More than a decade after a tomato packing company contacted the California Tomato Board to request promotional information and found they had none, the tomato commission has shut down in the wake of a state audit. The commission misspent members' dues on lavish conferences in Arizona and Mexico, where its families traveled free, according to the audit. Meanwhile, audits of other marketing programs within the Department of Food and Agriculture have also revealed conflicts of interest, sloppy accounting, possible Internal Revenue Service violations and activities beyond the authority the state granted them. LA Times 4/9/08
Millions of privately owned acres in National Park Service boundaries could be developed into luxury homes or commercial enterprises because the federal government has not allocated funds to buy out these lands, according to two reports issued this week. About 4.3 million acres of privately owned land lie within the 391 National Park Service properties nationwide, according to a National Parks Conservation Assn. report released Tuesday. LA Times 4/9/08
In response to a number of food safety outbreaks - most recently an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with bagged spinach in September 2006 that killed three people and sickened 200 others - some growers are removing conservation measures adjacent to croplands, according to a survey of Central Coast growers published in the University of California's California Agriculture journal (April-June 2008). Researchers found that 8 percent (of 181 growers surveyed in spring 2007) had crops rejected by buyers based on the presence of practices to improve water quality and wildlife habitat on the farm. Ascribe 4/9/08
Modifications to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board's program for farms that discharge water from their operations to surface streams will be considered April 24-25 in Rancho Cordova. California Farm Bureau Federation 4/9/08
Four of 18 beef slaughterhouses supplying meat to U.S. school lunch programs were cited for inhumane treatment of cattle, a federal report to Congress said. The U.S. Agriculture Department's audit released to Congress indicated one slaughterhouse was temporarily closed, USA Today reported Wednesday. UPI 4/9/08
As Ventura County farmers prepare for the summer growing season, they are grappling with a new regulation that dramatically reduces the amount of fumigants available. Farmers asked to use an amount of fumigants that would produce 2.4 million pounds of volatile organic compound emissions, which contribute to pollution. But under the new rules, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation said this week that only 734,000 pounds of VOC emissions would be permitted, less than a third of what was requested. Ventura County Star 4/9/08
At the top of Napa Valley, vintner James "Bo" Barrett wanted to use Calistoga, the location of his historic Chateau Montelena vineyards, on his wine labels. What stood in his way was another winery, Calistoga Cellars, which used grapes mostly from other areas. If Barrett got his way, Calistoga Cellars would have to change its name - and endure a possible shock to its bottom line. Federal regulators have proposed a sweeping overhaul of the labeling rules. Critics say the public will be confused by the potential changes and won't be able to count on wine being made from grapes grown in the place named on the label. SF Chronicle 4/7/08
Will this be the year we see fishmongers charging $40 a pound for salmon? Overall, expect a boost in prices for the famously cyclical catch of wild salmon, say government officials and fishing-industry observers. Once Alaska's commercial salmon fisheries kick into high gear next month, there will be salmon available. Seattle PI 4/9/08
Dole Food Co. is selling land in Hawaii and California to avoid default on $350 million on bonds, according to reports from Bloomberg News. The Westlake Village-based company is raising money after European banana tariffs and shipping costs both increased, affecting the company's ability to repay debt, according to the report. Bizjournals 4/9/08
Although we have very few organic wines, the growing of grapes using organic methods is an increasingly popular trend. Though there has been greater interest in organic fruits, vegetables and other produce staples, the same cannot be said for wine, because to make wine that is organic, the use of organically grown grapes in and of itself is not enough. For a wine to be called organic, it must adhere to the rules of the U.S. Tax and Trade Bureau (which regulates the wine industry), as well as the Food and Drug Administration's National Organic Program. Herald Tribune 4/9/08
The public is invited to participate and provide comment on the development of a proposed Delta emergency response and operation plan. A representative from each agency, and a representative for the collective five Delta counties, will give brief presentations on their ongoing and planned efforts. Following the presentations, there will be an opportunity for the public to provide feedback and comment to each participating agency. Thursday, April 10, 2008, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m, Courtland CA CWR Press Release 4/9/08
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California called yesterday, Monday 7th April, for stronger privacy of medical records after an investigation at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center revealed unauthorized breaches of dozens of medical records, including those of his wife, first lady Maria Shriver, and 32 celebrities and politicians. Medical News Today 4/8/08
California raisins moving up consumption ladder once again Western Farm Press 4/9/08
For seven years, State Sen. Michael Machado has tried to create a single state agency that would direct funding for myriad agricultural, recreational and environmental projects proposed for the Delta in a way that makes sense. Machado is hoping this year is different. he Delta is deeper in crisis than ever. The coalition of state, federal and local agencies called CALFED has collapsed, and Machado's bill to eliminate its funding has met with no resistance thus far. Recordnet 4/9/08
Times Past:Japanese-born brothers played big role in local vegetable exchange San Luis Obispo 4/6/08
No comments:
Post a Comment