Tag: "agriculture"
Researcher Questions Food Desert Findings
As we noted last week, a report has called into question the notion that food deserts exist in the US, suggesting that access to high quality food is much better in urban neighborhoods than previously thought. Over at the Next American City, Ariella Cohen has an interview with food researcher Allison Karpyn in which she [...]
Food Deserts? What Food Deserts?
The New York Times reports on two new studies that call into question the importance of so-called “food deserts” in the US: It has become an article of faith among some policy makers and advocates, including Michelle Obama, that poor urban neighborhoods are food deserts, bereft of fresh fruits and vegetables. But two new studies [...]
Europe Paying a Price for Sustainable Agriculture
According to Deutsche Welle, Europe is experiencing an egg crisis set off by recent regulations intended to promote more humane farming practices: An EU ban on hen battery cages has caused egg prices to reach record levels, with the food industry hardest hit by short supplies, the EU Commission said. The shortage is expected to [...]
USDA Releases New Planting Map
This post has a little something for the geeks among us, the home gardeners and environmentalists: the USDA has released its new plant hardiness zones map. It is on the agency website in interactive form. It is the first update in over 20 years. For the geeks, it is an interactive app, for the home [...]
Seen Mr. Joad or Preacher Casey around these parts?
As if the news isn’t depressing enough. Check out this report from the Christian Science Monitor.
Quasi-Rural Innovation
No, quasi-rural isn’t a farmer with back problems. The term refers to small metropolitan areas, like Burlington, VT. These places sometimes can produce some interesting economic innovations. (Did you know that the first US patent was granted to a Vermont farmer?) A recent article in the Burlington Free Press highlights some of the latest in [...]
