ARTICLES & NEWS – GENERAL INTEREST
Sorted by date published, unless otherwise noted.
Individual Articles & News Items
- April 24, 2007
"Ingredient Contamination: Human Food Could be at Risk, too, Experts Fear"
By Justin Pritchard, The Associated Press. Published by The Salt Lake Tribune
"LOS ANGELES - The same food safety net that couldn’t catch poisoned pet food ingredients from China has a much bigger hole. Billions of dollars’ worth of foreign ingredients that Americans eat in everything from salad dressing to ice cream get a pass from overwhelmed inspectors, despite a rising tide of imports from countries with spotty records, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal trade and food data." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
- April 24, 2007
"Snack Smackdown: High Time to Rethink the Tradition of Spiking Kids’ Events With Junk Food"
By Jennifer Barrett. Published by The Salt Lake Tribune.
"...If the pros don’t eat sugar–loaded junk food after a game, why do we feed it to our kids? "It completely defeats the purpose," says Salt Lake pediatrician Mark Templeman. The average child doesn’t burn enough calories in a soccer game to work off a Twinkie or a doughnut, he said...
Despite the obvious disconnect of unhealthy food at a healthy event, the snack-food madness is spreading. Junk food is showing up not only at sporting events, but also at choir practice, ballet recitals and field trips...
Nutritionist Julie Metos, head of the master's program in nutrition at the University of Utah, fears that parents in the Beehive State are late to pick up on what may be a national trend. When she's brought up the sport-snack topic at conferences, many of her peers tell her that their communities have given up the practice...
Even Salt Lake County is trying to clean up its snack act. After a request from Mayor Peter Corroon, the county Parks and Recreation Department in the past two months removed candy and chips from vending machines at rec centers where kids play basketball, take classes and swim...
If parents hate bringing the snack and the nation is trying to be healthier, why do we still give our kids doughnuts at soccer games - and baseball, basketball, swimming, and choir?...
For those who want to end the treat tradition, here are a few suggestions:
Healthy snack choices: Strawberries dipped in yogurt, Bananas, Orange slices, Whole apples, Grapes, Kiwis scooped with a spoon, Pretzels, Whole grain bagels with low fat cream cheese, String cheese, Low–fat yogurt, Popcorn, & Nuts.
Less healthy, but better than candy: Pudding packs, Popsicles, Granola bars, Trail mix, & Ice cream."
(See the link above for the rest of the article and suggestions for those who do want to end the unhealthy treat tradition.)
- April 22, 2007
"You Are What You Grow"
By Michael Pollan. Published by The New York Times, April 22, 2007 (Earth Day).
"...As a rule, processed foods are more "energy dense" than fresh foods: they contain less water and fiber but more added fat and sugar, which makes them both less filling and more fattening. These particular calories also happen to be the least healthful ones in the marketplace, which is why we call the foods that contain them "junk." Drewnowski concluded that the rules of the food game in America are organized in such a way that if you are eating on a budget, the most rational economic strategy is to eat badly—and get fat.
This perverse state of affairs is not, as you might think, the inevitable result of the free market. Compared with a bunch of carrots, a package of Twinkies, to take one iconic processed foodlike substance as an example, is a highly complicated, high–tech piece of manufacture, involving no fewer than 39 ingredients, many themselves elaborately manufactured, as well as the packaging and a hefty marketing budget. So how can the supermarket possibly sell a pair of these synthetic cream-filled pseudocakes for less than a bunch of roots?
For the answer, you need look no farther than the farm bill. This resolutely unglamorous and head–hurtingly complicated piece of legislation, which comes around roughly every five years and is about to do so again, sets the rules for the American food system—indeed, to a considerable extent, for the world’s food system. Among other things, it determines which crops will be subsidized and which will not, and in the case of the carrot and the Twinkie, the farm bill as currently written offers a lot more support to the cake than to the root. Like most processed foods, the Twinkie is basically a clever arrangement of carbohydrates and fats teased out of corn, soybeans and wheat—three of the five commodity crops that the farm bill supports, to the tune of some $25 billion a year. (Rice and cotton are the others.) For the last several decades—indeed, for about as long as the American waistline has been ballooning—U.S. agricultural policy has been designed in such a way as to promote the overproduction of these five commodities, especially corn and soy..." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
- March 28, 2007
"Proponents Say Fair–Trade Co–ops Improve Coffee Farmers’ Lives"
By Kathy Stephenson. Published by The Salt Lake Tribune.
"Father James Flynn used to be like most bleary–eyed Americans, stumbling to the kitchen every morning to put on a pot of coffee.
The priest at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Park City would pour the water into the reservoir, scoop the coffee into the filter and never think about what it takes to get those brown grounds into his pot.
Flynn paid more attention after visiting Nicaragua and Guatemala. There, he saw firsthand how small families of farmers picked every coffee bean painstakingly by hand, using just their index finger and thumb. Yet, the farmers did not make enough money to properly feed, house or clothe their families. There were no schools for their children or medical clinics.
It was the wake–up call Flynn needed to start preaching about Fair Trade Certified coffee, an international movement that guarantees farmers a fair price for their harvest.
"It’s a matter of justice," said Flynn said, who makes presentations to schools and community groups about his trips. " (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
- March 24, 2007
"Little Time Left to Dig: Urban Gardeners’ Plot Changes Hands"
By Dawn House. Published by The Salt Lake Tribune.
"Urban gardeners will have a single additional year to grow tomatoes, squash, kale and other vegetables as well as harvesting golden raspberries that bloom throughout the growing season in a plot situated between two four–story apartment buildings in Salt Lake City. But the colorful flowers and bounty that have graced the downtown plot at 555 South 400 East for the past 25 years is coming to an end: the property has been sold for a commercial development. Attorney Thomas Duffin on Friday confirmed he had sold the property but declined to comment further.
Wasatch Community Gardens, a nonprofit group that manages the plot, had been working to purchase the property to continue using it as an urban garden. Duffin sold it two weeks ago for $250,000 to the Community Development Corp., said the group's executive director, Darin Brush. The group, a nonprofit originally created by the Salt Lake City Council in 1990 to relieve blighted downtown neighborhoods, plans to build five townhouses there, said Brush. The gardeners will be allowed to continue meeting and growing their food and flowers there in the meantime, he said. "It's sad to see it go," said Brush. "We certainly will do everything we can to help them find another location."
For more than two decades, neighbors had gotten together to turn the vacant lot into a space for perennial flowers and vegetables. Through the years, gardeners adopted certain sections, a raspberry patch or, say, a composting bin. Rose bushes, fencing, lighting, trees and a vine–covered archway were added to the project. "The memories and meals of the many different gardeners over a quarter century are the garden's strongest legacy," said Emily Aagaard, director of Wasatch Community Gardens, a nonprofit group that manages the plot.
Meanwhile, Wasatch Community Gardens is continuing its mission with several workshops planned for gardeners throughout the season. For information, call 801–359–2658." (See the link above for photos in the article.)
- March 22, 2007 — Slow Food Utah News:
"FamilyFarmed.org EXPO is Chicago’s Premier Local and Organic Food Event"
By way of The Bioneers Website.
"The FamilyFarmed.org EXPO is Chicago’s premier local and organic food event. The two–day event brings Midwest family–farmers to town to meet with local food buyers and Chicagoland consumers. The EXPO features exhibits including growers, food processors and organizations dealing with food, farming, organics, artisanal food, gardening, public health, food policy, urban agriculture, GMO issues, fair trade, sustainability and more."
(See the link above for more on "Family Farmed EXPO 2007.")
