It's Easy Being Green » Politics

Evansville Farmers Market FAIL

Nate — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:48:15 +0000

The whole reason you have a farmers market is to support local agriculture. Apparently the City of Evansville and GAGE have a different idea.

I think the title of this post says it all. It was another attack on a family farm. Within the past 24 hours here in Evansville I’ve seen a local farmer and his products accepted, shunned and then welcomed once again at the downtown farmer’s market. The weekly farmers market is put on by an organization called GAGE or the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville.

There have always been problems with GAGE’s attempt at trying to create a farmers market for the city. When the market was first created it was the city’s creative reuse of an old brick warehouse type building that had sat empty. Before we moved to the area I’m told the inside portion contained a deli and other fun food merchants like that along with the weekly spread of produce and other goods. The City of Evansville and GAGE have always run the market for only three months out of the year. It’s an idea which makes little to no sense, especially in our area that sports a growing season at least 6 months long. The indoor market essentially failed. The city couldn’t keep up with the cost of keeping the building empty for most of the year.

Now the market has been brought back around again, this time as a way to attract people to the downtown area. The market is held in an open field in the center of a city block every Friday morning and every other Saturday. To most of us who go, that schedule has never really made sense either. Most are working on Friday mornings and to only have it every other Saturday just gives more time for people to forget the opportunity to shop at the farmers market even exists.

On Friday, the farmer we buy our locally grown, grass-fed organic meats from as part of a CSA, was banned from selling his frozen meats. Keith Canon who owns Stonewall Farm was inspected by the Vanderburgh County Health Department at opening day of the farmers market and passed inspection. He was told he was following all code. But GAGE, in talks with the Vanderburgh County Health Department, decided that it wasn’t a good idea to allow the sale of frozen meat at the farmers market for fear of mishandling.

Stonewall Farm already has a decent customer base and uses the downtown farmers market as a stop for customers to pick up their monthly take of meat, eggs and other goods bought as part of their CSA. By shutting out Stonewall Farm, GAGE was essentially turning away a huge base of potential customers for the other vendors. Stonewall Farm is also offering a locally grown product. Many of the fruits and vegetables currently sold at the market aren’t even grown nearby and the people selling them aren’t even farmers, they’re distributors.

Many of us who support eating locally and organically were outraged by GAGE’s decision and let them know it by inundating their telephones and emailing. An impressive social networking campaign also kicked up just a couple hours after the initial decision to ban the meat sales. People who were angry contacted them via Facebook and Twitter and let them know it. My favorite local coffee shop, Penny Lane, also reacted. They’ve announced they want to start a farmers market with all locally grown products.

Today we drove out to Stonewall Farm to pickup our monthly take of meat and eggs. Keith told us the good news that the upswell of support for Stonewall apparently made GAGE reconsider their decision. They will once again allow Stonewall Farm to sell their frozen meats! This just goes to show how bureaucratic decision making can sometimes be changed by simply speaking our minds. I think that’s great.

I hope the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville has learned an important lesson. They have a golden opportunity to create a worthwhile farmers market. A farmers market that actually supports and cultivates the idea that local farmers do actually have a place they can sell their goods and that people looking for local produce can find it.

Other suggestions for GAGE’s Evansville Farmers Market:

1) Make it every Saturday instead of every other

2) Consider extending the season beyond just 3 months of Summer. I know several farmers in the Evansville area with greenhouses that would be willing to heat them and grow if they had a place to sell.

3) Find a permanent and covered location for the market so it can go on even if there is inclement weather. There are awnings along the back of the old Greyhound Station, what about using that space?

4) Force vendors to label where produce is coming from and if it’s organic or not. I think too many people believe they’re buying food from a local farmer who may not use pesticides and other harsh chemicals when in fact they may not be.

5) Grow the market. Make it a true event with food and entertainment.

If you liked that post, then try these...

Life happens by Nate on October 28th, 2009
The changing of the seasons is definitely on the march here in southwest Indiana and with it comes a stark quandary about where time disappears to.

Smoldering Stove by Nate on January 29th, 2008
Our night turned interesting rather quickly! I ran home from work to have dinner with Talina like I do most weeknights.

