A. Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst at The Cornucopia Institute. "After finishing our analysis we have to mail information about the proposed rules to our members, and they, in turn, must mail their comments to the FDA." Kastel said that waiting until the last minutes to announce an extension, as is common for regulatory agencies, would impose unnecessary burdens on individuals and the nonprofits that represent them. He added, "The fact that the current public period coincides with the busiest season of the year, spring planting, for many farmers around the country is an additional burden.” The proposed rules set standards for on-farm activities in growing and harvesting produce, as well as establishing new Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventative Controls (HARCP) for food manufacturers, including on-farm processing of foods. "Imposing rules that needlessly burden the family farms and sustainable producers who are providing healthy food options is against the interests of American consumers," said Ronnie Cummins, National Director of Organic Consumers Association, a national grassroots organization of 850,000 consumers and organic farmers. "Family farms do not pose the same threat to consumers as large food production facilities with national distribution." In the letter, the organizations point out that farms in different parts of the country face different challenges due to topography, geology and climate. "One of the fundamental problems with regulating farms at the federal level is the wide range of farms across the country," said Western Organization of Resource Councils member and farmer Carol LeResche. "The growing seasons, the types of crops, and even the water sources are different in different regions." LeResche runs Prariana Farm, a small Consumer Supported Agriculture (CSA) operation near Clearmont, Wyoming. "What’s reasonable for a farmer in Maine may be impossible for me," LeResche said. "We need more time to make sure the rules take that level of diversity into consideration." "The organizations and farms who signed the letter represent the many different types of people and businesses who will be impacted," McGeary concluded. "We hope the FDA will act to make sure these important stakeholders have a full and fair opportunity to engage in the rulemaking process." The full text of the letter is available at: http://farmandranchfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Ltr-Hamburg-comment-period-exension.pdf

Friday, March 8, 2013

State Department of Agriculture Joins with Maryland Public Television to Showcase Maryland Agriculture Thirteen-Part Television Series to Air this Fall

State Department of Agriculture Joins with Maryland Public Television to Showcase Maryland Agriculture Thirteen-Part Television Series to Air this Fall ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 8, 2013) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) in cooperation with Maryland Public Television (MPT) is co-producing a 13-part television series showcasing many facets of Maryland farming. The series of half-hour shows tentatively titled “The Maryland Farmer” will report on challenges facing today’s farmers and help to bridge the widening “understanding gap” between farmers and the Maryland consumer. Funded with private contributions, production is now underway. The series will air this fall featuring diverse agricultural operations all across the state. “We want this series to help people understand how diverse farming is, even in a small state like Maryland, and for viewers to learn about the process of farming,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “The series aims to put a human face on Maryland agriculture, and tell the stories of the industry that built this nation and continues to feed the world. We are very excited about the ideas MPT has presented and look forward to seeing this series take shape over the summer.” MPT Executive Producer Michael English, former editor of Maryland Farmer newspaper, writer of Public Television’s Farm Day series, and producer of MPT’s long-running Outdoors Maryland series, is leading the project with Series Producer Robert Neustadt who has produced television for A&E, Fox, NBC, Discovery and other public television affiliates. Most Americans once lived or worked on farms or had family and friends who did. With each generation, the nation has grown further away from its agricultural roots. The goal of the MPT series is to bring residents back to the farm and show them how their food is grown and harvested. The program will take viewers from the mountains of Western Maryland, to the rolling hills of the Piedmont, to the broad, flat fields of the Eastern Shore – to explain the complex story of growing food and fiber in Maryland. Each episode will include a series of short magazine-style segments about Maryland farmers, farms and agribusiness. Episodes will be produced on location at farms and agribusinesses throughout the state. Crews are on location now. When the series is complete, it will be broadcast several times on MPT and available for viewing on several websites (including MPT, MDA and YouTube). It will also be distributed through libraries, schools and community groups. Program sponsors include: Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, Maryland Agricultural & Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation, Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit, Maryland Farm Bureau, Maryland Soybean Board, Maryland Department of Agriculture/Maryland’s Best, Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association, Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD), Maryland Grape Growers Association, Harford County Government, MAR-DEL Watermelon Association and the Delmarva Poultry Industry

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Curtis Stone: Ultimate brunch

The latest issue of The Saturday Evening Post features Chef Curtis Stone and his tips for the Ultimate Brunch.