[Webmaster’s Comment: Emulate here in Utah / Intermountain West?]
- March 21, 2007
"Purchasing a Share in a Farm’s Produce Offers Many Benefits"
By Valerie Phillips. Published by The Deseret Morning News.
"‘Community supported agriculture’ (also known as CSA) is a long term for a simple concept. In the spring, members pay a fee to a local farm, which entitles them to a weekly share of what the farm grows during the season. It’s like buying a season pass for produce, as you would for a ski resort or Lagoon. There are four farms operating CSAs in Utah. The advantage is it gives the farmers a guaranteed market for what they grow, and the farmers have the money to pay for up–front costs, such as seed..." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
- March 19, 2007
"$100K in Grants to Help Community Gardens Grow"
By Kathy Stephenson. Published by The Salt Lake Tribune.
"The Utah Department of Health recently awarded 10 minigrants – worth a total of $100,000 – to create or enhance community gardens in Salt Lake and Weber counties. Utah received the funds from the National Governors Association’s Healthy States program. All funds will go directly to the programs, and Wasatch Community Gardens will provide technical assistance.
Here’s where the gardens will be sprouting. They are in Salt Lake City except as indicated:
- Forest EcoGarden, 1575 W. 1000 North.
- Full Circle Garden (City Academy) at 555 E. 200 South.
- Heritage Commons Community Garden, 2140 E. Red Butte Road in Fort Douglas.
- Riley Pride Garden at Riley Elementary, 1410 S. 800 West.
- South Valley Gardens Project, Boys and Girls Clubs of Murray and Midvale.
- Urban Growth Garden Project, 300 N. 900 West.
- Historic Sandy Community Garden, 300 E. 9000 South, Sandy.
- Seven Canyons School, 2150 S. Foothill Drive; Watchwood Community Garden, 2200 W. 4130 South, Taylorsville.
- Pioneer Garden Project, 2046 Adams Ave., Ogden."
[Webmaster’s Note: While I applaud the granting of these funds, you should be aware that while it may appear that each garden project received $10,000, that is not the case. A significant amount is apparently going to Wasatch Community Gardens to help administer the garden projects, which is also applaudable. Just so you know...]
- March 5, 2007
"Mmmm, Tasty Chemicals:
A new book ’deconstructs’ a Twinkie and analyzes all 39 ingredients. Industrial–strength junk food, anyone?"
By Anne Underwood. Published by Newsweek.
"As Steve Ettlinger dropped down a Wyoming mine shaft, plummeting 1,600 feet in an open–mesh cage, he wondered how many other food writers had ever donned hard hats and emergency breathing equipment in pursuit of a story. But it was too late to turn back. He’d promised his editor a book tracing the ingredients in a Hostess Twinkie to their origins–and one of them was down this shaft....
...If you’ve ever puzzled over why packaged foods contain "polysorbate 60" or "mono and diglycerides," Ettlinger’s new book, "Twinkie, Deconstructed," is a treat you’ll want to try. Chapter by chapter, Ettlinger–the author of previous food books like "Beer for Dummies"–decodes all 39 ingredients in the little crème–filled cakes. He explains their uses and the processes by which raw materials are "crushed, baked, fermented, refined and/or reacted into a totally unrecognizable goo or powder with a strange name," which then appears on a label full of other incomprehensible and barely pronounceable ingredients. Unraveling it all was a major undertaking–and Ettlinger received no help from Hostess and its parent company, Interstate Brands Corp., despite appealing directly to the Vice President of Cake." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
(Article highlighted in Slow Food USA’s March 2007 "The Food Chain" e–Newsletter.)
See Slow Food Utah Books for more on Steve Ettlinger’s "Twinkie, Deconstructed."
- The following three newspaper editorials were highlighted in Slow Food USA’s "The Food Chain" e–Newsletter (March 2007 edition), and were added, as a group for ease of reference, to Slow Food Utah Website March 15, 2007. (Slow Food members receive The Food Chain by e–mail.)
All three editorials focus on the on–going U.S. Congressional debate concerning the 2007 "Farm Bill."
- February 17, 2007
"The Future of Farming"
Published by The New York Times, Editorial Desk.
"Six months ago, it was an even bet whether there would be a new farm bill in 2007. The big commodity farmers, and the interest groups that represent them, were hoping that Congress would simply extend the 2002 Farm Bill, a regressive grab bag for big agriculture. These hopes have now been disappointed. Mike Johanns, the secretary of agriculture, has unveiled his proposals for a new farm bill, which on the whole seems remarkably promising... There is much to applaud in this bill. Then again, there was much to like about the last farm bill, and we know what happened to that. Congress left many of the old subsidies intact, and failed to nourish the conservation programs. We are hoping the new Congress will have the good sense to reverse the policies that have done so much damage to rural America, and in doing so offer hope to its small farmers." (See the link above for the rest of the article, fee–account required. Please Note: Archive articles do not include photos, charts or graphics.)
(Article highlighted in Slow Food USA’s March 2007 "The Food Chain" e–Newsletter.)
- February 11, 2007
"Shape This Farm Bill for the Future – The Register’s Editorial"
Published by The Des Moines Register.
"As Congress begins writing a new farm bill, agriculture in America stands at the precipice of unprecedented change. Farmers have the potential to gain income from a third major source, raising crops for energy, as well as producing food and fiber. But the pressure to plant more acres to reap higher prices for energy crops also has the potential to damage soil and water.
The basic concept behind current farm programs has changed little since the 1930s: Provide subsidies for growing certain crops as an income safety net for farmers. The 2007 bill, instead of relying on the past, should be about shaping a sensible future for a new era of agriculture. Last month, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns unveiled the administration’s proposals for the bill, which included, not surprisingly, more dollars for biofuels research. But that’s a minor aspect of what a forward–thinking farm bill should look like.
It needs to pass three basic tests: It should encourage protection of the nation’s soil and water, as the top priority; offer a fair, reliable income safety net; and spend taxpayers’ dollars wisely..." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
(Article highlighted in Slow Food USA’s March 2007 "The Food Chain" e–Newsletter.)
- February 4, 2007
Opinion: "Living Food: Healthy Reform"
"One in an occasional series on food and health." [RE: 2007 Farm Bill]
Published by Seattle Post–Intelligencer Editorial Board.
"President Bush wants modest cuts in direct subsidies paid to farmers and an end to payments to some of the wealthiest farmers. That would be a start toward the sweeping changes Congress ought to make in a system for overfeeding Americans unhealthy foods, overusing oil and degrading soils, water and wildlife.
The federal Farm Bill, due for congressional reauthorization this year, cries out for dramatic departures. Given the political power of the Midwestern farm states, a turn toward sustainability, fairness to the vanishing small farmer and health for the public may be difficult.
One challenge is getting the attention of more U.S. senators and representatives to policies traditionally left to Corn Belt congressional blocs. In this state, the strength of the agriculture sector, always first or second in total economic output in Washington, brings at least some attention.
Political leaders here would be wise to consider urban residents’ increasing interest in food issues. At least 17 state organizations joined groups from around the country last month in calling for a more balanced Farm Bill. Among the groups are the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network, the Cascade Harvest Coalition and PCC Natural Markets. They support promising proposals that encompass encouragement for new farmers, creation of more farmers markets and more emphasis on healthy, locally grown foods...
Pouring good money into bad food isn’t working. Limiting and redirecting farm subsidies is only a start toward a bill that can bring out the best in farmers, the land and the food we eat."
"On the Net: www.farmandfoodproject.org"
(Article highlighted in Slow Food USA’s March 2007 "The Food Chain" e–Newsletter.)