Volunteer Opportunity: The Arboretum at Flagstaff by Nate on February 11th, 2008
.

Green Up Your Super Bowl Party by Nate on January 31st, 2008
Would you like to take a few simple steps to make sure your Super Bowl party is a little friendlier on our environment? Well you can and it's pretty darn simple just by choosing a few key products that help us all tread a little lighter on our planet.

Freecycle flake turns me to wildflower walk by Nate on September 13th, 2009
This last week I ran across a desk that popped up on Freecycle.

Organic food threatened by big agribusiness

Nate — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:50:06 +0000

Agricultural conglomerate Monsanto is at it again with another big threat to organic agriculture and we all need to speak out against it. The USDA is currently taking public comment on Monsanto’s request to approve Genetically Engineered (GE) alfalfa that will be Roundup ready.

This is similar to their Roundup ready soybeans currently on the market. The GE seeds produced by Monsanto allow farmers to spray their crops with Roundup chemical herbicides, protecting the soybeans or alfalfa but killing everything else herbaceous, like weeds, growing around it.

The USDA itself predicts that by approving GE alfalfa, it would damage family farms and organic meat and dairy markets but doesn’t propose any way to protect them. The main concern revolves around cross-contamination of organically grown non-GE alfalfa and the fact that organic foods can be sold without having to identify that the animals were fed GE livestock feed.

Public comment is open until February 16th, so time is ticking. Head to the True Food Network to send a form letter to the USDA as part of the public comment record. You can also submit a direct response at the regulations.gov website. Our friends over at Organic Valley have also provided these talking points and suggestions for writing your own letter and mailing it over, which in some cases, seems to have more of an impact than an electronic statement.

By Mail: A written letter is very powerful. Mail your comments to:

Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8
4700 River Road Unit 118
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238

Talking Point Suggestions

Let the USDA know that you do care about GE contamination of organic crops and food
Tell USDA that you will reject GE-contaminated alfalfa and alfalfa-derived foods
If GE alfalfa is deregulated, widespread GE contamination of non-GM and organic alfalfa is inevitable.
Organic alfalfa is a critical component for organic farming and feed.
Remind USDA it’s their job to protect Organic farmers, and all farmers who choose to grow non-GE crops.
GE alfalfa would significantly increase pesticide use and thereby harm human health and the environment.
Harm to small and organic farmers is significant.
USDA should extend the comment period.

Let USDA Know That You Care About GE Contamination of Organic Crops and Food:

USDA claims that there is no evidence that consumers care about contamination of organic alfalfa and alfalfa-derived foods with Monsanto’s GE Roundup Ready alfalfa.

Prohibition of genetic engineering (GE) is a fundamental part of the Organic Standard. In fact, USDA’s failure to exclude GE crops from the first version of the organic rule was one of the main reasons that 275,000 people filed public comments in 1997– the largest outpouring of public participation in the history of U.S. administrative procedure. Consumers care deeply about organic integrity, and genetic engineering is fundamentally at odds with organic. More than 75% of consumers believe that they are purchasing products without GE ingredients when they buy organic.[i]

Tell USDA You Will Reject GE Contaminated Alfalfa and Alfalfa-Derived Foods:

USDA claims that consumers will not reject GE contamination of organic alfalfa if the contamination is unintentional or if the GE material is not transmitted to the end milk or meat product.

The Organic Standards require that livestock feed for animals used for meat, milk, eggs, and other animal products is 100 percent organic. Protecting organic alfalfa, the main source of feed for the organic dairy industry, is crucial to the health of that important sector of U.S. agriculture. Additionally, as the Court found in the lawsuit that required this EIS, to “farmers and consumers organic means not genetically engineered, even if the farmer did not intend for his crop to be so engineered.” Whether or not the end product is impacted is not the issue. Farmers’ fundamental right to sow the crop of their choice is eliminated when it is contaminated with transgenes, and so is the public’s ability to support meaningful organic food and feed production. The public’s trust in the integrity of the organic label is essential to the continued vitality of the organic foods industry. Tell USDA you reject GE contamination of organic by any means or at any stage of sustainable food production.