Curtis’ Bruch Tips
 1. For the freshest, fluffiest pancakes and waffles, prepare batters just before cooking. If the batter sits too long, it will start to ferment, giving these breakfast goodies a sour flavor.
 2. Outdo O.J. by juicing other fruits that are in season. Summer peaches and raspberries make delicious nectars that you can drink alone or turn into bellinis and mimosas.
 3. Most of us show up hungry for brunch, so put out a fruit platter, some yogurt and granola, or a spread of smoked salmon and bagels for your guests to nibble on when they arrive.
•  Curtis Stone’s Whole-Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes with Strawberry-Maple Syrup
Curtis Stone’s Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Chives:
 • Curtis Stone’s Bagel, Egg, and Mushroom Brunch:
 • PLUS, a web-only special: Curtis Stone’s Homemade Crab Cakes:

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Fish in Rivers, Game in the Woods: But Not to Eat Congressional Briefing to Address Changes in Alaskan Natives’ Legal Rights to Food

Washington, D.C. —Alaska Native Chiefs and hunter/fishermen are speaking in Washington D.C. March 6, 2013 at the Congressional Visitor’s Center. The 5:30PM briefing will address traditional hunting and fishing rights critical to families across the state. The Briefing will take place in Theatre South. Speakers will address the ongoing legal morass and harassment endured by the Koyukon and Gwich’in of the Yukon Flats, along with all Alaska Natives when trying to provide for themselves, their families, and their communities as their people have for countless generations. Conflicting federal and state legal frameworks and lack of recognition of indigenous rights have left all Alaska Natives without recourse for the criminalization of their hunting, fishing, and gathering practices in their traditional hunting and fishing grounds. Traditional and customary hunting, fishing, gathering, and sharing, often referred to as ‘subsistence’, is the single most important issue facing Alaska Natives as named by the delegates of the 2011 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention. Over 30 cases have flooded the courts in the last two decades relating to Alaska Native hunting, fishing, & gathering rights, exemplifying the need for a resolution to this critical issue facing Alaska today. Compiled in a new report released by Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments and the Alliance for a Just Society, “Survival Denied: Stories from Alaska Native Families Living in a Broken System” details the urgent need for the people of the Yukon Flats, along with all Alaska Natives, to have food security, a meaningful co-management relationship with state and federal agencies. The Alaska Federations of Natives (AFN) Board of Directors unanimously endorsed the Council of Athbascan Tribal Governments’ joint report on the impact resource management and regulations have on the lives of traditional Alaska Natives. Community members are traveling from remote villages in Alaska to Washington DC to make an urgent call to action. They are calling on congress to take concrete steps to advance Native sovereignty in Alaska, protect the political and human rights of Alaska Natives, and ensure cultural preservation of these first Americans. Specific policy recommendations are outlined in the report, Survival Denied. The report will be available to the press on March 5, 2013. Please contact Rahul Gupta for a PDF. A dinner and reception at the National Museum of the American Indian will be hosted by the visiting Alaska Native Delegation to celebrate indigenous foods. Thursday, March 7, 2013 from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. The museum is located at Fourth Street and Independence Ave. S.W., Washington DC 20560.

