- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The Bay Area TV segment "CBS 5 Investigates" looked into the Light Brown Apple Moth controversy for a story posted to their Web site today and found contrary opinions to publicize.
The story opens . . . "The government claims it's an emergency. They say they have to conduct aerial spraying over the Bay Area immediately to eradicate the light brown apple moth. But a CBS 5 Investigation has found there may not be an emergency at all."
California secretary of agriculture A.G. Kawamura made the case for spraying.
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
An article on the front page of the Fresno Bee business section today informs consumers they can return "Ripe 'N Ready" tree fruit to the company if it isn't to their liking. That's how confident the company is that their fruit will be delicious and ready to eat.
The article unfortunately doesn't go into how the company is able to make such a promise to consumers. In fact, much credit goes to UC Davis post harvest physiologist Carlos Crisosto, who is based at the UC Kearney Research and Extension Center near Parlier. As reported in a 2005
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Yesterday, the Fresno Bee ran a story about opening of roadside stands selling local strawberries. For the article, reporter Dennis Pollock spoke to UC Cooperative Extension small farm advisor Richard Molinar.
Pollock reported that only 25 strawberry farms remain in the county, down from 45 ten years ago. Most of the growers are Hmong and Mien, refugees from Laos.
Many farmers quit growing the fruit because of urbanization, costs for fumigants and unavailability of contracts with processors, Molinar said, according to the story. Wawona Frozen Foods stopped buying from area growers several...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The San Francisco Chronicle ran a story yesterday about a Mixtec farmer from Mexico who formed a non-profit that promotes soil conservation, sustainable agriculture and irrigation to improve the livelihoods of the Mixtec Highlands' 350,000 inhabitants.
The small group ecologists led by Jesus Leon organized more than 1,500 small farmers in 12 communities to reverse hundreds of years of environmental damage. For the effort, Leon is one of seven winners of San Francisco's Goldman Environmental Prize, a $150,000 award for pioneering environmental activists.
The story included a comment from Miguel Altieri,...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Washing fresh produce may not be enough to make contaminated food safe, according to a report on KTVU.com about USDA findings. KTVU is the Bay Area Fox Television affiliate.
USDA found that irradiation could provide a reliable way to reduce the number of foodborne illnesses reported each year in the United States, according to the director of the study.
For the story, the TV station sought comment from UC Davis Cooperative Extension specialist Christine Bruhn. Bruhn said some activists are opposed to irradiation, but the process is gaining consumer acceptance as studies have...
