THIS IS INTERESTING. I'D LIKE YOUR OPINION...

Well, I find this article a bit disturbing, but, at the same time, I think it shows the power of the industry. See what's going on in Florida and Iowa, or what they want to happen. We may all be criminals yet.

"lame" by zappowbang
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zappowbang/530919882/

FARM PLANS AND ALL PLANS CANCELLED...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gail/3402836023/
"No?" by FotoGail

The school says no field trips after spring break, and farms aren't ready to host tours until something actually starts growing, or during harvest, which is before we start the project. So, it looks like everything is off, unless I can work up something by next Thursday, which is nigh to impossible. Apparently, only sports (games, playoffs, etc.) is allowed after this time.

Oh, well. Maybe we can eat at Farm Burger in an unofficial capacity after the AP exam. I'll be checking. Would any of you be interested in eating there or at Yeah, Burger after the exam?

FOOD BYTES! FARM UPDATE!

After posting on your books, all groups can take a week off in order to give me time to read all of your info!

Also...if all goes well, we'll be going to Heritage Farms the week of Easter. I have to go before the powers that be to present all the info, so please pray that all goes well. We will take a two-hour tour of the farm and "Greg" will talk about animals, sustainability, organics, and farming as a family. You will have to take your best questions for a write up later. We can take our lunches and eat out there as well. I'll keep you "posted"!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/frogbelly/3700142068/
"Rooster in Weeds" by The Gut

NASCAR GOES GREEN? HAHA! ETHANOL WOES MULTIPLY...

An interesting article on food supply woes compounded with subsidies of up to 6 billion/year for, you guessed it, CORN, makes for disturbing reading.  I hope my economists are paying attention and the rest of you, too. This applies to everyone. Let me know what you think... and that 10% ethanol is now 15%... Yikes!

Picture cited in earlier post

I WANT MY NON-GMOs! BUT HOW CAN I KNOW? WELL...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbahareth/4349115725/
"Genetically Modified Food" by Mohammed Bahareth

Here's a great tool! This post lists the certified companies who have made it a priority to produce their products without GMOs. You can see their company logos and to see their products and company info, and you can also click into a product list with actual bar code numbers. Why not give support to those companies who are trying (and there are a LOT of them!). I think you'll recognize many of these. Happy browsing:)

GOOD INFO FROM SNACK GIRL! WHAT'S IN MY BREAD???

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/5490957450/
"Wonder Bread" by Steve Snodgrass

It seems, with all of your research, that a consistent theme keeps appearing. Many additives and ingredients in OUR food (USA) are banned in other countries. Why?  Here's an interesting post by Snack Girl in her blog about that very issue.

I'll try to order these books and get more info!

LET'S CONNECT CORN TO ISSUES AROUND THE WORLD!

Our corn subsidies are getting us in BIG trouble. And it's not just us, but the world is in trouble due to our low reserves. The fuel "shortages" are related more to corn than to what's going on in the Middle East!  Well, you can check it out here.

I can't wait to read all your blogs tomorrow. I'll comment on all your blogs tomorrow during the day. :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/myklroventine/1431110452/
"Corn on the cob" by Mykl Roventine

FOOD ETHICS and BIOETHICS. CLOSELY RELATED...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/4004791663/
"Spilled Orange Pills and Medicine Bottle" by Pink Sherbert Photography

I just ran across this article, which is oh, so very disturbing, and it made me think: How far removed is this from some of the food ethics issues we're discussing this semester? The US doesn't require labeling for cloned, bio-engineered, and genetically modified foods. So. Well, you read this and see what you think.

JUST HOW MANY GM CROPS DOES THE WORLD GROW?

Biotech crops are on the upswing, and the US is leading the way. Check out this article in favor of biotech crops and scroll down to the bottom to see just how far ahead we are, and who else is in the running. I think we're in trouble already. Food prices are rising because we are planting too many subsidized crops and not enough food crops.  This is playing out in countries around the world. Stay tuned.  :\

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/383416585/
"Biofuels" by jurvetson

DIRT COOKIES?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/87913776@N00/2539445841/sizes/l/
"Ethanol sign on gas pump" by futureatlas.com

Now, I'm not really a tree hugger type, but I DO think that the issue of food ethics goes beyond any political party or agenda.  I'm somewhat of a skeptic regarding global warming, but I am linking you to an article from a global warming watchdog. However, the article is very interesting in that it quotes from many sources, both conservative. liberal, and points in between. Note how ethanol (corn subsidies) is ruining our planet. Check and see how complicated it all is and when you pay for your gas at the pump, note the ethanol mix as you pump that expensive gasoline! Think about all the food shortages occurring not only globally, but also here in the good ol' USA. In Haiti, people have been reduced to making dirt cookies with dirt, water, and other ingredients.  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/galant/3295514822/
"Soft Chocolate Cookies with Grapefruit and Star Anise" by TheBittenWord.com

SO JUST WHAT COMPANIES DOES MONSANTO OWN?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/faceme/1579852563/sizes/o/
De Ruiters' (Monsanto) Tomato by FaceMePLS

If you're planning on planting a family garden, you may want to see just how much of the seed world is owned by Monsanto.  From flowers to grains, Monsanto is in the thick of it all, even though most of the time, you'll never see their name.

