New York Times: A U.S. coalition of about 75 growers of specialty crops (from broccoli to strawberries to nuts and flowers and wine) want more protection from overseas competition, particularly China, whose government subsidies and cheap labor have carved real inroads into U.S. crops like garlic. They’ve submitted a bill asking for roughly $1 billion — not for direct subsidies, but money for marketing, research, and conservation.
Accidental Hedonist: Warm the cockles of your bread-making hearts with this post about Carl Griffith, who was mailing samples of his family’s sourdough starter — brought along when they emigrated west along the Oregon Trail in 1847 — to anyone who asked up until his death. Volunteers are upholding the tradition.
New York Post: Councilman Alan Gerson is holding off on his legislation to ban foie gras in New York; apparently Chicago restaurants have found a way around the Windy City’s ban.
CBS.com: It had to happen — companies are capitalizing on food fears. A new product, CitroBio, claims to destroy E. coli on produce, but tests did not confirm it worked as promised.
Bonus links (slow news day):
Gristmill: For pennies a day, a new service will hunt and destroy your junkmail before it’s sent to you. Sign us up!
New York Times*: Jay McInernery’s review of “Thomas Jefferson on Wine” claims that the Founding Father preferred the same wines as “grape nuts” do today. He also says that Jefferson grew grapes at Monticello but never produced a vintage; “Eating in America,” by Waverly Root and Richard De Rochemont, which Dairy Queen is still perusing, says he produced plenty of wine that he deemed too inferior to serve to discerning guests.
New York Magazine: The Consumer feature looks at entrepreneurial soap makers, who are turning to the same sort of natural and organic ingredients to distinguish their products as makers of artisanal edibles.
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Humor:
December 4th, 2006 at 7:26 am
Just sent for the sourdough starter — will report here when I receive it! Here’s Carl’s friends’ website, with instructions on how to request the starter.
December 4th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
My aunt has pioneer sourdough starter (though she says that everyone with starter claims that it’s from the pioneers). I’ll have to get some from her the next time we’re down.
December 5th, 2006 at 8:45 am
Starter dough?!? I think I’m better prepared to be responsible for cats or children, than I am for starter dough.