EPA Gets Sued Over Exemption For Factory Farm Pollutants
Environmental Groups Cry Fowl Play
Tuesday, January, 20th, the last day of the Bush administration, a new regulation went into effect that exempts dairies and other large-scale livestock operations from having to notify Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials when toxic pollutants are emitted. Â Six environmental groups have already filed suits against the EPA. Â One of them, [...]
January 21, 2009
Tags: agriculture, EPA, factory farms, green, policy, pollution Posted in: Politics 
No Comments
Going Trayless Saves Food Services More
The econimic recession has hit the food service industry pretty hard. The recent spike in food prices was actually the apex of a long, ten-year trend in rising food costs. Â So, even now that the real prices of foodstuffs is falling, food industry insiders are still scrambling to cut corners.
Shaving portion sizes has been [...]
January 19, 2009
Tags: education, food, green, innovation, policy, waste Posted in: Science & Technology One Comment
School Lunch Reform Takes Two Steps Forward, and Several Steps Back
Public schools in Portland, Oregon wanted to make an effort to source their lunch products from local, sustainable farmers. But they wanted to know if the more costly local beef was worth it. They asked if would it make a difference to the kids.  To find out, they had Oregon State University conduct a scientific [...]
January 10, 2009
Tags: education, green, Health, subsidies, USDA Posted in: Health, Politics 4 Comments
New Agriculture Secretary a Trick up Obama’s Sleeve?
Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Obama wanted to tackle wasteful crop subsidies, so he selected Iowa governor Tom Vilsack? Tom Vilsack is a representative from one of the most heavily subsidized states in the Union, and he wholeheartedly endorses the failed corn ethanol project. Is he just going to give up on corn and other crop subsides just [...]
December 18, 2008
Tags: agriculture, Barack Obama, green, policy, subsidies Posted in: Politics One Comment
EPA Causes Stink Over Cow Stink, Farmers Opposed to Tax on Farm Animals
The cap-and-trade system may not be limited to the traditional grimy industries like the coal processors and car makers. Â New discussions have surfaced about the possibility of targeting greenhouse gas emissions caused by our four-legged, mooing friends. Â Yes, environmentalists have recognized for some time that cows are the predominant emitters of methane, a greenhouse gas [...]
December 14, 2008
Tags: cows, green, greenhouse gases, policy Posted in: Politics One Comment
The Next White House Chef Could Make a Real Impact on the Nation’s Diet
Eat.Drink.Better. has been surveying its own shortlist of contenders for the new White House chef. The most recent profile has been of Chef Bryant Terry, a chef known for his non-profit projects and focus on sustainable meals.
Eat.Drink.Better. asked the chef what his “menu for change” would be. His proposed White House menu is funny, yet thought-provoking:
Bryant Terry: All these dishes [...]
December 13, 2008
Tags: Barack Obama, food, food event, green, policy Posted in: Health, Politics No Comments
Brazil Allows Some Illegal Deforestation?
Following-up my post about deforestation and shade-grown coffee, I came across this gem in the Economist:
Brazil’s government pledged to cut the amount of illegal deforestation in the Amazon over the next decade to 5,000 sq km (1,930 square miles) a year, or less than half the current rate. This followed the release of data showing [...]
December 8, 2008
Tags: agriculture, green Posted in: Politics No Comments
Saving the Rain Forest One Latte at Time with Shade-Grown Coffee
You know that slightly annoying, hippy-ish/yuppy-ish guy who visits the trendy coffee shop every day, who brings his own cup and always tips the barista? Well, if he’s ordering the organic, fair-trade, shade-grown coffee, you can add saving the forests to his list of virtuous habits.
Jane Goodall, scientist turned environmental activist, has seen first-hand the [...]
December 7, 2008
Tags: agriculture, farmers, food, green Posted in: Uncategorized One Comment
Starbucks Coffee in Hot Water Over Its Sustainable Policy
If you thought all the disposable cups produced by convenience coffee-makers were bad enough, you should read about Starbucks’ policy on running water (see). Its dish cleaning sink must always run throughout the entire day in order to prevent ‘germ buildup’. Â Starbucks says it cares about the environment and even donates “five cents from each [...]
November 20, 2008
Tags: food, green, policy, trivia Posted in: Fun Food Facts, Politics One Comment
Bacon–It Used to Taste Even Better
Over the years, the flavor of bacon and pork has been severely diminished as quantity has become valued over quality. Consumers should know that choosing the cheaper meat has had dire consequences for their palate.
Here’s the skinny on what happened to flavorful, fat pigs:
The American fear of fat and the need for quick/cheap meat has [...]
November 19, 2008
Tags: agriculture, bacon, food, green, policy Posted in: Fun Food Facts, Health, Politics 3 Comments