Check out the partial list here and visit Monsanto's own site here. 

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR INSECTS COOKED?

I ran across an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal this weekend about eating insects, which is popular in many countries across the world.  Loaded with protein, many people put insect parts in dishes, tacos, or other delicacies. Of course, you can always just eat them like sunflower seeds!

So, could "bugs" be the meat of the future?  How full of pesticides will they be?!

Happy eating crunching...          

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27025962@N00/3146959299/
"Giant Grasshopper" by Gabi Max

                                                      

SYNTHETIC MEAT?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/notionscapital/2433719317/
"Manufacturing Meat" by Mike Licht, Notions Capital

Well, this really makes me sort of lose my appetite (which is probably a good thing for me!).  Scientists are working on synthetic meat, or "cultured" meat--meat grown "in vitro." So no animals have to actually live on the land. They can be created through test tubes. Read here about this unsettling practice, even more so because you will probably be able to "design" your synthetic meat!  Would you like it to smell like pork, have the fat content of chicken, and slice like roast beef?  NO PROBLEM!

FIRST GM CROP BURNED IN THE US!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotodawg/111040816/
"Red Beets" by Fotodawg

Monsanto and soybeans, Monsanto and corn, and now Monsanto and alfalfa. But wait! Our government recently allowed Monsanto to plant GE (genetically engineered) sugar beets. A lawsuit finally halted the harvesting because the courts ruled that the USDA (US Dept. of Agriculture) allowed this unlawful planting without testing for environmental and health effects. The crops were ordered burned in order to prevent cross-contamination. Read about it here, and add this site to your feed. Lots of good information. I think the bottom line is that you are responsible for the safety of your food. The government is not going to help you with this in the long run.

If you're interested, here's the True Food Shopper's Guide: How to Avoid Foods Made with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to take to the grocery store.  Check out the labels and see if you eat any of these products. If not, support them for your health!

Dirty Food--Pesticides in Your Fruits and Veggies!

Found an interesting rating chart of pesticides in grocery store fruits and veggies. The list ranks these on a scale of 1-49, with the higher numbers containing the greater amounts of pesticides. If you click on the top bar, the site will explain the rating and how buying organic eliminates this threat. Everything is documented. Still better to eat regular fruits/veggies than the chemically-laden stuff we usually consume. The more you know...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spine/558333048/
"Produce" by rick

Oh, no! Whole Foods Gives In To Monsanto!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brighton/3492847155/sizes/l/
Yates Seed Packet, London Museum by Jim Linwood

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em?  Apparently, that's what Whole Foods, Stonyfield, and other "die hard" organics are doing.  Is Monsanto that powerful?  Is it all about money?  Check out the story here.

WHAT IS THIS?!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebusybrain/2632651360/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Hot Dogs on a Bun by The Busy Brain

APPEARANCES ARE DECEIVING!!!

This is one of my favorite "views" from a great blog, Fooducate (see list below). Enjoy taking the quiz, and rethink your food choices this week!

http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2009/08/03/guess-whats-in-the-picture-foodlike-substance/#

Launching Food Ethics!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/azrainman/1457780181/sizes/z/

LAUNCHING FOOD ETHICS!

The 3 AP English Language classes at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta are launching their research into the ethics of food, from seed to final product(s). Classes will blog on aspects of the following overarching issues:

• Organic
• Animal Welfare
• Eat/Buy/Be Local
• Environment
• Economics

Stay tuned and follow the 16 related blogs this semester, as we research, analyze, review, debate, and consume.

Oh!  The photo, above, by azrainman, is entitled "Frankenegg," and highlights the controversial issue of genetically modified seeds and foods. His caption reads, "Monsteranto: Hatch one today!" and apparently refers to the highly criticized Monsanto Company, makers of Agent Orange, Roundup, and Roundup Ready soybean seeds, a patented seed genetically modified to resist Roundup pesticide.

We'll keep you posted. :)