Tell USDA to Protect Organic Farmers and All Farmers Who Wish to Choose to Grow Non-GE Crops:

Although USDA says it supports “coexistence” of all types of agriculture, USDA refuses to even consider any future for alfalfa that would include protections from contamination for organic and conventional farmers and exporters.

USDA can approve GE crops in whole or in part. Partial approval could include use restrictions, geographic limitations or planting isolation distances. Yet, in the court-ordered analysis, USDA analyzed only two options: 1) Full approval, allowing GE alfalfa to be grown and sold without restriction like any other crop; and 2) No action, meaning GE alfalfa could only be grown under USDA permit, as at present. USDA’s “all or nothing” approach leaves un-analyzed any potential options to protect farmers. This is contrary to law and logic. USDA’s basic mission is “protecting American agriculture.” Yet, USDA refused to even consider any options that might protect organic and conventional agriculture from contamination and the resulting loss of markets and ability to sow the crop of their choice.

If GE alfalfa is deregulated, widespread GE contamination of non-GM and organic alfalfa is inevitable.

USDA claims that Monsanto’s seed contracts require measures sufficient to prevent GE contamination. But according to Fred Kirschenmann, Iowa Leopold Center Distinguished Fellow, alfalfa is impossible to contain. “Alfalfa is a perennial with a three-mile pollination radius, so farm buffers won’t work.”

In the lawsuit requiring the EIS, the Court found that GE contamination had already occurred in the fields of several Western states with these same business-as-usual practices in place!
The EIS itself acknowledges that GE contamination may happen and includes studies that honey bees can cross-pollinate at distances over 6 miles, and Alkali bees at 4-5 miles,[ii] much further than any distances under Monsanto’s “best practices.”
In general, where other GE crops were approved without restriction, contamination of organic and conventional seeds and crops is widespread and has been documented around the world.[iii] A recent report documented 39 cases in 2007 and more than 200 in the last decade.[iv] The harms incurred by organic farmers and food companies from GE contamination are many and include: lost markets, lost sales, lower prices, negative publicity, withdrawal of organic certification, expensive testing and prevention measures, and product recalls.[v] In Canada, pervasive GE contamination eliminated the entire organic canola opportunity.[vi]

GE Alfalfa Would Significantly Increase Pesticide Use and Thereby Harm Human Health and the Environment.

USDA admits (correctly) that introduction of Roundup Ready alfalfa will increase Roundup use. However, USDA’s claims that the increase is not significant and that Roundup will replace other, more toxic herbicides are flat-out wrong.

The great majority of GE crops grown today are Roundup Ready, and their widespread introduction has vastly increased Roundup use and fostered an epidemic of Roundup-resistant weeds. To kill Roundup-resistant weeds requires higher doses of Roundup, often in combination with other toxic herbicides. Over the past 13 years, Roundup Ready crops have significantly increased overall herbicide use on corn, soybeans and cotton – by 383 million pounds[vii] – and Roundup Ready alfalfa will only make matters worse.
As the agency’s own studies here show, the great majority of alfalfa is currently grown without the use of any herbicides at all.[viii] So Roundup Ready alfalfa will increase Roundup use and exacerbate the resistant weed epidemic without displacing other herbicides on most alfalfa farms.
Roundup has been associated with increased rates of several cancers in pesticide applicators (e.g. non-Hodgkin’s & multiple myeloma),[ix] and is highly toxic to frogs at field-relevant concentrations.[x] The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently re-assessing the safety of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, for the first time in over 15 years. USDA should wait for this new EPA assessment before it considers approving GE alfalfa.

Harm to Small and Organic Farmers Would Be Significant.

USDA concludes that GE alfalfa will cause production to shift to larger farms (that can afford built-in isolation distances) and conventional growers who are not threatened by GE contamination, but that these economic shifts are not significant.

Small, family farmers are the backbone and future of American agriculture and must be protected. Organic agriculture provides many benefits to society: healthy foods for consumers, economic opportunities for family farmers and urban and rural communities, and a farming system that improves the quality of the environment. However, the continued vitality of this sector is imperiled by the complete absence of measures to protect organic production systems from GE contamination and subsequent environmental, consumer, and economic losses.