- March 14, 2007
"Agriculture: Number of Farms in Utah, Nation Suffers Decline"
By Dawn House. Published by The Salt Lake Tribune in the "Business Digest" section.
"The number of farms in Utah and across the nation has declined, reflecting a continuing consolidation of farming operations and the development of agricultural land. In Utah in 2006, 100 farms were lost, dropping the number of operations to 15,100. The average farm size, at 768 acres, was up by 5 acres from the previous year, according to the Utah Agricultural Statistics Service’s March report. Nationwide, the number of farms is estimated at 2.09 million for 2006, about 0.4 percent fewer than the year before. Total land in farms, at 932 million acres, decreased by 780,000 acres from the previous year. The size of the average U.S. farm was 446 acres, an increase of one acre from the pervious year."
- March 11, 2007
"Gardening – Kernels of Truth: Stalking the Most Flavorful Corn.
It pays to buy local – and here’s why."
By Maggie Wolf. Published by The Salt Lake Tribune, in the Monday Insider Section.
"It was an abrupt and disappointing change when commercial sweet–corn farmers adopted a new type of sweet corn about 15 years ago. Shrewd marketing labeled the new variety of canned and frozen corn "Crisp!", as if that were a desirable characteristic. With about 75 percent more sugars and tougher kernels, "shrunken" or sh2–type sweet corn tolerates more abuse during and after harvest. Farmers appreciate sh2 corn’s long harvest window, with sweetness lasting up to 10 days or more past maturity. Plus, sh2’s tougher kernels resist bruising during mechanical harvest or rough handling. But true corn aficionados yearn for old–fashioned corn flavor and tender sweet kernels, qualities now found only in home– or locally grown corn..."
(See the link above for the rest of the article.)
(Maggie Wolf is an assistant professor for Utah State University Extension in Salt Lake County.)
For more facts about sweet corn:
- USU Extension fact sheet: "Sweet corn in the garden." (PDF)
- National Garden Bureau’s Sweet Corn Fact Sheet.
- National and Utah Slow Food movement
- CSAs, Community Supported Agriculture in Utah: Utah’s Own CSA Information.
- March 8, 2007
"Dishing It Out: My Address to the Southern Appalachian Youth on Food Conference"
By Tom Philpott. Published by Grist, in "Victual Reality – The eco–politics behind your food."
"...For someone who spends a lot of his time in isolated circumstances — staring at a computer screen, working in the field — the conference was a great reminder for me that people all over the country are mobilizing around food issues. I’m no fiery orator; I read directly from my prepared text. Yet the students bombarded me with smart questions afterward, demonstrating passion, critical thought, and the zeal to do something. As I prepared the notes for my talk, it became clear that I was essentially distilling my 25 or so Victual Reality columns into a broad look at food and the environment. After seven months of writing this weekly column, now seems like a good time to present a summary of my work so far. (Plus, with all that time spent preparing for the conference, I didn’t have time to write a fresh column. In writing as in farming — especially when writing while farming — nothing must go to waste.)
What follows is an edited version of my talk. Much of it may be familiar to regular readers, but in synthesizing my work, I’ve come up with new insights, connections, and ways of seeing things.
An earlier speaker made the point that if we seriously want to rebuild local food systems, we need more farmers. Warren Wilson College gives me hope for that vision. The idea that students should essentially run a campus with their own labor — should learn how to do things while in college — strikes me as a brilliant model for the whole education system...." (See the link above for the full article.)
- March 2, 2007
"Eating Better Than Organic" [a.k.a. "My Search for the Perfect Apple."]
By John Cloud. Published by Time in partnership with CNN.
"...Nearly a quarter of American shoppers now buy organic products once a week, up from 17% in 2000. But for food purists, "local" is the new "organic," the new ideal that promises healthier bodies and a healthier planet. Many chefs, food writers and politically minded eaters are outraged that "Big Organic" firms now use the same industrial–size farming and long–distance–shipping methods as conventional agribusiness. "Should I assume that I have a God–given right to access the entire earth’s bounty, however far away some of its produce is grown?" asks ethnobotanist Gary Paul Nabhan in his 2002 memoir, Coming Home to Eat: The Pleasures and Politics of Local Foods. Nabhan predicted my apple problem when he vacillated over some organic pumpkin canned hundreds of miles from his Arizona home. "If you send it halfway around the world before it is eaten," he mused, "an organic food still may be ’good’ for the consumer, but is it ’good’ for the food system?..." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
(Article highlighted in Slow Food USA’s March 2007 "The Food Chain" e–Newsletter.)
- March 1, 2007
"Keep Farming Local"
Public Forum Letter by Liz Eyre, Salt Lake City.
Published by The Salt Lake Tribune, March 1, 2007.
"The American Dream: great job, beautiful house, white picket fence and as much land as we can afford. Does this come at a price? Imagine walking into your local grocery store only to find that the fresh and canned fruits and vegetables are all gone. You notice a note from the management stating that the next shipment should arrive in the next couple of weeks.
As you pass by the news rack, you glance at the headlines declaring that trade between the United States and Latin American countries has deteriorated to the point that we may not continue to receive our regular shipments of fruits and vegetables. How is this possible?
With farmers eager to sell prime farming land to developers for residential communities and industrial parks, we are placing our ability to feed ourselves at risk. Farming has been the pride of Utah for over a century but it is continually becoming a thing of the past. We need to pass laws establishing farming districts that won’t be rezoned or redistricted, keeping farming local."
- February/March 2007
"Cultivating New Farmers"
By Jean English. Published by Mother Earth News.
"New organic programs are teaching young people the skills they need to make a living on the farm.
Farming is one of the most useful and satisfying occupations people can pursue. It meets our need to feel useful, exercises body and brain, builds communities, and connects us with nature. The more food we produce for ourselves and our neighbors, the healthier our communities will be. But with the average U.S. farmer now 55 years old, we need a new generation of farmers to replace those who are retiring.
Fortunately, there are many young people who dream of becoming farmers, and with the rapidly growing demand for organic and local food, there also are growing business opportunities to meet local needs for fresh, healthy food. If you or someone you know is an aspiring farmer, there are numerous career options. Here’s where to start learning the skills to earn a fulfilling living on the farm." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
- February 26, 2007
"Risks of Tainted Food Rise as Inspections Drop
Amid High–profile Scares, FDA Safety Testing has Fallen by Half Since 2003"
By Associated Press. Published by MSNBC.
"The federal agency that’s been front and center in warning the public about tainted spinach and contaminated peanut butter is conducting just half the food safety inspections it did three years ago. The cuts by the Food and Drug Administration come despite a barrage of high–profile food recalls. "We have a food safety crisis on the horizon," said Michael Doyle, director of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia. Between 2003 and 2006, FDA food safety inspections dropped 47 percent, according to a database analysis of federal records by The Associated Press..." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
(Article highlighted in Slow Food USA’s March 2007 "The Food Chain" e–Newsletter.)
- February 26, 2007
"For Love & Lamb — Morgan Valley Lamb Bridges the Gap Between Old and New"
By Vanessa Chang. Published by Salt Lake Magazine, Vol. 18, No. 2.
"Jamie Gillmor’s family has raised sheep in Utah for generations. But by the time he and his wife Linda took over the business as Morgan Valley Lamb, ranching families were disappearing under the pressure of plummeting prices, the encroachment of agribusiness, and a public reluctant to savor the other red meat. Despite all this, they’ve adapted—preserving a way of life and becoming unlikely and soft–spoken champions of sustainable agriculture..."
