Always Snacking

Making pizza with new potatoes, peppers, basil, garlic, and baby...

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:24:49 -0400

Making pizza with new potatoes, peppers, basil, garlic, and baby black nights.

thepeoplesrecord: mochente: USDA FORCES WHOLE FOODS TO ACCEPT...

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:57:57 -0400

mochente:

USDA FORCES WHOLE FOODS TO ACCEPT MONSANTO

“The policy set for GE alfalfa will most likely guide policies for other GE crops as well. True coexistence is a must.” - Whole Foods Market, Jan. 21, 2011

In the wake of a 12-year battle to keep Monsanto’s Genetically Engineered (GE) crops from contaminating the nation’s 25,000 organic farms and ranches, America’s organic consumers and producers are facing betrayal. A self-appointed cabal of the Organic Elite, spearheaded by Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm, has decided it’s time to surrender to Monsanto. Top executives from these companies have publicly admitted that they no longer oppose the mass commercialization of GE crops, such as Monsanto’s controversial Roundup Ready alfalfa, and are prepared to sit down and cut a deal for “coexistence” with Monsanto and USDA biotech cheerleader Tom Vilsack.

In a cleverly worded, but profoundly misleading email sent to its customers last week, Whole Foods Market, while proclaiming their support for organics and “seed purity,” gave the green light to USDA bureaucrats to approve the “conditional deregulation” of Monsanto’s genetically engineered, herbicide-resistant alfalfa. Beyond the regulatory euphemism of “conditional deregulation,” this means that WFM and their colleagues are willing to go along with the massive planting of a chemical and energy-intensive GE perennial crop, alfalfa; guaranteed to spread its mutant genes and seeds across the nation; guaranteed to contaminate the alfalfa fed to organic animals; guaranteed to lead to massive poisoning of farm workers and destruction of the essential soil food web by the toxic herbicide, Roundup; and guaranteed to produce Roundup-resistant superweeds that will require even more deadly herbicides such as 2,4 D to be sprayed on millions of acres of alfalfa across the U.S.

“Compensation.” In exchange for a new assault on farmworkers and rural communities (a recent large-scale Swedish study found that spraying Roundup doubles farm workers’ and rural residents’ risk of getting cancer), WFM expects the pro-biotech USDA to begin to regulate rather than cheerlead for Monsanto. In payment for a new broad spectrum attack on the soil’s crucial ability to provide nutrition for food crops and to sequester dangerous greenhouse gases (recent studies show that Roundup devastates essential soil microorganisms that provide plant nutrition and sequester climate-destabilizing greenhouse gases), WFM wants the Biotech Bully of St. Louis to agree to pay “compensation” (i.e. hush money) to farmers “for any losses related to the contamination of his crop.”

In its email of Jan. 21, 2011 WFM calls for “public oversight by the USDA rather than reliance on the biotechnology industry,” even though WFM knows full well that federal regulations on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) do not require pre-market safety testing, nor labeling; and that even federal judges have repeatedly ruled that so-called government “oversight” of Frankencrops such as Monsanto’s sugar beets and alfalfa is basically a farce. At the end of its email, WFM admits that its surrender to Monsanto is permanent: “The policy set for GE alfalfa will most likely guide policies for other GE crops as well True coexistence is a must.”

Why Is Organic Inc. Surrendering?

According to informed sources, the CEOs of WFM and Stonyfield are personal friends of former Iowa governor, now USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack, and in fact made financial contributions to Vilsack’s previous electoral campaigns. Vilsack was hailed as “Governor of the Year” in 2001 by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, and traveled in a Monsanto corporate jet on the campaign trail. Perhaps even more fundamental to Organic Inc.’s abject surrender is the fact that the organic elite has become more and more isolated from the concerns and passions of organic consumers and locavores.

The Organic Inc. CEOs are tired of activist pressure, boycotts, and petitions. Several of them have told me this to my face. They apparently believe that the battle against GMOs has been lost, and that it’s time to reach for the consolation prize. The consolation prize they seek is a so-called “coexistence” between the biotech Behemoth and the organic community that will lull the public to sleep and greenwash the unpleasant fact that Monsanto’s unlabeled and unregulated genetically engineered crops are now spreading their toxic genes on 1/3 of U.S. (and 1/10 of global) crop land.

WFM and most of the largest organic companies have deliberately separated themselves from anti-GMO efforts and cut off all funding to campaigns working to label or ban GMOs. The so-called Non-GMO Project, funded by Whole Foods and giant wholesaler United Natural Foods (UNFI) is basically a greenwashing effort (although the 100% organic companies involved in this project seem to be operating in good faith) to show that certified organic foods are basically free from GMOs (we already know this since GMOs are banned in organic production), while failing to focus on so-called “natural” foods, which constitute most of WFM and UNFI’s sales and are routinely contaminated with GMOs.

From their “business as usual” perspective, successful lawsuits against GMOs filed by public interest groups such as the Center for Food Safety; or noisy attacks on Monsanto by groups like the Organic Consumers Association, create bad publicity, rattle their big customers such as Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, Costco, Supervalu, Publix and Safeway; and remind consumers that organic crops and foods such as corn, soybeans, and canola are slowly but surely becoming contaminated by Monsanto’s GMOs.

Whole Foods’ Dirty Little Secret: Most of the So-Called “Natural” Processed Foods and Animal Products They Sell Are Contaminated with GMOs

The main reason, however, why Whole Foods is pleading for coexistence with Monsanto, Dow, Bayer, Syngenta, BASF and the rest of the biotech bullies, is that they desperately want the controversy surrounding genetically engineered foods and crops to go away. Why? Because they know, just as we do, that 2/3 of WFM’s $9 billion annual sales is derived from so-called “natural” processed foods and animal products that are contaminated with GMOs. We and our allies have tested their so-called “natural” products (no doubt WFM’s lab has too) containing non-organic corn and soy, and guess what: they’re all contaminated with GMOs, in contrast to their certified organic products, which are basically free of GMOs, or else contain barely detectable trace amounts.