Opening Statement of Chairman Frank D. Lucas Committee on Agriculture Public Hearing To review the state of the rural economy March 5, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2013 MEDIA CONTACT: Tamara Hinton, 202.225.0184 tamara.hinton@mail.house.gov Opening Statement of Chairman Frank D. Lucas Committee on Agriculture Public Hearing To review the state of the rural economy March 5, 2013 As prepared for delivery Thank you Mr. Secretary for appearing before the Committee today. I am pleased the President asked you to continue in your role as Secretary. While we may not always agree on every topic, you have never been disagreeable and you are a good friend to American agriculture. I appreciate your hard work to quickly implement the extension of the 2008 Farm Bill and announce the sign-up for farm programs, which gave producers some certainty during a time when certainty is sorely lacking. All of us can agree that an extension was not our preference, but I want to personally thank you for announcing the signup so quickly. This country continues to face a fiscal crisis that, if not addressed, will not only harm the agricultural sector and rural America, but the country as a whole. The agriculture sector wants to be part of the solution to our nation’s debt crisis. We must find common-sense solutions without trying to scare the American people with worst-case scenarios. I have confidence in you, Mr. Secretary, to manage sequestration without a mass disruption to the rural economy. The Committee believes the best way to achieve deficit reduction is in the context of reauthorizing the farm bill with sustainable and fiscally responsible reforms. This Committee and this Congress must pass a comprehensive, five-year farm bill this year. The reforms in the House bill are too great, the savings to the taxpayer are too important, and the benefits to our farmers and ranchers are too critical to not complete the process this year. Few in the agriculture sector will deny that the agriculture economy has done well overall in the last few years. But that well-being has not been distributed evenly across the entire sector, and if history is any guide, we know how fleeting the good times are. For example, livestock producers have suffered through multiple years of drought and are operating with no safety net in place. Livestock disaster programs no longer function because the 2008 Farm Bill only provided four years of funding for these important programs. Additionally, record high prices for some crops have hurt the livestock industry tremendously. I am not here to place blame, but we have to acknowledge that fact. Crop producers in my part of the country and elsewhere are dealing with a third straight year of drought. Also, rice, peanut, sugar, dairy and cotton producers have not enjoyed consistent, record high prices that our friends in the Midwest have, so I think we must be careful to paint a rosy picture with a broad brush. While income is up, so is the cost of doing business. Inputs continue to rise, as do rental rates. The fact is - farming and ranching have been and will continue to be a tremendously risky business. As we all know, agriculture is highly cyclical and the agriculture community must be prepared for bad yields, bad prices, and much lower net farm income in the future. We must be very careful in ensuring that we replace direct payments with policy that works for all commodities in all regions of the country. We must acknowledge that crop insurance is the backbone of the safety net, but we must also recognize its limitations in protecting against multi-year price declines. The Committee firmly believes in providing a true safety net, rather than providing payments regardless of market conditions. Mr. Secretary, I was interested in your comments earlier this year about the agriculture community’s loss of influence. The truth is the United States is less rural. The Congress reflects that reality and we must adapt. Making the case for production agriculture and rural America is the challenge before us. And, we face an uncertain future if the agriculture community is divided. Commodity groups must not tear each other down with the ultimate goal of seeing who gets the biggest piece of the pie. Conservation groups and so called sustainable groups must realize that for farmers to implement additional conservation practices, they must have the resources to do so. Quite simply, the agriculture community must accept that no bill is perfect, but that should not serve as discouragement. Instead, we must have a rural coalition pushing forward to get a bill passed and signed into law. Mr. Secretary, without hesitation, I know you are a great friend of agriculture and rural America, but I am disappointed to see the administration’s comments on meat inspection. You have stated that the sequester provisions in the Budget Control Act will cause you to furlough Food Safety Inspection Service inspectors. Members of this Committee have heard from constituents that these statements about the interruption of production have affected prices, caused concern among financial markets, and alarmed buyers and sellers in the retail and food service community. I anticipate that my colleagues will have questions for you regarding your statements and the evolution of administration policy in this critical area. Further, it was disappointing to see the administration favored the Reid-Stabenow proposal to replace the sequester. Fortunately, the Senate failed to pass that proposal, which unfairly targeted agriculture. They proposed a 50 percent cut to a single title in the farm bill that accounts for six percent of overall agriculture spending and less than one percent of overall federal spending. It was not balanced and not acceptable. I believe the best way to achieve deficit reduction, as it relates to agriculture, is in the context of reauthorizing the farm bill with sustainable and fiscally responsible reforms such as those the Committee passed last year. Mr. Secretary, again thank you for being with us today. I look forward to your testimony. ### Agriculture Committee Press Office http://agriculture.house.gov