(See the article for the rest of the story. The April, 2007 edition of Salt Lake Magazine is available by subscription and on news–stands now, on–line edition available soon.)
- (News) February 22, 2007
"Fast Food Nation" the movie, will be released on DVD March 6, 2007, along with the Flash animation series "The Meatrix" films.
Fast Food Nation, a dramatic feature based on material from Eric Schlosser’s New York Times bestseller of the same name, explores the fast food industry and ultimately reveals the dark side of the "All American Meal." Directed by Richard Linklater, the all–star cast includes Greg Kinnear, Ethan Hawke, Wilmer Valderrama, Kris Kristofferson, and Patricia Arquette.
The Meatrix, the first
viral advocacy film of its kind, made its online debut in November 2003
and promptly crashed the server upon which it was hosted due to its tremendous
popularity. Since then, it has been seen by over 15 million unique viewers
and translated into 30 languages, including Tibetan. The Meatrix
II: Revolting, which exposes the dark side of the dairy industry,
was launched in March 2006. The Meatrix II½, produced
in partnership with Participant Productions, was released in November 2006
to help promote the Fast Food Nation movie and its nationwide action
campaign. This latest in the Meatrix series illustrates the dirty
secrets of meat packing plants and criticizes the reckless speeds at which
they operate.
The Meatrix (www.themeatrix.com) is a project of Sustainable Table (www.sustainabletable.org) and Free Range Studios (www.freerangestudios.com). Sustainable Table celebrates the sustainable food movement, educates consumers on food–related issues, and works to build community through food. Projects include The Meatrix and the Eat Well Guide (www.eatwellguide.org).
Participant Productions focuses on compelling entertainment that highlights important social issues in order to awaken, inspire and empower audiences to make a difference in the world around them. Participate.net creates action campaigns for each of Participant Productions’ films, supporting a growing community of film lovers and activists dedicated to engaging their minds, sharing their passions and improving the world around them.
- Press Release: "MEATRIX Films to Include Fast Food Nation Movie on DVD." (PDF)
-
For more information, visit The Meatrix – News or Sustainable Table.
- February 20, 2007
"Seminar on CSA Food Set"
By Dawn House. Published in the February 20, 2007 edition of "The Salt Lake Tribune."
"On Wednesday, February 21, information
about Community Supported Agriculture programs will be presented at 6:30
p.m. at the Salt Lake City Main Library, 210 E. 400 South, on the Lower
Urban Level. The session will offer information about locally grown farm
products and the benefits of forming a CSA along the Wasatch Front. The
programs are part of a growing social movement that encourages urban and
rural citizens to share responsibility for the land where their food is
grown and how their food is produced... For more information, contact Jeff
Williams at 801–263–3204, ext. 14, or visit www.greatsaltlakercd.org." This
event is hosted by Great Salt Lake Resource Conservation & Development.
(See the link above for the rest of the article.)
- February 14, 2007
"Main Street will get silly this summer: Sunday Market formed to give Parkites more local activities and social events"
By Dan Bischoff. Published by The Park Record, February 14, 2007.
"Three friends shared a bottle of wine and decided there was something missing in Park City. "We just were all on board with the idea that there was a gap in Park City," said Jewels Harrison, program director for the Park Silly Sunday Market. "The main thing is, there’s not enough for the locals anymore...."
(See the link above for the rest of the article.)
- (News) February 14, 2007
"Vegetable Lovers: Wasatch Community Gardens Wants Your Stories and Recipes!"
Wasatch Community Gardens is "compiling
a cookbook of favorite heirloom and other unique vegetable recipes. Any
tales or tips from your garden or special experiences growing a unique
veggie can also be included. (Recipe key ingredients must be a locally
grown vegetable.) Wasatch Community Gardens will be selling the books
at the annual WCG May Plant sale, May 12, to support the Gardens — and
encourage more vegetable variety in our community."
To submit a recipe, please send this Cookbook Submission Form (MS Word Document).
For more information read the Cookbook
Call for Recipes PDF document.
- (News) February 14, 2007
"The Endless Feast"
A Film Garden Entertainment Production. Directed by Stephanie Jenz. Distributed by American Public Television.
The Endless Feast is a new 13–part television series that "brings together local farmers and artisans, food lovers and culinary experts to explore the connection between the land and the food on our plates — one bountiful feast at a time.
Premieres on public television stations nationwide beginning April, 2007 (check local listings).
In picturesque locations throughout North America, guests dine al fresco, coming face–to–face with the origins of their food. Locations include: Arizona, California, Oregon, Virginia, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and British Columbia.
In each episode, a star chef — including John Gorham, Ben Dyer, Scott Dolich, Remi Lauvand, Ronald St. Pierre, Gail Hobbs, Grant Cousar, Jason Tostrup, Laurent Saillard , Andrew Gruel, Michael Leviton and Kelsie Kerr — creates tantalizing menus featuring regional organic specialties.
The producers of the feast first visit the host location — whether a lush farm field, a fragrant vineyard or an urban community garden — to select the perfect site to stage their meal. They then set out to meet the local artisans, wine–makers, produce farmers, cheese–makers, organic cider farmers, fishermen, ranchers and olive–growers who will contribute the food and drink for the meal. They describe their production methods and evoke an inspiring passion for their work.
Once the food providers and ingredients are introduced, the staff races to get everything in place for the feast. The chef cooks nearby in an impromptu kitchen, as guests watch the last–minute preparations unfold. Finally, as diners take their seats at long, linen–covered tables, a local vintner pours wine and the much anticipated family–style meal begins. During the feast, guests share the meal with those who have grown, raised, caught or prepared it. From heirloom tomatoes grown by father–and–son farmers, to cheese made from the milk of a small herd of grass–fed goats, The Endless Feast celebrates local and sustainable agriculture at its very source."
(Q) "Why do you think The Endless Feast will resonate with public television audiences?" (Anna Lappé) "I think public television audiences care about the world around them and want to know how they can be part of making the world a better place. Specifically, many of your viewers are probably fans of Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation and Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma. The Endless Feast helps take the national conversation Schlosser and Pollan have helped to spark further, showing the real life people who are bringing to life a viable alternative to the ‘dark side of the all–American meal.’" (Part of an interview with Anna Lappé, social activist and food expert, who is featured in episodes of The Endless Feast. Anna Lappé is author of "Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen," "Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet, " and co–founder of the Small Planet Institute. The full interview and more information on the series is available on the APT Fact Sheet (MS Word Document).
(Please note that
at the date of this posting, the Website www.EndlessFeast.tv is not yet
active, but it is listed by the producers, and should be active soon...)
- February 5, 2007
"The Farm Bill: What You Should Know"
Published by Slow Food USA in the February, 2007 edition of "The
Food Chain."
"If you eat food, and we’re pretty sure you do, then the Farm Bill is relevant to your life. This June, the Farm Bill will be up for re–authorization. Last authorized in 2002, this piece of legislation is actually much broader and more far–reaching than it sounds. Contained within are ten ‘titles’ that cover everything from commodities programs (six crops that require federal price support) to wetlands conservation, from food stamps legislation to country of origin labeling. This means that the issues covered in the Farm Bill affect each and every one of us, whether we are urban or rural dwellers.
We urge you to educate yourselves about the issues covered within the bill, and then to support the issues that are important to you; write to your legislators and tell them how you feel. Over the next few months, in The Food Chain, we will continue to provide you with information on this extremely important legislation. To continue to learn about what the Farm bill is and how to take action [visit the Slow Food Forum – The Farm Bill] for more of this story."
- Information on basics of the "Farm Bill" is available in a PDF document from the Congressional Research Service, the public policy research arm of the United States Congress.
