May 31st, 2010 by Mary
After buying 3 dozen jumbo-size eggs ALL WITH DOUBLE YOLKS, I had to call the farm they came from to see if I was eligible for any kind of prize. Larry Martin assured me the prize was the eggs. He told me that he has a young flock and that it is not unusual for new layers to lay double yolk eggs. If ovulation is too rapid or if one yolk joins to another, the result is well,two yolks are better than one. Larry said that it takes a couple of months for a young hen’s reproductive cycle to synchronize, after that double yolk eggs are rarely laid. Generally these eggs are longer and thinner than an ordinary single-yolk egg, in fact many of Larry’s double yolk eggs were too big to fit in standard egg cartons. Of course I wondered if a double yolk egg would result in twin hatchlings. The prognosis for twins is not good as the white is insufficient to support two developing chicks, and sibling rivalry starts before the egg is even hatched. It’s been a couple dozen jumbo cartons since I’ve seen a double egg yolk, but at least when they were rolling in I could call my local egg supplier and get the real story “laid” out for me.
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April 15th, 2010 by Annie
Farmers/Ranchers Square-off in Debate About 100% Pasture Versus Feedlots
CORNUCOPIA, WI: The new USDA organic pasture rule strengthening the requirement for grazing and pasturing livestock may not apply to beef cattle and other ruminants in meat production. In fact, the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) is seeking comments from farmers and consumers on a proposal to allow some level of confinement in feedlots for, as an example, organic beef cattle during the last four months of their lives during the “finishing” period prior to slaughter (when industry standards would feed them mostly grain/corn).
The Cornucopia Institute, a farm policy research group based in Wisconsin, surveyed a broad spectrum of organic meat producers to better understand their production practices. The results reveal a wide range of practices.
Cornucopia found that the vast majority of organic beef producers graze their beef cattle on pasture until slaughter, never confining them to a feedlot. Approximately 60% of organic beef producers never feed any grain to their cattle (100% grass-fed). And another 20% maintain their cattle on pasture but provide small amounts of grain. The new rule’s proposed exemption for ruminant slaughter stock from obtaining feed from pasture is therefore not needed by the vast majority of farmers and ranchers producing organic beef. Read the whole story here
Tags: Action Alert, organic, Pastured Beef
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February 4th, 2010 by Annie
I am so glad Michael Pollan included this in his new book called “Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual.” I have gotten a lot of mileage out of it and I sound so darn clever when I say it. It always gets a giggle. Cookbook author Jane Brody is also fond of the phrase and of Mr. Pollan’s rules. I have two Brody cookbooks that are dogeared and stained from 20+ years of use. Many of the rules she has followed for years and she talks eloquently about it in her February 1 post in the New York Times. Please read the enjoy.
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December 29th, 2009 by Annie
Thanks to Eugene,OR based Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides and others, the Environmental Protection Agency has reversed a 10+-year policy and plans to require pesticide manufacturers to disclose to the public the inert ingredients in their products.
According to Environmental Health News, the decision was announced Tuesday, December 22, 2009. In an article by Editor in Chief Marla Cone, an inert ingredient is anything added to a pesticide that does not kill or control a pest. In some cases, those ingredients are toxic, but companies do not identify them on pesticide labels.
The article goes on to explain that for 11 years, EPA denied petitions seeking disclosure of the chemicals but now the new administration says it plans to draft a rule that will increase transparency and encourage companies to replace toxic substances.
Manufacturers have always argued that revealing what those inert ingredients are would be giving away their trade secrets. Inert ingredients can be more toxic than the active ingredients and make up the bulk of a pesticide.
Please read the rest of the story. This is a big deal for those of us who have worked over the years to get manufacturers to tell the whole truth about what’s in that can of pesticide.
Tags: consumer right to know, EPA, inert ingredients, pesticides
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December 8th, 2009 by Annie
I know many of you think that shopping at the Co-op excuses you from reading the Food Facts nutrition labels on products we carry. But our Product Standards committee would be the first to tell you that if you have dietary restrictions, you should be an avid label reader. I agree. But sometimes the labels don’t tell the whole story. And when your eyesight gets a little fuzzy when reading close up, I’m willing to admit that I’d rather risk not reading the label in favor of not having to get out my reading glasses. So, wouldn’t it be nice if someone advocated for bigger type and/or highlighting on the most important parts of the label?
Well, that’s where the Center for Science in the Public Interest comes in. You can read all about their proposal and make suggestions and comments at Tara Parker-Pope’s excellent blog post in the New York Times. Enjoy!
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