House Lawmakers Push to End Extra Permit Requirement for Ag Producers

WASHINGTON – Today, a group of bipartisan lawmakers introduced H.R. 935, The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2013. This bill would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) to clarify Congressional intent and eliminate the requirement of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the use of pesticides already approved for use under FIFRA. This legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 31, 2011 as H.R. 872, The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011. Additionally, it advanced out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, but the full Senate failed to consider it during the last Congress. H.R. 935 is necessary to address the negative economic consequences of the ruling posed by the case National Cotton Council v. EPA (6th Cir. 2009). Under the court ruling, pesticide users are required to obtain a redundant permit under the Clean Water Act (CWA) or be subject to a costly fine. "The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2013 removes duplicative and costly ‘red-tape’ requirements that provide no additional health or environmental benefits, while providing assurance that the pesticide community is not subject to redundant permitting requirements if they comply with EPA’s current regulations. This legislation passed last year by a bipartisan super majority, and it is key to job creation and the elimination of unnecessary regulations that hamper our economic growth," said Rep. Bob Gibbs, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. “Federal agencies continue to develop and implement duplicative regulations that create undue burdens and more red tape for American citizens. H.R. 935 will provide clarity with EPA regulations, which will in turn allow citizens to better navigate the regulatory environment,” said Rep. Austin Scott, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture. "Under FIFRA, pesticides must undergo extensive and rigorous testing before being approved. To require a duplicative permit for a pesticide that has already been approved through the FIFRA process is not only arbitrary, it’s an unnecessary burden on regulators and applicators and does nothing to improve water quality. I urge my House colleagues to support the swift passage of this important legislation in the 113th Congress," stated Rep. Kurt Schrader, Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture. "Reducing regulations, helping farmers and the agriculture community, and eliminating unfunded mandates for state and local governments are keys to helping create jobs and put people to work. This bill is a great step toward reforming the regulatory process, streamlining government, and saving taxpayers’ time and money. Let’s pass this common sense bill now," said Rep. Mike McIntyre. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure also shares jurisdiction of the bill.

Monday, March 4, 2013

USDA Kicks Off National Nutrition Month by Highlighting Breakfas

t School Breakfast Week, International School Meals Day and Childhood Nutrition to be Celebrated Throughout March WASHINGTON, March 4, 2013 — Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack kicked off an exciting National Nutrition Month by marking the start of National School Breakfast Week (March 4-8), a time that highlights the importance of promoting healthy choices for our nation's children throughout the school day. "Making sure that children get the best start to their day is part of our commitment to providing all of our children access to safe, nutritious, and well-balanced meals," said Secretary Vilsack. "Eating breakfast helps maintain a healthy weight and gives our youngest generation the greatest chance at success." Every year, USDA partners with the School Nutrition Association to celebrate National School Breakfast Week. This year's theme is "Be a Star with School Breakfast," highlighting how eating a balanced breakfast at school can help students to shine. The USDA's School Breakfast Program provides a nutritious start to each school day for nearly 13 million children in over 91,000 schools and residential child care institutions. It offers school children of all economic backgrounds a well-balanced, healthy meal consistent with the latest nutrition science and dietary guidelines. "Research shows that children learn better after a healthy breakfast," said Kevin Concannon, undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services. "Through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, we have an historic opportunity, which schools are embracing throughout the country, to make the healthy choice also the easy choice for children at school, from morning to afternoon." Updated breakfast meal patterns, part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, begin to take effect in the coming school year, and will be phased in over three years. The new meal patterns support the 2010 Dietary Guidelines and are based on scientific recommendations from the Institute of Medicine. "National Nutrition Month is a timely reminder to include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy at breakfast and at every meal, each day," Concannon said. This week, USDA will also participate in the inaugural celebration of International School Meals Day (ISMD) on March 8, 2013. The concept for ISMD emerged from a recent collaboration between USDA and our counterparts in the United Kingdom, during which we engaged in an exchange of ideas, implementation strategies, and best practices in the area of food and nutrition policy. ISMD represents an opportunity to continue that beneficial exchange of policies, practices, and research, while raising awareness of the important role that nutrition education plays in child development. ISMD will also engage children around the world in classroom-level discussions of healthy eating habits in school and at home. Schools selected to take part in this year's activities will focus on topics related to the school nutrition environment, such as the menu choices available in the cafeteria, classroom instruction on nutrition education, or growing and/or cooking food at school. Students will then discuss these topics with students in the U.K. via the Internet or by phone. Initially, 14 classrooms (grades 3-8) in the U.S. are now connected with 14 classrooms in Scotland. USDA plans to expand the initiative to include partnerships with additional countries in future years. The 14 participating U.S. schools are: • Nathanael Greene Elementary School, Chicago, Ill. • JB Lancaster Elementary School, Madisonville, La. • Rolling Terrace Elementary School, Montgomery, Md. • Harmony Hills Elementary School, Silver Spring, Md. • Oak Grove Upper Elementary School, Hattiesburg, Miss. • Hampton Bays Middle School, Hampton Bays, N.Y. • Cartoogechaye Elementary School, Franklin, N.C. • Sterling Elementary School, Pineville, N.C. • AB Combs Elementary School, Wake County, N.C. • Washington Elementary School, Mt Lebanon, Pa. • Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Pittsburg, Pa. • M.B. Henderson Elementary School, Dallas, Texas • Holmes Middle School, Alexandria, Va. • Parklawn Elementary School, Alexandria, Va. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs that work in concert to form a national safety net against hunger. Learn more by visiting www.fns.usda.gov. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD)or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). #