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Slow Food Members receive "The Food Chain" monthly directly from Slow Food USA. For more information on becoming a Member, please visit the Slow Food Utah Membership page.
- January 28, 2007
"Unhappy Meals"
By Michael Pollan. Published by The New York Times, January 28, 2007.
"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."
"That, more or less, is the short answer to the supposedly incredibly complicated and confusing question of what we humans should eat in order to be maximally healthy. I hate to give away the game right here at the beginning of a long essay, and I confess that I’m tempted to complicate matters in the interest of keeping things going for a few thousand more words. I’ll try to resist but will go ahead and add a couple more details to flesh out the advice. Like: A little meat won’t kill you, though it’s better approached as a side dish than as a main. And you’re much better off eating whole fresh foods than processed food products. That’s what I mean by the recommendation to eat ‘food.’ Once, food was all you could eat, but today there are lots of other edible foodlike substances in the supermarket. These novel products of food science often come in packages festooned with health claims, which brings me to a related rule of thumb: if you’re concerned about your health, you should probably avoid food products that make health claims. Why? Because a health claim on a food product is a good indication that it’s not really food, and food is what you want to eat.
Uh–oh. Things are suddenly sounding a little more complicated, aren’t they? Sorry. But that’s how it goes as soon as you try to get to the bottom of the whole vexing question of food and health. Before long, a dense cloud bank of confusion moves in. Sooner or later, everything solid you thought you knew about the links between diet and health gets blown away in the gust of the latest study." ...
"It might be argued that, at this point in history, we should simply accept that fast food is our food culture. Over time, people will get used to eating this way and our health will improve. But for natural selection to help populations adapt to the Western diet, we’d have to be prepared to let those whom it sickens die. That’s not what we’re doing. Rather, we’re turning to the health–care industry to help us ‘adapt.’ Medicine is learning how to keep alive the people whom the Western diet is making sick. It’s gotten good at extending the lives of people with heart disease, and now it’s working on obesity and diabetes. Capitalism is itself marvelously adaptive, able to turn the problems it creates into lucrative business opportunities: diet pills, heart–bypass operations, insulin pumps, bariatric surgery. But while fast food may be good business for the health–care industry, surely the cost to society — estimated at more than $200 billion a year in diet–related health–care costs — is unsustainable." ...
(See the link above for the rest of the article.)
"Michael Pollan, a [New York Times] contributing writer, is the Knight Professor of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley. His most recent book, ‘The Omnivore’s Dilemma,’ was chosen by the editors of The New York Times Book Review as one of the 10 best books of 2006."
- January 26, 2007
"‘Fruit’ in That Juice? It Could be Red Dye: Many Foods Marketed Toward Children are Misleading in Their Packaging, Report Says."
By Mary Engel, Times Staff Writer. Published by Los Angeles Times, January 26, 2007.
"About half of the most aggressively marketed children’s food with pictures or names of fruit on the packaging contains no fruit at all, according to a report to be released today at the 2007 California Childhood Obesity Conference in Anaheim. Some of the least fruity products were cereal and yogurt, said lead author Leslie Mikkelsen, a dietitian for Prevention Institute, an Oakland–based nonprofit that promotes community–based health and safety programs.
She pointed to a box of Berry Berry Kix that showed a big spoonful of cereal with what at least looked like raspberries and blueberries. ‘Parents do think cereals are a good way to start the day,’ Mikkelsen said, and they look at this one and think ‘it has the goodness of fruit.’ But in fact, said Mikkelsen, pointing to the ingredients listed on the box, ‘all that’s in there is red dye and blue dye.’
... ‘I really don’t think a lay person knows that fruit drink doesn’t mean fruit juice, especially if it has these beautiful pictures of fruit on it,’ she said. Rosa Soto of Whittier, the mother of an 8–year–old son, agreed. ‘A lot of parents think they can trust the labels,’ she said, meaning the colorful picture of an apple or orange, not the small–print ingredients that manufacturers are required to list.
Soto volunteers as a ‘team mom’ for her son’s football, basketball and baseball teams, and encourages other parents to bring water to their children’s practice sessions and games. Many show up with fruit drinks that contain more sugar than nutrients. ‘They’re trying their very best to provide healthy snacks,’ she said.
Even drinks that contain 100% juice don’t match the fiber and nutrients of whole fruit, said Mikkelsen, and are highly concentrated sources of fructose, a sugar. The American Academy of Pediatrics and federal dietary guidelines recommend that children eat whole fruits and limit fruit juice to 4 to 12 ounces per day.
The three–day California Childhood Obesity Conference drew more than 1,700 health advocates and officials to Anaheim.
Rising obesity levels in California and the nation are attributed to increased consumption of sweetened beverages; reliance on meals that are high in fat and low in fruits, vegetables and whole grains; reduced physical activity; and unsafe neighborhood play areas." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
[Most of this article is also available in the January 26, 2007 Salt Lake Tribune print edition, page A12, but not the online edition.]
- January 19, 2007
"Seed Saving: Preserving Our Irreplaceable Genetic Heritage"
By Kent Whealy. Published by The Bioneers, in the January 19, 2007 edition of "Bioneers Buzz: Ecological Design." (e–Newsletter)
"There is great reason for alarm and concern about the loss of native food crop strains, our irreplaceable genetic wealth. The only place genes can be stored is in living systems, either in the living branches, such as in bud-wooded apple trees, or in the living embryos of grains and vegetable seeds. Native varieties rapidly become extinct once they’re dropped in favor of introduced hybrid seed. That extinction can take place in a single year if the seeds are cooked and eaten instead of saved as seed stock. Quite literally, the genetic heritage of a millennium in a particular valley can disappear in a single bowl of porridge.
During these last 24 years, we’ve discovered that there’s a tremendous heritage of these heirloom varieties in North America, a heritage that’s been accumulating for four centuries. Because the United States and Canada are nations of immigrants, today’s gardeners are blessed with an immense cornucopia of food crops. Gardeners and farmers from literally every corner of the world invariably brought their best seeds when their families immigrated.
Millions of immigrants came through Ellis Island with seeds hidden under the bands of their hats, in the linings of their suitcases, and sewn into the hems of dresses. We are maintaining varieties within Seed Savers right now that supposedly came over on the Mayflower. You can bet there are seeds carried in today by refugees and immigrants from Haiti, Cuba, and Mexico. During the decade right after the Vietnam War, there was a tremendous amount of plant material brought in by the boat people from Laos and Cambodia. Seeds will continue to come in this way. We are truly blessed with the best seeds from every corner of the world. Much of this tremendous heritage is still being maintained in this country, especially in very isolated areas. But it has never been systematically collected. When we go into areas that are rural poverty pockets, such as the Appalachians, the Smokies, and the Ozarks, places where people have never had the money to buy seeds and where they’ve always just continued to trade heirloom seeds over the backyard garden fence, those areas are real treasure troves of heirloom varieties..." (See the link above for the rest of the article, which is "Excerpted from a Bioneers Conference presentation".)
- Subscribe to the Bioneers Buzz.
- Seed Savers Exchange
- January 19, 2007
"USDA Assistance is Available for Specialty Crops"
By Dawn House. Published by The Salt Lake Tribune, January 19, 2007, Money Section, Page C1.
"Utah farmers and other stakeholders may apply for grants to assist them in becoming competitive in specialty crop production, available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, and floriculture for landscaping. Eligible projects could be research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, plant health, buy–local programs, conservation or developing cooperatives. The deadline for submitting an application is Feb. 28, [2007.] Get an application packet and program overview at www.ag.utah.gov or by calling 801–538–7108." (Bold emphasis added by SFU Webmaster.)
- Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Specialty Crops Block Grant Program information and application form. (PDF Document)
- January 14, 2007
"Amber Fields of Bland"
By Op–Ed Contributor Dan Barber. Published by The New York Times, January 14, 2007.
"THERE’S invariably something risky, if not risible, about allowing Congress to decide what’s for dinner. Bad decisions about agriculture have defined government policy for the last century; 70 percent of our nation’s farms have been lost to bankruptcy or consolidation, creating an agricultural economy that looks more Wall Street than Main Street. Now, after the uprooting of a thousand years of agrarian wisdom, we chefs have discovered something really terrible — no, not that the agricultural system we help support hurts farmers and devastates farming communities, or that it harms the environment and our health. What we’ve discovered is that the food it produces just doesn’t taste very good..." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
- January 13, 2007
"One for the Books: Locally Owned Shops Benefit from Boom"
By Lesley Mitchell, Published by The Salt Lake Tribune, January 13, 2007.
"There have been plenty of times over the past decade that Ken Sanders and his daughter Melissa have thought about closing their small bookstore. The past struggles to turn a profit made this holiday season especially gratifying for the owners of Ken Sanders Rare Books in Salt Lake City. ‘Both November and December set new monthly records for us,’ said Ken Sanders of his 4,000–square–foot shop at 268 South 200 East. While many big–box and national chain stores reported mediocre or even poor sales over the holiday season, many of Utah’s locally owned businesses reported brisk, even record–shattering results.
Gavin Noyes, executive director of Buy Local First, a group that encourages Utahns to buy from small enterprises based in the state, said he was surprised at the record–setting results he found during his informal survey of holiday sales levels in recent weeks. While his organization works to increase the visibility of locally owned businesses, it is limited by the cost of advertising. Noyes thinks the strong showing by small Utah companies over the holiday season stems from the fact that more people are consciously patronizing small Utah–based retailers in search of better customer service. He said others may simply want to show their support for small community–based businesses...." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
- January 10, 2007
"Risky Business: Thoughts from a Small Farm During the Midwinter Lull
By Tom Philpott, Published by Grist in the "Victal Reality" section, January 10, 2007.
- January 9, 2007
"Animal Cloning: FDA Safety Call Not Enough"
By Gregory Jaffe, Published by BusinessWeek ViewPoint section, January 9, 2007.
"Gregory Jaffe of the Center for Science in the Public Interest seeks proof that animal cloning’s benefits outweigh risks and ethical concerns."
- January 3, 2007
"Poor Taste: Why The Economist’s Recent Assault on ‘Ethical Food’ Missed the Mark
By Tom Philpott, Published by Grist in the "Victal Reality" section, January 3, 2007.
- January 3, 2007
"Be It Ever So Homespun, There’s Nothing Like Spin"
By Kim Severson, Published by The New York Times January 3, 2007.
"SOMETHING made me uneasy when I dropped a box of gluten-free EnviroKidz organic Koala Crisp cereal in my shopping cart. But it’s hard to suspect a cartoon koala, so I moved on.
The unsettling sensation came back when I bought a bag of my favorite organic frozen French fries. Why did the verdant fields in the Cascadian Farm logo make me feel so smug?
Then I got really suspicious. A bag of natural Cheetos seemed so much more appealing than the classic cheese puff. Why? Was it the image of a subdued Chester Cheetah rising gently from a farm field bathed in golden sunlight?
Like clues to a murder that suddenly point to a single culprit, the mystery in my shopping cart revealed itself. Wheat sheaf by wheat sheaf, sunrise by sunrise, the grocery store shelves had been greenwashed.
And I was falling for it..."
(See the link above for the rest of the article.)
Related Article: "It’s More or Less Natural, and It’s Getting Bigger by the Day"
By Kim Severson, Published by The New York Times January 3, 2007.
"EACH year grocery manufacturers roll out tens of thousands of products, ever hopeful that a new box of crackers or a frozen entree will be a hit with consumers. In 2006, 17,779 food products were introduced, according to Mintel International, a market research company. That’s a jump of almost 2,000 items over the previous year. Of those products, 3,761 either were organic or had an all-natural claim on the label..."
(See the link above for the rest of the article.)
- December 26, 2006
"Eating in the Past: Food Laws Should Reflect Modern Facts"
Tribune Editorial, published by The Salt Lake Tribune in the Opinion section, page A20.
"Imagine a world in which nearly everyone was driving cars but all the laws were written for people riding horses. It’s easier if you further imagine that those laws are being written to please the people who make cars.
And that’s about the situation the United States is in regarding its inspection and regulation of food.
In a competitive environment where food is grown, processed and sold locally, by relatively small operations that live or die on their reputation for quality and cleanliness, a minimum of government regulation would be necessary. Gaps in the law would matter far less than the knowledge that a farm, butcher shop or greengrocer that served up tainted meat or produce would face the swift punishment of the marketplace.
But that’s not where most food comes from in modern America..."
(See the link above for the rest of the article.)
- December 10, 2006
"Our Perverse Farm Policy"
Opinion Piece by George Pyle, published by The Salt Lake Tribune in the Opinion section, page O1.
"...The wish list of American agribusiness giants and their vassals at the U.S. Department of Agriculture is the same as always: many billions of federal dollars propping up an unnatural, anti-competitive, security-undermining, environment-destroying system that gluts the world with cheap grain and pig manure. And any warm feeling taxpayers might get for thinking their money goes to support the traditional family farm springs from about as much reality as flying reindeer..." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
George Pyle is an Editorial Writer for The Salt Lake Tribune, a contributing writer for The Prairie Writer’s Circle and author of "Raising Less Corn, More Hell: The Case for the Independent Farm and Against Industrial Food" which is listed in the Slow Food Utah Books section. He wrote this column for the Land Institute’s Prairie Writers Circle, Salina, Kansas.
This opinion piece also resulted in an interview on KPFK Radio’s "Uprising Radio" titled "Will Congress Continue Large Farm Subsidies?" Follow the link to read or listen to that interview.
"Where Christmas Comes Every Five Years — Our Perverse Farm Plan," which is the same article, can also be found at CounterPunch.
"Our Perverse Farm Policy" can also be found at The Prairie Writer’s Circle. Here, you will find many pieces written by George Pyle along with other members of the Prairie Writer’s Circle.
- December 5, 2006
"Bullish on a Grass Diet: The Taste for ’Value–Added’ Beef.
From the source; Fed–up with mass–produced meat, more health–conscious consumers getting a taste of ‘value–added’ beef." By Kathy Stephenson, The Salt Lake Tribune in the "Living" section, page E1.
The article discusses local beef producers who are focusing on grass–fed beef without the use of synthetic growth hormones and antibiotics. The article discusses buying local, from small family–operated ranchers who offer an alternative to mass–produced beef. It provides information on labeling terms including grain–finished, grass–fed, grass–finished, natural and organic beef. There are recipes and tips on cooking beef, and information on some of the local beef ranchers here in Utah. [Webmaster comments.]
- November 19, 2006
"From
Farm to Feast: How Healthful is Your Meal? How Local? How Safe? (Food:
Does Efficiency Sacrifice Health?)."
By Kathy Stephenson and Ronnie Lynn, The Salt Lake Tribune, page A1.
"Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate the bounty of fall. Thanks to a large industrialized system, food in America is not only plentiful, but also affordable 365 days a year. We can eat what we want, when we want, whether we have a hankering for fresh strawberries in the winter or grilled steaks in the summer. But America’s efficiency in getting food from farm to table has its drawbacks – a point driven home late this summer when spinach contaminated with a deadly strain of E. coli killed three people and sickened more than 200 in 26 states..." (See the link above for the rest of the article.)
"A growing number of people are relying on different values to shape their meals, buying organic or locally grown produce whenever possible. They support local farmers and small, artisan producers of milk, cheese and bread, and share the bounty with family and friends. This ‘Slow Food’ movement began in Italy 20 years ago in response to the opening of a McDonald’s in a historic section of Rome. Today, Slow Food has 80,000 members across the globe, including a group in Utah."
The article also gives local alternatives to Thanksgiving food items:
A plate full of America Where in this country did all the fixings come from? Or maybe they just came from Utah.
Canned pumpkin – Libby’s, Ohio
Utah option: Pecan pie, from Thompson Family Pecan Farm, Hurricane
Brussels sprouts – Various farms, California
Utah option: Mushrooms from Mountainview Mushrooms, Fillmore
Cranberries – Ocean Spray, Massachusetts
Utah option: Apples from orchards in Santaquin, Payson and Orem
Mashed potatoes – Eagle Eye, Idaho
Utah option: Spuds from the neighbor
Turkey Jenny-O, Minn.
Utah options: Norbest turkey, Moroni; or hormone-free bird from Wight Family Farms, Weber County
Related articles published the same day (Salt Lake Tribune):
- "Food Myths vs. Reality."
- "Buying from Local Farm Takes Root in Utah – Grocery stores tout their locally grown fare, and old–fashioned fruit and vegetable stands."
- "Avoid the ’Dirty Dozen,’ Buy Organic – Eliminating Pesticides by 90 Percent."
- November 17 and article updated December 28, 2006
"Community Harvest: Grants Available to Help Groups Tend Neighborhood Gardens."
Published by The Salt Lake Tribune in the Sugarhouse "Close–up" section, page G1.
Excerpt from the article: "...Consider applying for a mini–grant from the Utah Department of Health, which has won $30,000 in national funding to start or improve community gardens in Salt Lake County. While the gardens provide fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and exercise, the state is hoping they also nurture friendships and community pride in neighborhoods. Any public or private groups serving residents in Salt Lake or Weber counties are invited to apply by Jan. 15 for amounts ranging from $500 to $4,000."
"...To help groups get started, Wasatch Community Gardens and the department will offer a seminar Dec. 5. The training will include information about planning and developing a community garden. It will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Utah Department of Health, 288 N. 1460 West, Salt Lake City. Wasatch Community Gardens, a nonprofit organization, is a leader in community gardening in the Salt Lake Valley, with gardens in four neighborhoods. It will provide support and consulting to grant winners, such as regular site visits and workshops. "
Read the article for more information. More information is also available from the Utah Department of Health.
- The information in the article above has been published again in The Salt Lake Tribune, "The Insider" Section, on November 28, 2006, see: "A mini-grant can get your community garden growing".
- November, 2006
Sierra Magazine devotes issue to America’s food supply.
The November/December, 2006 issue of Sierra Magazine, the national magazine of the Sierra Club, celebrates efforts to carve out a new, greener cuisine: local, organic, and delicious. The magazine features RAFT partner Gary Paul Nabhan’s article on home cooking, which dives into our nation’s tastiest yet most endangered regional food traditions. Nabhan’s piece also includes the RAFT food nations map, depicting the twelve food nations in the U.S. Sierra also profiles the activists who are making delicious, healthy produce available in inner cities and rural areas.
- Headlines include:
–Cheap Food Nation: The high price of burgers and fries.
–Produce to the People: Four cities spread the health.
–From Cotton to Collards: How Alabama is fighting obesity.
–Ten Ways to Eat Well: Mr. Green tells you how.
–Secrets of the Supermarket: You’ll never shop the same again.
–Truth in Labeling: A consumers guide to food claims.
–Home Cooking: What’s your food nation?
- October, 2006
Colors Magazine, the magazine of the United Colors of Benetton, has published Issue #69, an amazing portrayal of Terra Madre delegates from around the world. This issue profiles people who embrace the culture of Slowness and tell their stories about the food they dedicate their lives to producing. The magazine captures vibrant images of these fascinating individuals and shares the positive message of living the slow life. You can view the magazine online or purchase it on the Colors website.
- October 6, 2006 — Farmer–Chef Co–operative:
"Four Salt Lake City chefs have formed a unique cooperative with Utah farmers and food producers to use locally grown organic foods on a regular basis. Jeffrey Russell from the Grand America Hotel, Carl Fiessinger of Zola, Robert Barker of Bambara and Eric Bell from Squatters Pub will work with Utah farmers to grow diverse crops including such items as micro greens, French breakfast radishes, purple potatoes and heirloom tomatoes. Producers and farmers involved in the cooperative include Morgan Valley Lamb, Week’s Berries, Bell Organic Gardens, Sunbridge Growers and Drake Family Farms."
(Published by The Salt Lake Tribune, Friday, October 6, 2006. In the "Dining Notes" section.)
- September, 2006 — "Sustainable Living: Waste Not Want Not" Chef Eric Bell explains wise use in the kitchen.
By Pax Rasmussen, Catalyst Magazine, September, 2006.
(Current issue of Catalyst Magazine, Resources for Creative Living.)
- August 7, 2006 — "Supporting Local Businesses Re–circulates Money, Preserves Local Character" Business Insight, The Salt Lake Tribune, Monday, August 7, 2006. Featuring Betsy Burton, Buy Local First Utah chairwoman, and owner of The King’s English Bookshop in Salt Lake City.
After 30 days from publication, see The Salt Lake Tribune Archives link to archived article, requires user account.
- January 31, 2006 — "Loyal Following: Consumer’s Seed Money Pays Off at Harvest Time" by Rosemary Winters, The Salt Lake Tribune, January 31, 2006. "Program lets small investors take share of farmer’s crops." An article about Community Supported Agriculture along the Wasatch Front.
- June, 2005 — "Bohemian Farms: The Lyman Family Farm Goes Organic"
By Amber Billingsley, Catalyst Magazine, Vol. 24, No. 6, June, 2005.
"We stand on the edge of a bucolic field that just until recently was a shallow wetland. The years of recent drought have uncovered a goldmine of dark, nutrient-rich soil that springs softly beneath our feet. We survey the long, raised beds and map out a plan for the day. French soup celery and Italian parsley are already showing their frilly fronds on the first two rows. We decide to plant English peas, rainbow chard, and bok choy on the next three rows."
Article archive no longer maintained.
(Current issue of Catalyst Magazine, Resources for Creative Living.)
- June 10, 2005 — "Rediscovering Food: Fishing & Farmers’ Markets"
By Amy Seigel, New West Network, June 10, 2005.
"...The Farmers’ Market represents another multi–purpose event reuniting us with the key elements of our daily meals. Along with providing what Market Director Brad Baird calls an "economic catalyst" for what was once a very run–down part of downtown Salt Lake City, the event concentrates plenty of positive attention on local farmers and small business owners. According to Baird, one of the main purposes of the market is bringing the focus back to the local farmer. "This is where your food comes from," says Baird, "this stuff was picked yesterday or this morning and is right from the farm...farm direct." And judging from the market’s skyrocketing popularity, the appeal of buying direct from local growers, artisans, and small business owners will only continue to develop..." (See the article for the rest of the story.)
(Current issue of New West Network, New West is a network of online communities devoted to the culture, economy, politics, environment and overall atmosphere of the Rocky Mountain West.)
