In the first paragraph of his blog entry on the Huffington Post, Michael Markarian accuses "big agribusiness" of:
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Duping the public
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Harming animals
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Polluting the environment
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Exploiting Latino workers
Ouch. The article actually focuses on Proposition 2, an initiative on California's November ballot known as the "Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act." The story mercilessly takes aim at anyone who opposes its passage.
One of the new law's provisions will outlaw cramped cages for egg-laying hens. Markarian writes that opponents' insinuation that more eggs will be imported from Mexico if the initiative passes is untrue and he went to the director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center, Dan Sumner, for factual support of his position.
Sumner, the author of a UC Davis study on the egg industry, said "it's not very likely" that Mexico would start supplying California's eggs. "Mexico doesn't produce much feed corn and that's why Mexico isn't a logical place for production," he is quoted in the blog post.
In the UC news release about his study, Sumner also said, “The most likely outcome (of the initiative's passage) is the elimination of almost all of the California egg industry over a very few years." That fact, however, didn't make it in Markarian's rant.
Tired of haranguing political pundits? Here's a story that provides a welcome break.
The Modesto Bee ran an article about the subtle flavor variations of honey produced by bees that feed on different plants.
Wildflowers - buttery
Starthistle - slightly musky, fresh grain notes
Orange blossom - hints of rose, slightly citrus
Manzanita - smoky, woody and slightly vegetable with a peppery finish
The bees themselves have flavor preferences, UC Davis entomologist Eric Mussen commented in the article.
"For example, if they are in an alfalfa field with an almond orchard nearby, they will fly right past the alfalfa because they prefer almond flowers. But if alfalfa is the only nectar source, they will go to the alfalfa field," Mussen is quoted in the article.