Food & Farm News
Real Audio» April 12, 2007 «
Center for Produce Safety to be created
Saying it reflects a collective commitment to public health, leaders gathered yesterday (Wednesday) to announce creation of the Center for Produce Safety at UC Davis. The center will conduct food-safety research focused on fresh fruits and vegetables. State Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura said the center would lose no time in launching its work, and California Farm Bureau President Doug Mosebar said the center will keep farmers on the cutting edge of food safety.
California Farm Bureau president Doug Mosebar discusses food safety research with UC Davis food scientist Linda Harris, center, and lab assistant Sanhita Bandyopadhyay.
Rain delays delta asparagus harvest
It slowed the harvest, but the rain that fell yesterday in the San Joaquin Delta should not cause any other troubles for the region's asparagus farmers. The California Asparagus Commission says the rain likely would not touch off any plant diseases. Farmers have been selling asparagus at a loss in recent weeks. The commission says the typical pre-Easter sales rush never materialized this year.
Blueberry growers expect more demand
Crop losses in the Southeast may affect demand for California-grown blueberries. Berry production here has been steadily rising, particularly in the Central Valley. The California harvest usually coincides with North Carolina, but growers there have been hard hit by unusual freezing temperatures. The North American Blueberry Council says Georgia growers also lost much of their crop to the cold.
Online game encourages milk consumption
Playing a virtual, online game could lead to actual prizes for milk drinkers. The California advertisers who started the "Got Milk?" campaign developed an online game (at www.gettheglass.com), where players must battle their way toward a mythical last glass of milk. Online players who score enough points qualify to compete in an in-person contest, with prizes that include cash and a year's supply of milk. The first such contest will occur tomorrow (Friday) in Fresno
Top
