Monday, November 23, 2009

Our News Picks of the Week

"Inspired by Starbuck's"...the coffee giant opens two Seattle cafes under new names, with a new look. The New York Times suggests its time to update the aesthetic, "a look that was last retooled about the same time Bill Clinton ran for a second term." Re-branding is underway. Read Times article here and press release here.

Animal Welfare Approved sets the record straight on an erroneous press release disguised as news, "Environmentally Friendly Food Myths Debunked" and makes a case for consuming sustainable, pasture-raised livestock. Read "Beware of Bad Science" here.

The Washington Post helps to identify low impact crops that utilize less fertilizer and pesticides. To see how you can green your diet, Read more.

There's not enough money in agricultural research and development required to tackle the problem of feeding the world, according to Lord Taylor of Holbeach, but where will the extra money come from? Anna Hill talks to Lord Taylor about the importance of an injection of research funding. Watch BBC video.

Blue Fin tuna is in the news this week due to expectations that the current fishing quotas will lead to their extinction. Read news article here and a cultural exploration of the modern delicacy here.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Nicolette Hahn Niman encourages consumers to switch from industrially produced turkeys to heritage turkeys raised on traditional farms. Read Atlantic Monthly article.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Our News Picks of the Week

American Grass Fed Beef takes on conventional beef in tasting competition...and wins!

With a new 12,000 square-foot facility in West Oakland, Hodo Soy Beanery plans to expand its business while educating the public about good tofu.

Gulf Coast oysters are a topic of debate this month as the FDA announced last month that starting in 2011 it would ban the sale of raw oysters from the Gulf Coast during warm water months. Oystermen and restauranteurs argue that this is a blow to the food culture and economy of the South. Is this a raw deal? Read the NY Times article.

Which fruits, vegetables, and other crops have the smallest environmental footprint? Some crops make more efficient use of the land than others, so their environmental impacts may be less intense on per-calorie basis. Read More for an analysis of overall pesticide and fertilizer use.

Pesticides have been on the radar at the White House as well, read NY Times article.

A case study in trading up casual dining: read the success story of Ruby Tuesday here.

In Northern California, apple enthusiasts are working to keep heirlooms varieties alive and revitalize the production of apple brandy.

Last week Anya participated as a judge in the Timeless Turkey Tasting at Ayrshire Farms in Virginia. A blind tasting of eight heritage turkey breeds paired against Butterball; the Midget White was the favorite among the guests, while the panelists preferred the Royal Palm turkey for its “superior depth of flavor in both its white and dark meat.”