Tell USDA to Extend the Comment Period:

USDA provided only a 60-day comment period, from Dec 16-Feb 16.

The document is almost 200 pages, 1400 with appendices. The comment period began right before the holiday season. This is the first EIS the agency has ever conducted for any GE crop. Given these factors, and its failure to release its “Plant Pest Determination,” USDA should extend the comment period at least 30 days to give the public adequate time to comment.

[i] Organic Community Comments to APHIS, Proposed Rule and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Introduction of Genetically Engineered Organisms, APHIS Docket 2008-002, June 29, 2009.

[ii] United States Department of Agriculture. Glyphosate-Tolerant Alfalfa Events J101 and J163: Request for Nonregulated Status. Draft Environmental Impact Statement—November 2009. P.95.

[iii] See, e.g., New Study Finds GM Genes in Wild Mexican Maize, New Scientist, Feb. 21, 2009; Rex Dalton (2008) Modified genes spread to local maize: findings reignite debate over genetically modified crops, Nature, 456 (7219), 2000, at 149; The Institute for Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), Chile enters the list of countries contaminated with GMOs: A report from INTA has detected transgenic contamination of maize in the fields of central Chile, Oct. 22, 2008; Graeme Smith, Illegal GM Crops Found In Scotland, Herald, Sept. 13, 2008; Elizabeth Rosenthal, Questions on Biotech Crops with No Clear Answers, N.Y. Times, June 6, 2006; Gene Flow underscores growing concern over biotech crops, Associated Press, Sept. 22, 2004; Andrew Pollack, Can Biotech Crops be Good Neighbors?, N.Y. Times, Sept. 26, 2004; Lyle F. Friesen et al., Evidence of contamination of pedigreed canola (Brassica napus) seedlots in Western Canada with genetically engineered herbicide resistance traits, 95 Agron. J., 1342-1347 (2003); Simon Jeffery, Rogue genes: An unauthorised strain of GM crops has been found across England and Scotland., Guardian, Aug. 16, 2002; Alex Roslin, Modified Pollen hits organic farms: Genetically altered strains spread by wind, Toronto Star, Sept. 30, 2002; Fred Pearce, The Great Mexican Maize Scandal, New Scientist 2347, June 15, 2002.

[iv] Greenpeace International. GM Contamination Register Report 2007, February 28, 2008, at www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports/gm-contamination-register-2007.

[v] See, e.g., K.L. Hewett, The Economic Impacts of GM Contamination Incidents on the Organic Sector, 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 16-20, 2008.

[vi] Smyth et al .(2002). Liabilities and Economics of Transgenic Crops, 20 Nature Biotechnology, June 2002, at 537-541.

[vii] http://truefoodnow.org/2009/11/17/new-report-reveals-dramatic-rise-in-pesticide-use-on-genetically-engineered-ge-crops-due-to-the-spread-of-resistant-weeds/

[viii]United States Department of Agriculture. Glyphosate-Tolerant Alfalfa Events J101 and J163: Request for Nonregulated Status. Draft Environmental Impact Statement—November 2009. Appendix J, J-25, EIS pp. 34 & 43.

[ix] Hardell, L., & Eriksson, M. (1999). “A Case-Controlled Study of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Exposure to Pesticides,” Cancer, 85(6), 1353–1360; Hardell L, Eriksson M, & Nordstrom M. (2002). “Exposure to pesticides as risk factor for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hairy cell leukemia: pooled analysis of two Swedish case-control studies,” Leuk Lymphoma, 43(5), 1043-1049; De Roos, et al. (2003). “Integrative assessment of multiple pesticides as risk factors for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma among men,” Occup Environ Med, 60(9); De Roos, A. J. D., Blair, A., Rusiecki, J. A., Hoppin, J. A., Svec, M., Dosemeci, M., Sandler, D. P., & Alavanja, MC .2005. Cancer Incidence among Glyphosate‐Exposed Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(1), 49‐54.

