Section » Organic vs. industrial
Digest – News: Organic fertilizer faked, UK farmers want organic “holiday,” Obama wishlists
Stinks to high heaven: A large California fertilizer supplier has been selling organic fertilizer, brewed from fish and chicken feathers, that it was secretly spiking with ammonium sulfate, a synthetic fertilizer banned from organic farms. The state knew and did nothing. (Sacramento Bee)
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Let’s cure Absencia Grassosis! Weigh in on organic pasture rule by Dec. 23
We've reported before on a disturbing disease that's been plaguing large-scale organic dairies: Absencia Grassosis. Sounds pretty nasty, doesn't it? Loosely
Digest – News & Features: Organic gets wild n’ crazy, turkey workers do too, and everyone turns to SPAM
When organic gets fishy: The National Organic Standards Board ruled to allow farmed fish that consume up to 25% non-organic feed to be labeled "organic." Consumer advocates worry it's the beginning of a downward slide for standards on other organic animal products. (Washington
Review: New documentary “Food Fight” is more of a lovefest
Ethicurean headquarters in Oakland, CA, should have been the home stadium for a preview screening of "Food Fight," the new documentary by Chris Taylor. After all, this
Energy to spare: Clif Bar Q&A and profile
At the Eco-Farm conference this past January, Tom Philpott and I were suitemates. (He was also my chauffeur and backpack caddy, due to my dumb neck-nerve injury, but that's another story.) Tom went to the Ferry Building beforehand and loaded
As the dirt turns (a pair of agricultural hope operas)
I grew up surrounded by farms. Though my family lived in a neighborhood on the very outskirts of our northern Ohio city, my school bus drove out into the country to pick up some of my farm-raised classmates. And in the summer, I spent the county
Organic dairy pioneer Albert Straus at the Commonwealth Club
If I made a list of the pioneers of the modern sustainable food movement in Northern California, Straus Family Creamery would be one of the first names I would add.
Centralization takes center stage at the Commonwealth Club
As part of the "How We Eat" series at the Commonwealth Club this month, Slow Food Nation Policy and Communications director Naomi Starkman moderated a thoughtful panel discussion
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Mini-Digest (Blogs): Shredding the NYT’s locavore coverage, the end of food — and the organic boom? Plus TCHO Chocolate TV
Our friends in the blogging world have been busy cooking up some great pieces. Back when we did the Digest lo so many months ago, these all would have merited a green star, or even two. So check'em out. Sacred cows made of bullshit: Kerry Trueman tartly (and masterfully) fillets the numerous "let's not
EU fertilizes the organic agriculture sector
Do the Europeans know something we don't, or are they just more willing to act on it? First the European Union urged caution on the marketing of cloned animals,
Wal-Mart sees the locavore light
The Associated Press reports that Wal-Mart plans to spend $400 million on locally grown produce this year, which the company defines as anything farmed within a state's boundaries. The company's Commitment to You
Tom Philpott issues a composting call to farms
Two days ago Tom Philpott gave a challenging speech to organic food industry folks at the Organic Summit in Boulder, Co. He has published the text of those remarks as today's Victual
Fighting climate change: Food miles vs. food choices
If you want to fight global warming with your diet, it is better to change what you eat than where it comes from, according to a recently published article in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental
Digest – Blogs: DC compost, OJ explored, Lappe tries to save the small planet
The Washington (com)post: Ed goes on the hunt for the District of Columbia's rumored compost pile, and finds it in the oddest setting. (The Slow Cook) Which OJ is more PC?: An Ethicureanish examination of the
Getting down to Brassica tacks: A recipe for roasted cauliflower salad
I've always been tickled by the pairing of decadence and duty at the Swanton Berry Farm stand at the Berkeley farmers market: sweet, fragrant, addictive strawberries sharing the table with fibrous, disrespected, and most-likely-not-addictive broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts. It turns out
