News wrap: CA Ag Secretary and others weigh in on climate smart agriculture
We hope it’s been a good day. It’s a short menu today, with some quick reads and a video. Slice the price of fruits and veggies to save lives? Results …
Sustainability: oceans and seeds; cauliflower sticker shock in Canada and more
Hello, Thursday! We’ve got a quick wrap for you…tasty stuff! Canada: linking the rising price of cauliflower to the falling price of oil. In a story demonstrating the interconnectedness …
School lunches, food environment, Craig McNamara interview
We apologize for a late, shorter Daily Wrap today. We ran into some technical difficulties with a hardworking computer that’s seen a lot of miles and had some epic adventures. …
New growing technique relieves drought-stricken avocado producers
Ninety percent of the nation’s avocado crop is produced in California. The majority of production occurs in San Diego County. Like other producers, avocado farmers have been challenged by the …
Paul Kaiser operates a small vegetable farm on a handful of acres in Sonoma County, California. Last year, his Sebastapol farm grossed more than $100,000 an acre. That’s about “10 …
Q & A: UC’s Doug Parker on California’s drought
“I find it rather disturbing that some people see this as an urban vs. agriculture issue. The California Constitution states that water belongs to the people of the state. It is …
UC Food Observer chooses a handful of important stories for you to read as you finish your work week. On the menu, in no particular order: growing coffee and avocados …
Growing coffee (and avocados) in So Cal
For those committed to consuming local foods, coffee is often the place we choose to cut ourselves some slack. The U.S. imports nearly all of its coffee. The notable exception …
National initiative launched to save Monarch butterflies
The Obama administration and conservation groups launched an ambitious national effort on Monday to halt the decline of the monarch butterfly. The initiative, Save the Monarch Butterfly, is a large-scale …
A solution to Iowa’s nitrate problem
In January, NPR’s Dan Charles reported that the city of Des Moines, Iowa – concerned about human and environmental health impacts and rising water treatment costs – intended to sue …