Agriculture:
*Some US farms outsourced to Mexico – Many American farm have moved their fields to Mexico, where they can find qualified people, often with U.S. experience, who can't be deported. American companies now farm more than 45,000 acres of land in three Mexican states, employing about 11,000 people, a 2007 survey by the U.S. farm group Western Growers shows. U.S. direct investment in Mexican agriculture, which includes both American companies moving their operations to Mexico and setting up Mexican partnerships, has swelled sevenfold to $60 million since 2000, Mexico's Economy Department said. AP 5/28/08
Chilean grape surplus could clog U.S. market -- A glut of late fruit from Chile has hurt markets for early-season grapes from California and Mexico, grower-shippers said. The Packer 5/28/08
*With prices soaring, Valley rice farmers face a gamble -- Riding the coattails of the tight global commodity markets, the spot-market price of California rice – the money farmers can get for their crop – has doubled since June and sits at $24.75 for 100 pounds. The volatile market has spawned an explosion of new marketing techniques that make it possible for state rice farmers to sell their crop long before harvest, betting on whether the market will fall in the future or continue to rise. For every dollar the price shifts, even relatively small farmers stand to gain or lose tens of thousands of dollars. Sacramento Bee 5/29/08
*San Bruno takes stand against aerial moth spraying -- Spurred by a group of concerned citizens, the City Council has unanimously backed a resolution opposing a proposed aerial spraying program to control the Bay Area's growing population of light brown apple moths. The resolution was by far the most strongly worded response of any Peninsula city to the pheromone spraying plan proposed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. CC Times 5/28/08
Health:
Court weighs if doctors can not treat lesbian -- The issue at Wednesday's hearing in San Francisco was whether the doctors, or any business owners or employees, can invoke their religious beliefs to justify refusing to provide service to a particular person or group. The doctors in the case are asking the court to let them rely on their religion as a defense in her pending damage suit. The suit is against a fertility clinic in Vista (San Diego County) and two of its doctors who refused in 2000 to provide intrauterine insemination for a lesbian couple because of religious belief. SF Chronicle 5/29/08
Assembly OKs paid sick leave for all -- California would become the first state to require paid sick leave for every worker under legislation passed Wednesday by the Assembly. The measure would allow the sick leave to be used for a personal illness, to care for a sick family member, or to recover from domestic violence or sexual assault. Sacramento Bee 5/29/08
Bio-fuels:
Sapphire Energy turns algae into 'green crude' for fuel -- A San Diego company said Wednesday that it could turn algae into oil, producing a green-colored crude yielding ultra-clean versions of gasoline and diesel without the downsides of biofuel production. The year-old company, called Sapphire Energy, uses algae, sunlight, carbon dioxide and non-potable water to make "green crude" that it contends is chemically equivalent to the light, sweet crude oil that has been fetching more than $130 a barrel in New York futures trading. LA Times 5/29/08
Food and wine:
Winery goes solar with 'Floatovoltaics' -- Take nearly 1,000 photovoltaic panels and mount them on 130 pontoons floating in a Napa Valley irrigation pond, and what do you have? A first-of-its-kind solar power array and the latest example of why Northern California's wine industry - with its scores of entrepreneurs and mavericks - is a leader in embracing solar power. Representatives of the Far Niente winery in Oakville pointed out the unique aspects of a $4.2 million solar venture during a tour Wednesday in advance of today's ceremonial unveiling of the project. SF Chronicle 5/29/08
Costco profit climbs 32 percent, tops outlook -- Costco Wholesale reported a 32 percent jump in third-quarter profits today to top Wall Street expectations, as cash-squeezed customers flocked to its warehouse clubs in search of bargains on food and toiletries. AP 5/29/08
Economy down, Spam sales up -- Sales of Spam are rising as consumers are turning more to lunch meats and other lower-cost foods to extend their already stretched food budgets. CC Times 5/29/08
Water:
Daniel Weintraub: Old idea that’s new again: Rainwater harvesting -- With California on the edge of drought and water restrictions already beginning in some areas, the state might soon be looking toward an ancient practice that is attracting renewed interest around the world: rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting wouldn't be a panacea, but for many people, it might at least be the difference between having a green yard or a brown one, or provide enough water to wash their car when they want to. Sacramento Bee 5/29/08
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