Saturday, March 2, 2013

DeLauro Responds to Reports USDA Will Approve Horse Slaughter Facility

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today regarding reports the Department of Agriculture (USDA) will have to approve federal inspection at a horse slaughter facility in New Mexico. DeLauro, former chair of the subcommittee responsible for funding the USDA, authored a provision prohibiting federal funds for the inspection of such facilities in the United States. Upon taking over the House majority in 2011, Republicans ended that prohibition. “Congress needs to reinstate the provision I authored that would prohibit inspection of horse slaughter facilities in the United States. Beginning today, food inspection services by the USDA will suffer the same indiscriminate budget cuts as the rest of the federal government. The Administration has said they will have to furlough inspectors. The last thing we should be doing is adding additional inspection responsibilities. I looking forward to questioning USDA officials about this when they testify before the Appropriations Committee.”

Acclaimed Parisian Chef Daniel Rose Brings Spring to AnQi Restaurant inMay

Acclaimed Parisian Chef Daniel Rose Brings Spring
to AnQi Restaurant inMay  
Helene and Elizabeth An of House of An Restaurants to host
Friends of James Beard Benefit Dinner
(Costa Mesa, CA) – For one night only on May 1, Southern California gourmands and Orange County fashionistas will have an opportunity to experience one of the most sought-after restaurant reservations in Paris when AnQi Restaurant hosts a prestigious James Beard Benefit Dinner on May 1st.   Chef Daniel Rose of the celebrated Paris restaurant Spring will be flying in from Paris and collaborating  with House of An’s Master Chef Helene An on the special five course tasting dinner.  This is Chef Rose’s first appearance in California, and he will be closing his restaurant in Paris to make the trip.
Rose’s approach to cuisine melds the tradition of classic French cuisine with a contemporary, personal approach to fresh market ingredients.  His restaurant Spring has been named “One of 10 of the Best Restaurants in Paris” by the Guardian, and “The Trophy Reservation” by Forbes Magazine.  Rose and Spring have been profiled in Elle, L’Express, Figaroscope, GQ, International Herald Tribune, New York Times, Travel + Leisure, Wall Street Journal and many others.   
Celebrity chef, restaurant owner, and caterer to the stars, Helene An, is known for her innovative use of Asian herbs and spices and her blending of Vietnamese and French cuisine with Western flavors.  She opened what is acknowledged as San Francisco’s first Vietnamese restaurant in 1971 and was dubbed the “Mother of Fusion Cuisine” by the San Francisco Chronicle when she opened Crustacean in 1991.
The dinner will be the first James Beard Foundation benefit dinner held in Orange County to feature a top Paris-based chef.  Proceeds will benefit the James Beard Foundation and will also fund a scholarship at Art Institute of Orange County’s International Culinary School.
For more information about the dinner and reservations, please call (714) 557-5679. For updates on the May 1st Friends of James Beard benefit dinner, please visit https://www.facebook.com/anqibycrustacean.
About James Beard Foundation
Founded in 1986, the James Beard Foundation is dedicated to celebrating, nurturing, and preserving America's diverse culinary heritage and future. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, James Beard, who died in 1985, was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts, instilling in them the value of wholesome, healthful and delicious food. Today, the Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools, publications, chef advocacy training, thought-leader convening, and by maintaining the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a “performance space” for visiting chefs. In September of 2012, the Foundation launched the Diplomatic Culinary Partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Protocol and helped create the American Chef Corps as a way to champion American chefs abroad, promote American food products and foster an interest in American culinary culture and history through international programs and initiatives. For more information, please visit www.jamesbeard.org. Find insights on food at the James Beard Foundation’s blog Delights & Prejudices. Join the James Beard Foundation on Facebook. Follow the James Beard Foundation on Twitter.
About AnQi Restaurant
AnQi is a gourmet bistro and noodle bar located at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. Founded by Elizabeth An, CEO, House of An, the name “AnQi” is derived from the family name “An,” and the different translations of “Qi,” meaning tasty in Thai, flavorful in Korean, and energy in Chinese. Ms. Elizabeth An designed the restaurant and has received many awards, lauding the creative space and respect for green principles.  For more information visit www.anqibistro.com.

