Food & Farm News
Real Audio» June 30, 2005 «
Coalition promotes biotechnology
California Healthy Foods Coalition is a newly organized group formed to promote agricultural innovation. The California Farm Bureau is one of its members. It was created to challenge misinformation about biotechnology and other innovations. The coalition says biotechnology holds great promise to improve the quality of life for all Americans. Coalition members question why in a world of camera phones and palm pilots farmers should be made to use the outdated equivalents of 8-track tapes and carbon paper.
Pistachio crop looks good
This is the off year for California pistachios, but early estimates put the crop size at about 225 million pounds. That's quite a bit better than the last off year when 118 million pounds were produced. Farmers are concerned about the cool nights, and hope for warmer weather over the next few weeks. This is when the pistachio nuts form, and warmer temperatures will help develop nut quality. The main competition for pistachios is Iran where freezing temperatures have reduced crop size.
New apple preservative developed
Fresh apple slices are now available at retail stores and food service locations because of successful work by the Agricultural Research Service. The slices are also available in the school lunch program. Scientists developed a calcium-vitamin C based coating that prevents apples from browning. It increases the shelf life of peeled apples to four weeks without changing the texture or flavor. That coating allows apple slices to become a practical retail offering.
Inspection station groundbreaking today
Groundbreaking ceremonies take place today (Thursday) at Truckee for a new agricultural inspection station to replace the one on I-80. The new location is at the east end of town and will help alleviate local traffic congestion. The California Department of Food and Agriculture says the new site will allow inspectors to better concentrate on vehicles presenting the greatest risks such as those carrying cargo from other states. The station is one of 16 agricultural inspection stations that protect California's environment from invasive pests and diseases.
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