Approximately 2/3 of the products sold by Whole Foods Market and their main distributor, United Natural Foods (UNFI) are not certified organic, but rather are conventional (chemical-intensive and GMO-tainted) foods and products disguised as “natural.”

Unprecedented wholesale and retail control of the organic marketplace by UNFI and Whole Foods, employing a business model of selling twice as much so-called “natural” food as certified organic food, coupled with the takeover of many organic companies by multinational food corporations such as Dean Foods, threatens the growth of the organic movement.

Damn, Monsanto. You ruin everything.

America

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:21:39 -0400

America

tongueprotest: The fruits of my labor. (Taken with Instagram)

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:42:43 -0400

tongueprotest:

The fruits of my labor. (Taken with Instagram)

Grits with nutritional yeast, turmeric, and kale. Sourdough...

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 12:54:41 -0400

Grits with nutritional yeast, turmeric, and kale. Sourdough toast with apple butter. I love southern cooking.

What I’ve been doing the past month or so.

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 18:07:00 -0400

What I’ve been doing the past month or so.

Today’s breakfast is a peanut butter and jelly overnight...

Thu, 31 May 2012 11:01:43 -0400

Today’s breakfast is a peanut butter and jelly overnight oats parfait. The recipe for the oats is here. The jelly part is chopped frozen grapes and the peanut butter is organic peanut butter from Whole Foods.

Tonight’s dinner was a vegan Philly cheese steak. Roasted...

Wed, 30 May 2012 21:51:26 -0400

Tonight’s dinner was a vegan Philly cheese steak. Roasted red peppers, onions, seitan, daiya cheddar, and lettuce on a sesame baguette. Not totally traditional (green peppers, no lettuce, yeah yeah), but holy moly it was amazing. Coby wanted it to taste more like steak, but I have no idea what that tastes like so I can’t recreate it.

iggymogo: 93% of Americans want the FDA to label genetically...

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:58:10 -0400

iggymogo:

93% of Americans want the FDA to label genetically engineered foods. Watch the new video from Food, Inc. Filmmaker Robert Kenner to hear why we have the right to know what’s in our food. Will you join these individuals — and over half a million Americans — in contacting the FDA to require the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods? http://justlabelit.org

2c water 1/2 squeezed orange, plus pulp 2 tbsp maple syrup 1...

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:28:00 -0400

2c water
1/2 squeezed orange, plus pulp
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 cinnamon stick
1 1/2c oats

Bring water to a boil and then immediately reduce heat. Add in everything except the oatmeal and let simmer for a few minutes to release flavor.

Add in the oats, stir occasionally. Let cook for about 5 minutes, or whatever the package says.

Pair with very strong coffee.

Monsanto buys leading bee research firm after being implicated in bee colony collapse

Mon, 21 May 2012 12:24:44 -0400

Monsanto buys leading bee research firm after being implicated in bee colony collapse: oh god oh god...

Spring Fruit Obsession.

Fri, 18 May 2012 18:50:00 -0400

At this exact moment, the following is happening: Thinly slice 3 rhubarb stalks Thinly slice a...

By Saturday evening, I was physically and mentally exhausted....

Mon, 14 May 2012 15:44:32 -0400

By Saturday evening, I was physically and mentally exhausted. Before I started on my finals, I went to Lula’s Sweet Apothecary and had a scoop of espresso ice cream on a sugar cone. This soy-based s’cream was made with ground chocolate covered espresso beans. It was literally the best thing I have ever had in the history of ever and I wish that I could either marry the ice cream itself (but have it replenish so it never goes away) or maybe even marry into the Lula’s family so that I can have all the secret recipes. Either way, go there and eat this. It’s vegan and it is 10 minutes from where I live and I cannot wait for a sunny and fat summer.

I’m a LOCALSAUR.

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:44:57 -0400

I’m a LOCALSAUR.

"Oh um, strawberries? Delicious."

Wed, 09 May 2012 23:16:42 -0400

“Oh um, strawberries? Delicious.” - Ethan

I often ask myself, “Nicole, why are you such a golden...

Wed, 09 May 2012 21:21:24 -0400

I often ask myself, “Nicole, why are you such a golden goddess in the culinary field?”

Here’s the answer.

5 stalks of the season’s first asparagus
3 ramp cloves
5 large basil leaves
pinch of salt and pepper
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp almond milk

Blend until creamy. Cover all of your food with it. Die happy.

The rain makes everything so much brighter.

Wed, 09 May 2012 13:59:38 -0400

The rain makes everything so much brighter.

At my new job as farmers’ market manager, I get to be at the...

Wed, 09 May 2012 13:58:15 -0400

At my new job as farmers’ market manager, I get to be at the markets at 6 AM, rain or shine. It’s all worth it just to pick out the last of the season’s ramps.

Ahh my Greeno babies. I miss you everyday out here in the real...

Tue, 08 May 2012 01:04:37 -0400

Ahh my Greeno babies. I miss you everyday out here in the real world.

A few weeks ago, I was told about this magical vegan carrot...

Fri, 04 May 2012 16:44:00 -0400

A few weeks ago, I was told about this magical vegan carrot cupcake with the creamiest of frostings and the softest insides. For my last day in public radio, I opted to visit this version of heaven, otherwise known as Sun In Bloom. I had a tempeh reuben with a small live ginger dressed salad. Then, my friend and I destroyed this cupcake. Gah, so good.

Oh Brooklyn, you keep me so well fed.