[x] Relyea, R.A. (2005a). “The lethal impact of Roundup on aquatic and terrestial amphibians,” Ecological Applications 15(4): 1118–1124; Relyea et al (2005). “Pesticides and amphibians: The importance of community context,” Ecological Adaptations 15: 1125-1134; Relyea, R.A. (2005b). “The letal impacts of Roundup and predatory stress on six species of North American tadpoles,” Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 48: 351-57.

Green energy tax breaks

Nate — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:20:44 +0000

A $31 Million package of incentives and tax credits for alternative and green energy sources has passed the U.S. Senate’s Finance Committee. The package is expected to be ready for President Obama to sign by mid-February.

The packages would give homeowners tax credits for investing in alternative energy sources like wind or solar and for making their homes more energy efficient. Alternative energy companies can also carry their current tax credits for an additional five years.

I think this is fantastic and a good way to encourage people to start making the move to alternative energy and maximum efficiency. Unfortunately I feel like unless these packages were to be extended for several years, it’s not going to do much right now. The economy is in such poor shape that who, aside from the wealthy (once again), have the money to invest in solar panels and wind turbines right now?

I don’t think the answer will reveal very many people willing to make the investment in these rocky times even with as much as it will pay off in the long run. I hope our government realizes that this is a vital move to keep alive for several years and not just one tax season. Do green tax breaks like this one do enough to encourage you to make the move to alternative energy sources? Share your thoughts and opinions by posting a comment below!

If you liked that post, then try these...

Holiday Green-up by Nate on December 1st, 2008
It's that special time of year where mad shoppers flood retail stores for the best deals and deck the house from top to bottom in holiday cheer.

Taking the edge off of winter by Nate on January 14th, 2009
It seems like most portions of the midwest and northeast are gripped by Old Man Winter this week.

Digging Out by Nate on December 14th, 2007
.

Homemade Ice Melter by Nate on January 4th, 2009
By now several areas of the country have dealt with a crippling round of ice storms and with salt in short supply, de-icing in some parts of the country has been rather difficult.

Vitamin Soup by Nate on January 15th, 2009
Winter can be a tough time to keep up your vitamin intake but it's essential to stave off sickness and any sort of infection that might come your way.

Political War of Words

Nate — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:49:04 +0000

While both sides of the presidential election begin to unleash their war of words, they’re also dragging environmental and energy stances into their statements. The Democratic National Committee will unveil a new anti-McCain campaign today called “Exxon McCain ‘08″. The campaign will include a special gas pump logo, bright red buttons, bumper stickers and yard signs sure to be seen in a city near you sometime soon! The campaign is aimed at rebuking the Republicans tire pressure gauges they handed out to political reporters earlier this week that were labeled “Obama’s Energy Plan”.

Do you think one candidate has a better energy policy than the other? Let us know who you think has the best eye for the environment and energy issues daunting our nation!

If you liked that post, then try these...

Reaping the Citrus Harvest by Nate on January 26th, 2008
Now is the time that Arizona citrus is reaching its peak harvest season.

Ice storm 2009 by Nate on February 2nd, 2009
I'm glad to say we're safe and sound following the major ice storm that just ripped through the Midwest this past week.

Holiday Green-up by Nate on December 1st, 2008
It's that special time of year where mad shoppers flood retail stores for the best deals and deck the house from top to bottom in holiday cheer.

Christmas Tree-cycling by Nate on December 28th, 2007
.

A green cure for cabin fever by Nate on January 26th, 2009
If you're like me, by this time of the year you start itching to get out of winter.

Naked Bicyclists Protest Oil

Nate — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:13:28 +0000

A World Naked Bike Ride Event

I’m having a good chuckle while waking up to my first cup of coffee this morning. Heads were apparently turning in St. Louis Saturday night, while hundreds of mostly nude bicyclists protested society’s dependence on oil. It was all part of the “World Naked Bike Ride” which stretched for 10 miles through the city. So far 70 cities across the globe have unknowingly been host to one of these political rides. Officers with the St. Louis Police Department checked to make sure the bike riders were within the decency laws, wearing minimums like pasties, body paint, loin cloths and thongs.

For more information about organizing your own World Naked Bike Ride, check out their website. There is also an entertaining video of what the rides look like. You can also Google search for pictures using the ride’s name. It’s quite entertaining. I’d really like to see one of those come to Flagstaff!