FDA Issues Environmental Assessment Report Following Outbreaks Linked to Cantaloupe

FDA Issues Environmental Assessment Report Following Outbreaks Linked to Cantaloupe

March 1, 2013
FDA has released its environmental assessment inspection report on the factors that potentially contributed to the contamination of fresh whole cantaloupe linked to a multi-state outbreak of salmonellosis in the summer of 2012. According to the report, the initial contamination of the cantaloupes likely occurred in the production fields and was most likely spread by operations and practices in the packinghouse. It is also likely that the contamination proliferated during storage and transport to market.
FDA recommends that fresh fruit and vegetable producers employ good agricultural and management practices recommended for the growing, harvesting, washing, sorting, packing, storing, and transporting of fruits and vegetables sold to consumers in an unprocessed or minimally processed raw form.
Recommended practices for fresh fruit and vegetable producers are set forth in FDA’s and USDA’s “Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables,” FDA’s “Guidance for Industry: Letter to Firms that Grow, Harvest, Sort, Pack, Process, or Ship Fresh Cantaloupe,” and FDA’s “Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Melons; Draft Guidance.”
FDA’s Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation Network (CORE) coordinated the environmental assessment as part of its three-pronged approach to detect, respond to, and prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness. CORE is made up of a signals-and-surveillance team, three response teams, and a post-response team.  The post-response team uses environmental assessment inspections to identify the factors potentially contributing to an outbreak.

Friday, March 1, 2013

DeLauro Statement on Sequestration Going Into Effect Indiscriminate, Across-the-Board Cuts Will Harm Middle, Working Class Families

DeLauro Statement on Sequestration Going Into Effect Indiscriminate, Across-the-Board Cuts Will Harm Middle, Working Class Families WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today on the indiscriminate across-the-board cuts known as “sequestration” that are now going into effect due to Republicans’ refusal to negotiate a balanced solution. DeLauro is the senior Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for funding the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education. Last month, she issued a report detailing the effects of sequestration, along with already-made cuts, to programs in those departments. “America should not be in the completely avoidable situation we are facing today. Instead of coming together and finding a balanced approach to our budget challenges that protects national security, mental health services, job training, education, child care and a litany of other programs, Republicans in Congress sat idly by, waiting for a deadline they claimed to abhor. And middle and working class American families will be paying the price. “These debilitating cuts will only damage our economic recovery, costing thousands of jobs. We should be ensuring millionaires pay their fair share and repealing tax loopholes for Big Oil and Big Agriculture, not kicking kids off of Head Start and firing teachers. Democrats put forth multiple plans to prevent this from happening, but we were rebuffed by the Republicans every step of the way. “For months, Democrats in Congress asked Republicans to come to the table and present a serious, sensible plan that tackled our debt and deficit in a balanced way. For months, the President tried to broker an agreement. And last November the American public made their opinion known at the ballot box. Congress needs to pass a responsible budget that protects the middle-class, seniors, women and the most vulnerable. We must act.”