Those purchasing organic foods advised to look for certified label

Posted on May 15, 2012 by admin

ST. PAUL, Minn. – As farmers markets begin opening for the season, more people will be buying and preparing fresh, locally grown foods. For consumers interested in buying organic products in Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) advised them to look for the USDA organic label, certifier seal, or asking to see an organic certificate. (And it ain’t a bad idea for foodservice operations to do the same. Sure, no label is perfect, but the USDA Organic label does stand for a base set of criteria that must be met to get the stamp. For those that are starting a local sourcing program and don’t have tight relationships with local growers, the USDA Organic label standard is not a bad thing at all.—Ed.) All provide evidence that the product was grown on farms that are inspected each year to ensure compliance with the nationwide organic standards.

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TDF rider a victim of beef?

Posted on February 7, 2012 by admin

By Mike Mitchelson

An accomplished cyclist blames tainted beef for his positive blood doping test.

The story broke Monday that Alberto Contador was stripped of his 2010 Tour De France title for blood doping, and was suspended from competitions.

(Bear with me folks, as a cycling afficionado, how often is it that I can combine it with my day job, which is writing about sustainable food, agriculture and the restaurant business?)

Contador tested positive for clenbuterol, a hormone that is sometimes used to plump up livestock—namely beef. It’s used widely in China, but banned in Europe. According to the New York Times, Contador claimed that the positive test came from a steak that was delivered from Spain to France by a friend, which he ate on the last rest day of the Tour. He is considering appealing his suspension, which lasts until August 6, 2012.

Is this possible? It’s not without precedent. That same Times piece reported that in 2010 German table tennis player was cleared of doping charges after testing positive for the hormone, which he claimed from eating beef in China—evidence presented proved that clenbuteral is present in Chinese beef.
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Farm-to-table: A few tips to make it work

Posted on February 3, 2012 by admin

(This story was published originally in the February 2012 issue of Foodservice News, a sister publication to Harvest Foodservice Journal. Regulations and resources mentioned in this article are specific to Minnesota, but similar rules and listings exist in most states that impact local sourcing.)

By Theresa Heiland

It might be frigid outside, but spring will arrive sooner than you think. If you’ve thought about sourcing local product from a small farm, it’s time to get a jump on establishing your product standards.

The local food movement has done much to increase market opportunities for local farmers. According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the number of farmers markets listed in the statewide Minnesota Grown Directory has grown from 74 in 2006, to 128 in 2010, to 145 in 2011. Similarly, CSA farms (Community Supported Agriculture) grew from 14 in 2006, to 59 in 2010, to 85 in 2011.  Consumers are more informed about how their food choices affect them personally and in our social, economic and natural environments. Further, “regional food sheds” and “local food hubs” are now part of local governments’ regular discussion in land-use planning.

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Immigrant & Minority Farmers Conference

Posted on January 30, 2012 by admin

The annual Immigrant and Minority Farmers Conference, sponsored by the Minnesota Food Association, will be held February 3-4 at North Central Regional Council of Carpenters Event Hall, 710 Olive Street, St. Paul, MN. To register, click here.

For details on last years event, download the first issue of Harvest Foodservice Journal and read Brett Olson’s story, “‘Speed dating’ links chefs to growers. For further information on the Minnesota Food Association, visit their website and download Harvest Foodservice Issue No. 2 and read “Training to Meet Demand.” It’s a great organization, and a great event to help our immigrant farmers increase production and cultivate sales in the retail and wholesale markets.

 

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Online tool helps growers create food safety plan

Posted on January 4, 2012 by admin

The On‐Farm Food Safety Project was unveiled last month at U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters by a broad partnership of food and agriculture organizations. The new online tool, available at no charge to farmers, helps mitigate farm‐based food safety risks. The tool is voluntary and enables produce growers to create customized food safety plans, and thus, adopt and document best practices in food safety.

It is the first of its kind and was developed by the nonprofit FamilyFarmed.org with lead funding from the USDA Risk Management Agency. A broad coalition of farm and produce industry partners helped create the program, which is available at www.onfarmfoodsafety.org.

In an era of growing concern about food safety, farmers of all sizes have sought ways to build effective and manageable food safety programs in an economical manner. This tool will help produce growers improve their food safety protocols by helping them assess risks specific to their farms and suggesting risk‐specific mitigations.  Continue reading →

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