Archive for October 2013
Paperback Version of Michael Pollan’s New Illustrated Food Rules Available in Late October
The paperback version of Michael Pollan’s illustrated Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual will be released on October 29, 2013. This wonderful new version, with 19 additional rules for a total of 83 food rules, has been illustrated with humor and a colorful palette by Maira Kalman, the talented artist whose cover art and cartoons frequently appear in the New Yorker Magazine. Amazon is offering a pre-order price guarantee of $9.60, a substantial reduction from the list price of $16.00. Nonetheless, if you’re fortunate to have a local bookstore, a visit later this month to obtain a copy is recommended. A book review of this new illustrated version was posted earlier on this website.
Heavy Spending by Opponents of GMO Labeling Referendum in Washington State
Less than two weeks from now, voting by mail will begin in Washington State on the initiative (I-522) to require labeling of products which contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Readers will remember that California’s similar Proposition 37 was defeated in a campaign by the opposition, which was funded to the tune of $44 million (as compared to $7.3 million in favor of the California proposition) as reported in the Huffington Post, which delineated the opponents’ names based on reporting by Will Evans of California Watch. Despite this overwhelmingly lopsided spending, 47% voted in favor of GMO labeling in California.
The Organic Consumers Association reports that spending by the opponents of Washington State’s Initiative I-522 have invested $17.1 million to oppose the attempt in Washington to require retailers and food companies to label products made with GMOs. The Association is coordinating forces in favor of a yes vote on the Washington initiative and have sought contributions to counter the No campaign funded by “Monsanto, Dow, Dupont, Bayer, BASF, and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).” According to the Organic Consumers Association, the “GMA has kicked in $7.2 million on behalf of food companies like Pepsi, General Mills, Coca-Cola, Kraft and others.” The Association suggests that by funneling monies through the Grocery Manufacturers Association, these food companies seek “to avoid the kind of bad publucity that came raining down on them last year, when they publicly donated to defeat California’s Proposition 37.”
Before the latest attempt to require the labeling of GMOs is over, on November 5th, the Organic Consumers Association is seeking donations to continue its campaign to support I-522, the Washington State initiative. Click Here for a link to the Association’s fundraising campaign to support the labeling of GMOs.
Locavore Prizes: With Local & Global Perspectives
Glynwood, in Putnam County’s river town of Cold Spring in upstate New York, is a remarkable organization with a mission “to strengthen the regional food system throughout the Hudson Valley,” an area of agricultural bounty and rural beauty, which is rich in history. Glynwood’s Harvest Award, now in its 11th year, celebrates farmers, organizations and businesses that demonstrate innovation and leadership in support of sustainable agriculture and regional food systems. The award was created in 2003 “to highlight the positive outcomes that result when a regional food system is revitalized and to inspire others to take action within their own communities.”
The recipients of Glynwood’s 2013 Harvest Award were well chosen: Ben and Lindsey Shute, the co-founders of Hearty Roots Community Farm in Germantown (Columbia County, NY), one of the growing number of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms in upstate New York. (The directory of CSA farms in New York on this website now lists over eighty farms, from eastern Long Island to the Buffalo area.) The Shutes, in addition to operating a model CSA farm, also are the co-founders of the National Young Farmers Coalition. Glynwood in announcing its 2013 Harvest Award noted that Ben and Lindsey Shute “have demonstrated tremendous leadership not only as farm operators but also as trainers and advocates for the next generation of farmers.” Their CSA farm and commitment to sustainable agriculture and the good food movement “provides a powerful example for aspiring and emerging young farmers across the region and beyond.”
Hearty Roots Community Farm was started by the Shutes in 2004 and grows food for over 500 families. Over the past nine seasons, the farm has expanded from 1/4 acre to 95 acres with 25 acres in vegetable production. Finding affordable land for the farm’s permanent home was a challenge, and Ben Shute has become a strong voice for increasing land access for farmers throughout the Hudson Valley. The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC), currently led by Lindsey Shute, was founded in 2009 to “represent, mobilize and engage young farmers across the country to ensure their success.” The Coalition now has over 450 members across all 50 states and has become a strong advocate for policy changes at the national level that will better sustain young farmers. It provides practical resources for young farmers and Farm Hack (which was incubated by NYFC) connects farmers with other farmers, engineers, designers, architects and other allies through in-person events on farms, in grange halls, and through an on-line forum.
Prior winners of Glynwood’s Harvest Award include Hudson Valley Fresh, a not-for-profit dairy cooperative; Farm to Table Co-Packers, a full service contract packaging facility in Kingston (Ulster County, NY) that produces everything from frozen vegetables and soups to jarred pickles and sauces; the Northeast Livestock Processing Service Company, a grassroots business, created by livestock farmers to help other farmers overcome processing and marketing challenges; and Wild Hive Farm, which “promotes sustainable agriculture through grain based local agriculture” and stone mills flours at its mill in Clinton Corners (Dutchess County, NY). Wild Hive Farm at one time operated a wonderful café in Dutchess County, NY, with the best grilled cheese sandwich this writer has ever eaten. Sadly, the café was shuttered, so Wild Hive Farm could focus more intensely on its farming operations.
Other locavore prizes were awarded last month, at the 173rd annual Columbia County Fair in Chatham, NY (a small town in the upper Hudson Valley). The fourth annual Victoria A. Simons Locavore Awards were presented to three co-winners, Josephine Proul, the chef of the superb farm to table restaurant, Local 111, in Philmont (Columbia County, NY) which this writer has enjoyed on numerous occasions; Hawthorne Valley Association, recognized for its multiple activities focused on local agriculture and the operation of a 400 acre biodynamic farm (which includes a 300 member CSA); and Staron’s Farm & Market., the Staron family has operated a popular farmstand where they have sold vegetables and flowers grown on their family farm for 35 years. These locavore awards were established in memory of Victoria A. Simons, the long time editor of The Independent News, who was also the first executive director of Columbia County Bounty (which inspired the creation of Hudson Valley Bounty) and the first woman to serve on the board of the annual Columbia County Fair.
A global perspective on locavore heroes is seen in the naming of Carlo Petrini, the founder of Terra Madre and the Slow Food movement, as A Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Slow Food movement has grown to cover a network of over 100,000 supporters in over 150 countries. At a ceremony held in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, UNEP’s Executive Director, Achim Steiner observed that the Slow Food Movement has become a formidable force that defends local food traditions, protects local biodiversity, and promotes small-scale quality products. Over 10,000 small producers are involved in Slow Food Presidio projects which support small-scale artisinal and traditional food products. Slow Food’s inspirational project, “A 1000 Gardens in Africa,” involves the creation of school and community gardens in Africa. With a donation of approximately US$1200, a donor can “adopt a garden and twin with one of the African communities involved in the project.” Might there be successful CSA farms in the U.S. and Canada financially able to consider this way to support sustainable agriculture in Africa? Valuing local agriculture and becoming a part of a CSA farm community does not represent a lack of caring about developing sustainable food sources around the world. We all share one planet.
Growing “good, clean, and fair food,” in Carlo Petrini’s beautiful words, “enables us to earn value in terms of conviviality, personal gratification, community service, environmental protection, and in a word, well-being.” Kudos to all the award recipients- local and distant.
[Frank W. Barrie 10/01/13]
