Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan announces U.S. – Canada agreement for organic trade equivalence
USDA - 6/17/2009.Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that a first-of-its-kind agreement has been reached between the United States and Canada that will expand opportunities for organic producers in both countries. The "equivalency agreement" follows a review by both nations of the other's organic certification program and a determination that products meeting the standard in the United States can be sold as organic in Canada, and vice versa. Merrigan made this announcement at the All Things Organic Trade Show and Conference in Chicago this morning. |
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From college garden to dining hall – and beyond
Portland Press Herald - 6/17/2009. By Melanie Creamer – Saint Joseph's College and its food vendor, Bon Appetit, have teamed up to plant a garden that will grow food for the college dining hall and donate fresh vegetables to Catherine's Cupboard Food Pantry in Standish. The yearlong pilot project is designed to educate students on methods of organic gardening and sustainable agriculture and teach children about gardening. "This has been a dream of mine," said Michial Russell, the farm manager and a volunteer at the food pantry. "One of our goals is to get healthy food back into the hands of people who don't have access to it. |
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Rockland renaissance
Portland Press Herald - 6/17/2009. By Meredith Goad – Kerry Altiero likes to say that when he opened Cafe Miranda in 1993, people in Rockland thought he was a little nuts. Now, he jokes, they think he's some kind of genius. Susanne Ward and Patrick Reilley opened up Rock City Books & Coffee – a cafe, used bookstore and coffee shop – at about the same time. Locals were skeptical that lattes and espressos would take hold here, and gave them six months. Within two years, the business had to move to a larger space. |
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Strawberries popping nicely
Kennebec Journal - 6/17/2009.The strawberry season in Maine should be a good one – big yield, big berries – as long as growers get a few consecutive days of sunshine and warm temperatures. |
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