If you liked that post, then try these...

Already Dreaming of Summer, Thinking of Food by Nate on December 25th, 2007
While my yard is blanketed in white, the onset of the gardening catolog season is already beginning to flush our post office box with fun new catalogs.

More Signs of a Slumping Economy by Nate on February 6th, 2008
A new study out this week is showing that the post-Christmas rush to spend gift cards is apparently non-existent.

The Sheets Fall Flat at Jerome, AZ Ghost Walk by Nate on October 14th, 2007
This early October weekend marked the 5th Annual Jerome Historical Society Ghost Walk, a tourist draw for people looking for that quintessential "feeling of fall" activity.

Avoiding Genetically Modified Produce by Nate on February 1st, 2008
We've been hearing a lot about genetically modified produce these days.

The Cowboy In Me by Nate on January 24th, 2008
.

A Town Without Cars

Nate — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:58:34 +0000

Prime Minister Gordon Brown apparently made waves in the UK on Valentine’s Day. Showing his love for the environment and sustainable living, Brown announced he is planning to develop new towns in the UK that will be completely free of cars. His idea is that these “eco-towns” will dot the English countryside, providing much needed housing while creating as low an environmental impact as possible. Under the plan, the first “eco-town” will allow vehicles to be parked on the outskirts in designated parking lots making the interior of the town pedestrian friendly and open to public transportation. Brown’s “eco-town” will consist of about 10,000 homes.

The announcement didn’t come without concern though. Brits have already started organizing protests and petitions against Brown’s plans for several “eco-towns”. They fear that these new developments will mean a “massive loss of greenbelt land” according to the Mirror.

I think, as long as everyone can come together and hash out reasonable spots for the prototype “eco-town” to be constructed, that it’s a great idea. Would you live in a town that banned cars from running around the interior, making it a pedestrian community? What do you think the drawbacks could be? If you’re interested in the subject of new, sustainable communities, check out my blog entry and video on the Masdar Initiative.

Saving the Whales

Nate — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:59:32 +0000

I’m glad to see this morning that the National Resources Defense Council has gained some ground in federal court against the White House and the Navy. NRDC has gone to court against the government because of a decision by President Bush to allow the Navy to use high powered sonar equipment in a “no sonar zone”. The zone is known to be the home of large groups of whales and several studies have shown the sonar in question can cause mass death in whales. According to the NRDC, the high-intensity sound waves can travel vast stretches of the ocean and are so intense that marine mammals experience bleeding in their brain before they die.

In January, President Bush argued that the high powered sonar was vital for our nation’s military preparedness exercises and granted the Navy an exemption so they could ignore a court ruled injunction to stop the practices back on January 3rd. U.S. District Judge Florence Marine Cooper released a 36 page ruling stating that the Navy must abide by a previous order which outlawed the sonar use in that particular area of the Pacific. What’s even better, Cooper suggested our President’s attempt to go around the previous ruling was “constitutionally suspect”.

I’m glad Cooper made what seems like a sound ruling both in favor of our environment and in favor of the people who tried to stop it. Our government, and our lame-duck President for that matter, need to learn they just can’t run around doing whatever they want. The people are watching….power to the people!

The NRDC produced a really great 5 minute long video on this issue. It’s called “Lethal Sounds” and is narrated by Pierce Brosnan.

If you liked that post, then try these...

Solar Car by Nate on July 2nd, 2008
The University of Arizona has unveiled their new, completely solar powered car for an upcoming competition.

Modern architecture meets alternative energy - Part 2 by Nate on September 2nd, 2009
If you haven't already read my brief review on a new book profiling modern architecture and alternative energy, .

Christmas Light Conundrum by Nate on December 28th, 2008
As it gets closer to New Year's Day, more and more people will begin to take down their holiday light displays.

25% renewable energy by 2025 by Nate on April 4th, 2009
If you aren't already familiar with the organization .

Participate in Tomorrow Night's Earth Hour by Nate on March 28th, 2008
You can join millions of people around the globe Saturday, March 29th by participating in an event showing awareness and support for our planet.