Food & Farm News

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Property rights from Steven Anderson's speech

Winegrape market analysts see reasons for optimism

A reduction of worldwide wine inventories bodes well for California grape growers. An informal survey of farmers and wine brokers, conducted by the California Association of Winegrape Growers, shows California's position in world wine markets has improved. Brokers say most grape harvests around the world were average to below-average in size, bringing supplies in line with demand. And California's wine quality allows it to compete well in world markets.

Property rights backer urges eminent-domain reform

The erosion of limits on the government power of eminent domain threatens property rights, according to a specialist who spoke at the California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. Steven Anderson, director of the property-rights organization the Castle Coalition, said a 2005 Supreme Court decision that further expanded property seizures has spurred reform efforts. He expressed support for a proposed California initiative to reform eminent domain that's sponsored by the Farm Bureau and taxpayer groups.

USDA to purchase canned tomatoes for food programs

Participants in government food and nutrition programs will benefit from a planned purchase of canned-tomato products. The U.S. Agriculture Department announced yesterday (Thursday) it plans to buy more than 10 million pounds of tomato products for its child nutrition and domestic food assistance programs. All of the tomato products bought for the programs will be domestically grown, and California produces most of the processing tomatoes grown in the U.S.

Farm advisor checks new Christmas tree varieties

It's native to the Caucasus Mountains of Turkey and the Republic of Georgia, but it may become an alternative for Christmas tree farmers in the California foothills. Known as the Nordmann fir, the tree variety exhibits a rich color and may resist the insects and plant diseases that attack native Christmas tree varieties. A University of California farm advisor who's evaluating the Nordmann and another imported variety says they show potential for choose-and-cut tree farms.

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