Dallas Morning News: Texas not only has the most organic acreage of any state, they have a newspaper that did a really kickin’ job of researching the USDA organic label and enforcement of the rules. The USDA organic rules are vague and some companies (Whole Foods is one, and good for them!) have taken extra measures to verify that their producers are meeting organic standards. The article also takes a look at why China’s organic production concerns some people.
Santa Monica Daily News: It’s been three years since an 89-year-old driver barreled through the Santa Monica Farmers Market, killing 10 people and injuring more than 50 others. This article has a Q&A with one of the farmers there that day, and mixes his horrific recollections of the aftermath with some weirdly banal questions about baby lettuce.
San Jose Mercury News: More detail on Canada’s seventh case of mad-cow disease. This one was a 4-year-old dairy cow born well after the feed ban. A Cattle Network story says the USDA may be rethinking its regulations on Canadian beef.
Athens News: An Ohio class focuses on teaching the manual skills needed for sustainable agriculture in a world rapidly running out of fossil fuels.
Food Navigator USA: Whole Foods has gotten a lot of attention from their public dialog with Michael Pollan and have pledged to source more products locally. Wild Oats, the second largest national retailer or organic and natural products, also has launched a national initiative to use locally produced foods.
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