President Bush vetoed legislation Wednesday that would have expanded government-provided health insurance for children, his second slap-down of a bipartisan effort in Congress to dramatically increase funding for the popular program. AP 12/12/07
California was one of the earliest to develop a farmed caviar industry and now, more than 15 years of experience have paid off with consistent quality from the two producers, Sterling and Tsar Nicoulai. They are likely to be the least expensive sources for good caviar this season. NY Times 12/12/07
The long-awaited road map for restoration of the South Bay's system of salt ponds was released Wednesday, outlining the steps that will be taken to rebuild a working ecosystem at the site. The first steps, planned for 2008, will return three regions - Eden Landing, Alviso and Ravenswood - to tidal habitat and shorebird habitat. SJ Mercury 12/13/07
The Westlands Water District announced today that it acquired property in the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The District plans to restore natural tidal wetlands and upland habitat for the protection and conservation of listed species, including the Delta smelt. The Westlands Water District serves a community of more than 600 families who farm some of the most productive agricultural lands in the world. Business Wire 12/13/07
Last week, the Florida Department of Agriculture issued a new regulation requiring all citrus fruit shipped from California to Florida to be inspected, fumigated and certified free of a fungal disease known as Septoria spot. For California's part, growers there say the state's move is all about retaliation. The federal government is not allowing Florida growers to ship citrus to other citrus-growing states because canker is epidemic there. Relations between California and Florida have been strained because of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's canker ban, first mandated in June 2006. California citrus interests had asked for Florida fruit to be restricted from all states except northern states east of the Mississippi. Palm Beach Post 12/12/07
California's top insurance regulator has accused Blue Shield, one of the state's largest health plans, of 1,262 violations of claims-handling laws and regulations that resulted in more than 200 people losing their medical coverage. LA Times 12/13/07
The deadline for health care reform in California has been set Dec. 21. If legislators don't produce a bill that the governor will sign by that date, California has little hope for health care reform this year - probably for the next several years. SF Chronicle 12/13/07
Compared with a year earlier, fall season (primarily October through December) area for harvest of 11 selected fresh-market vegetables (excluding melons) is expected to be up 5 percent this year for the US according to USDA’s latest Vegetables and Melon Outlook. Despite this, acreage in California, which accounts for about two-thirds of fall vegetable area, is expected to remain even with a year ago. Lower area is expected for most vegetables in the state (including head lettuce, tomatoes, and broccoli) but will be offset by stronger area for cauliflower and carrots (up 33 percent). Fresh Plaza 12/11/07
The USDA is tracing seed-potato shipments to California and seven other states from Canada that it fears might have been carrying a microscopic, wormlike pest that attacks potato plants. Officials are concerned that discovery of the golden nematode in any of the eight states could lead to some countries banning U.S. potatoes, which happened in 2006 with the discovery of the similar pale potato cyst nematode in Idaho. Seattle Times 12/13/07
A study of organic and conventionally grown processing tomatoes by a team of researchers at the University of California, Davis, indicated that, on the four participating commercial farms, organically produced tomatoes were higher in sugars and other soluble solids, consistency and acidity, all of which are desirable attributes in processing tomatoes. The organically grown tomatoes were lower, however, in red color, vitamin C and certain healthful compounds known as phenolics. UC Davis 12/12/07
Newly appointed members of the Seedless Mandarin and Honeybee Co-Existence Working group met for the first time Dec. 12 at the Fresno County agriculture department. The working group was established by the state and charged with resolving differences between seedless mandarin growers and beekeepers. Growers charge that beekeepers are moving bees into citrus groves and other locations without regard for the seedless mandarins, which can be cross-pollinated and develop seedy fruit. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation that established the working group in October. The legislation gives the working group until June 1, 2008 to develop best management practices for beekeepers and mandarin growers to sustain both industries. Fresh Plaza 12/12/07
Large handlers of leafy green vegetables, still recovering from last year's E. coli bacteria- induced recalls of packaged spinach, want U.S. permission to self-regulate the safety of your tossed salad. An Oct. 4 Department of Agriculture proposal to consider a voluntary-standards program generated 3,500 comments by last week, compared with the usual handful in these cases, demonstrating the industry isn't united. Small growers and consumer groups fear the plan gives larger rivals more control in the $2.2 billion-a-year lettuce and spinach market. Bloomberg 12/11/07
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