Genetically Engineered Food: It’s What’s for Dinner!

New chemicals, new ingredients. How about a dash of an organism in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally? A second helping of plants or animals that have had their genetic makeup altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs.

Umm delicious! No?!

The Just Label It campaign was created to advocate for the labeling of GE foods. Simply label it so we know what we are consuming. Let us make the choice not to consume genetically engineered food.

Over one million people have contacted the FDA and told them we have a right to know what’s in our food. Become part of this growing movement and join them today. Sign this petition to the FDA and make sure your voice is heard!

FDA: Says OK to Radiating Spinach/Lettuce

FDA Did What?

Whole Foods Market Cooking Launch

Whole Foods Market plans to redesign some of their stores to create an extraordinary Cooking Department.  This department will live in the “bulk” section, where they will make a bold statement for a retailer: that cooking with grains, beans, and rices is just as important as cooking with fresh vegetables.

Additionally, they plan to bring a cooking coach into some of their stores, to be there to answer questions, provide recipes, and give people one-on-one cooking advice. The cooking coach will work among jars of dried mushrooms, grain mills, loose spices and herbs, and vats of homemade vinegars, oils, and syrups for filling re-usable jars.

Over the next few months, they will be launching another 30 to 50 sites for stores (and clusters of stores) around the country.

via Whole Foods Market Cooking Launch – Blog – food52.

What’s in Season? – Eat Local

Snagged an avocado the other day for my sandwich. When I went to use it, the avocado turned a spotty brown inside. Eewww! I should have known that avo’s aren’t in season… locally. Duh!

Well, what is in season? I like the idea of eating seasonal produce grown locally, but haven’t a clue (‘cept in the summer) as to what’s in season.

SimpleSteps.org has this easy search tool to find out what you can eat local in your neighborhood. There are maps to nearby farmers’ markets which also includes directions by car, bike, walking and public transit. Cool!

Seasonal Chef website provides buying and using produce from farmers markets, farmers market reports, harvest calendars and a comprehensive directory of farmers markets.

Harvest seasons don’t run quite like clockwork. Changes in the weather each year, for instance, can move harvest dates up or set them back by weeks.

So it is a good idea to find a local farmers market association website so you really know what’s really local, fresh and in season.