- June 3, 2005 — "‘Buy Local First’ Helps Community Identity"
By Janine S. Creager, The Salt Lake Tribune, Close–up: Sugarhouse Section, June 3, 2005. Article on Liberty Heights Fresh and The Blue Cockatoo, small businesses in the Sugarhouse area.
"For Steven Rosenberg, owner of the locally owned and operated Liberty Heights Fresh fruit and vegetable market, it’s all about community. As owner of one of many small businesses in the area, Rosenberg knows without the support and encouragement of the community, he could never survive the ups and downs of the economy. But he also knows that working with neighboring residents and businesses is much more than just turning a profit. It’s all about building a sense of unity..."
(Link to archived article. Archived articles require a user account.)
- December/January 2001 — "Beyond Organic"
By Eliot Coleman. Published by Mother Earth News.
"New ideas, especially those that directly challenge an established orthodoxy, follow a familiar path. First, the orthodoxy says the new idea is rubbish. Then the orthodoxy attempts to minimize the new idea’s increasing appeal. Finally, when the new idea proves unstoppable, the orthodoxy tries to claim the idea as its own. This is precisely the path organic food production has followed.
First, organic pioneers were ridiculed. Then, as evidence of the benefits of organic farming became more obvious to more people, mainstream chemical agriculture actively condemned organic ideas as not feasible. Now that the food-buying public has become enthusiastic about organically grown foods, the food industry wants to take over. Toward that end the U.S. Department of Agriculture-controlled national definition of "organic" is tailored to meet the marketing needs of organizations that have no connection to the agricultural integrity organic once represented. We now need to ask whether we want to be content with an "organic" food option that places the marketing concerns of corporate America ahead of nutrition, flavor and social benefits to consumers."
(See the link above for the rest of the article. There is also a variety of information relating to organic gardening at the bottom of the article.)
Printed and Online Articles — Grouped by Publisher
— Bioneers: Writings Germane to Slow Food | The Nation: The Food Issue —
- Bioneers Writings Germane to Slow Food:
- 2006–09–09 Renewing America’s Food Traditions
Gary Nabhan is "an award winning essayist and ecologist, and director of the Center for Sustainable Environments at Northern AZ. University, Gary is a champion of biodiversity who has complied and edited the book "Renewing America’s Food Traditions: Bringing Cultural and Culinary Mainstays From the Past into the New Millennium". Bioneers’ Arty Mangan recently spoke with Gary Nabhan." (visionaries – jcancilla)
- 2006–08–21 Whose Food Is It Anyway?
"Bob Cannard, the innovative Sonoma soil fertility expert and eco–farmer, criticizes modern industrial agriculture as war–like. It’s about killing: killing pests, killing microorganisms, killing weeds. He describes pests as agents of mercy who eliminate weak plants. I wanted to understand how that applied to my apple situation, but all I could think of was Alan Chadwick’s gopher remedy..." (blog entry – amangan)
- 2006–08–03 Field of Plenty—A Farmer’s Journey to the Frontiers of American Agriculture by Michael Ableman.
"The only thing small scale about Fairview Gardens is the acreage it occupies. On just twelve and a half acres, this organic farm produces over one hundred different fruits and vegetables, feeds over 500 families, employs more than 20 people, and hosts as many as 5,000 people per year for tours, classes, festivals, and apprenticeships. Michael Ableman farmed at Fairview Gardens from 1981 to 2001. Under his leadership the farm was saved from development and was preserved under one of the earliest and most unique active agricultural conservation easements of its type in the country." (feature – jcancilla)
- 2006–07–21 Marion Nestle on How to Buy Green Milk
"Check out this video of Marion Nestle on TreeHuggerTV. She walks you through the process of how to pick out some healthy organic milk." (nutrition and organic food – jcancilla)
- 2006–06–25 Tears, Rice and a Free California by Arty Mangan.
"...Biotech companies are in the business of owning life forms by manipulating genes using a virus as a vector, slapping a patent on it, making it theirs and theirs alone. Maybe this is what is meant by "the ownership society"...It would all be quite absurd if it wasn’t so serious..." (feature – jcancilla)
- 2006–06–25 Slow Food Founder
"Bioneers food and farming director Arty Mangan had an opportunity to speak with Carlo Petrini at a W.K.Kellogg Foundation conference in Washington D.C." Carlo Petrini, founded Slow Food in 1986. (visionaries – jcancilla)
- 2006–06–21 Food Democracy and Healthy Choices
"Interviewee Marion Nestle, Professor and former Chair of the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University." [She is the author of several books listed here in the Sloow Foood Utah Website.] (visionaries – jcancilla)
- September 11, 2006 — The Nation: The Food Issue – "Wake Up, America! Pay Attention to What You Eat!"
Webmasters’ Note: "The Food Issue" includes eleven articles of great interest to those in the Slow Food Movement. This edition of The Nation provides a good over–view of what is at stake, of what all the fuss is about, and provides a valuable primer. I strongly suggest that you read this issue of The Nation.
"A special food issue under the guidance of Chez Panisse founder Alice Waters." [The Nation] "discovered that the “slow food values” she espouses are in harmony with our own. As she explains, “the pleasures of the table are a social as well as a private good,“ and as such they beget responsibilities—responsibilities that our fast–food system, as currently configured, simply cannot meet. Waters assembled a forum of leading figures in the world of food to consider how this system should be changed."
"In keeping with the spirit of the forum, this issue, The Nation’s first (though we hope not last) on food, seeks not only to expose but to inspire. Thus, while there are articles investigating the grueling labor conditions on organic farms and in meatpacking plants, others explore how food justice activists are working to shift Harlem’s food consciousness and change the nature of school lunch. Linking many of the pieces—on subjects ranging from Wal–Mart to world hunger—is the theme of access to good, healthy food: How can it be democratized? As several of [the] articles attest, a veritable movement is arising to address this issue, which has all the more currency with the recent mainstreaming of the organic food industry..."
- The Nation Home > Subject Directory > Health, Science & Environment > Food & Nutrition: Contains all eleven articles from "The Food Issue." (Additionally, there are a few other articles previously published by The Nation on related topics.) Look for the following articles:
- "Slow Food Nation" by Alice Waters.
- "One Thing to Do About Food" A Forum edited by Alice Waters. Each writer was "asked to name just one thing that could be done to fix the food system," [one with which people have a "dysfunctional relationship."] Forum participants include: Eric Schlosser, Marion Nestle, Michael Pollan, Wendell Berry, Troy Duster and Elizabeth Ransom, Winona LaDuke, Peter Singer, Vandana Shiva, Carlo Petrini, Eliot Coleman, and Jim Hightower "who suggest, for starters, that we stop buying factory farm products, get involved in farm policy and outlaw the marketing of junk food to kids."
- "Hard Labor: For Farm Workers, It’s Not Easy Being Organic" by Felicia Mello.
- "Hog Hell: Smithfield’s Workers Face a Modern–Day Jungle" by Eric Schlosser.
- "Mean or Green? Wal–Mart’s Organic Turn Divides the Movement" by Liza Featherstone.
- "Monsantopoly: GMO Giant" by Anna Lappé and Matthew Willse.
- "Doing Lunch: Ann Cooper Serves Up a New Vision of School Food" by Anna Lappé.
- "Edible Nola" by Randy Ferte.
- "How Harlem Eats: Urban Activits Seek ‘Food Justice’" by Mark Winston Griffith.
- "Black Farms, Black Markets" by Habiba Alcindor.
- "A Right to Food? How to Frame the Fight Against Hunger" by Frances Moore Lappé.
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