Organic is in da House: Sam Fromartz reports on the first-ever House of Representatives hearing on organic agriculture. Farmers and processors reported unanimously that demand for organic food is swamping supply, including for animal feed, and asked for help and funds to increase the number of organic growers. While we’re a little disturbed to learn that House ag chair Collin Peterson didn’t already know whether there were funds specifically available to help farmers through the organic transition period — this is the guy helping to formulate the well-under-way Farm Bill? — it was nice to learn that California Rep. Dennis Cardoza gets a veggie CSA box. Chews Wise

Paula “Kathy Lee Gifford” Deen?: For quite some time, we’ve been intending to launch a campaign to get celebrity chef and Southern gal Paula Deen to reconsider her endorsement of Smithfield pork products. Looks like union activists are getting this party started first, with a protest at her Smithsonian appearance. The way Smithfield treats its workers is pretty bad, sure, it’s a neck-and-neck race to the bottom with how it treats its pigs as well as the state of North Carolina and other hog-factory homes. Washington Post

More bad pet food: Melamine has tuned up in a second pet food ingredient (rice protein concentrate) imported from China, but by different companies and from different manufacturers. This time, a variety of Natural Balance Pet Foods products for both dogs and cats are being recalled. MSN.com (via AP)

Big Pork’s wishlist: The National Pork Producers Council talked to Congress about what the industry does and doesn’t want in the Farm Bill. It wants fewer regulatory hurdles for conservation planning and more funding for environmental quality incentives (we’re skeptical, but good), but it also wants nonambulatory (”downer”) hogs to be able to enter the food supply, no restrictions on antibiotics, and no federal pressure on sow stalls. (AgWeb.com) Sounds like Big Pork is just as greedy south of the border as it is north.

Eating smart to save the planet: A joint op-ed by Jennifer Wilkins and Anna Lappé exhorts readers to eat locally, seasonally, and pasture-raised foods; to junk the bottled water and soda, and some other well-put things that could slow climate change. Seattle P-I

Eggsistential crisis: As battery cages are phased out by the European Union, questions have been raised about the supposedly kinder systems that will replace them. A look at free-range methods and the practices like beak-trimming that often accompany them. Best quote: “Let’s remember that these are animals and manage our farms as biological systems, not technological systems.” Guardian (UK)

Make the switch: A well-intentioned but somewhat scattered column by the P-I’s food editor attempts to simplify the considerations involved in buying organic vs. “local, sustainable” food. It includes the statement, “Unlike at a natural foods market where conventionally grown foods mingle with organics, at a farmers’ market all the foods are organic and locally grown. There’s less room for confusion.” Except that the farmers market listings below the story mention both conventional and organic farmstands. Seattle P-I

Isn’t it environic?: Eating locally and sustainably is so, like, yesterday. If you want to drink responsibly, you’re spoiled for choice in the Bay Area. Fun word coinage: “environy,” used to describe the conundrum of an organic cocktail whose ingredients were flown from halfway around the world. SF Bay Guardian

Look out! Farmed fish on the loose!: About 50 Norwegian fish farming companies allowed 1.2 million salmon, cod, and trout to escape from their farms last year. Reuters

If only we were qualified: The USDA needs to fill an “environmentalist” slot on the National Organic Standards Board. Gristmill

Not fooled by faux farm: Food critic Lee Klein checks out Miami’s Acqua and finds the White Marble Farms pork chop delicious, but overpriced considering “it’s a brand name cooked up by Sysco marketers for industrial pork from Cargill Meat Solutions.” Finally! A restaurant reviewer who Googles. Miami New Times

Lean, green machines: As Earth Day approaches on Sunday, the thoughts of more than just the usual suspects are turning to greenness. A look at several Chicago restaurateurs who are leading efforts to compost, recycle, and save electricity. Chicago Sun-Times

California growers are suing the USDA over allowing imports of possibly bug-carrying Mexican avocados (Associated Press)

Rising ethanol use would increase smog in places like Los Angeles, study finds (AP)