Just because the snow has started . . .

Fresh food is not lost.? Find your local Winter Farmer’s Market.? Continue supporting local farms.? Continue eating organically throughout the cold season.? Check out Northport, Huntington, Massapequa, Bridgehampton, Long Beach.

A Health Policy and Management doctoral student asked “why does good produce cost so much?”? Read her revelation here.

Dietary Guidelines Fail Americans

A letter from concerned scientists, nutrition professionals and consumers, addressed to the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Sciences, asserting that the Dietary Guidelines for American (DGA) contribute to worsening health and need to be replaced.? The DGA, which directs all federal nutrition activities, is not sufficiently grounded in science and does not acknowledge the diversity of food traditions in America or take into account specific nutritional needs for children, seniors, athletes and people of different ethnicities.? Read more about what the Healthy Nation Coalition proposes to fight rising obesity and food related chronic conditions.

Without Vibrant Soil We Cannot Survive

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has declared 2015 the International Year of Soils, paying tribute to the life-giving ground beneath our feet.? Anyone who has done even a little gardening recognizes how the quality of the soil can change the outcome of a harvest.? No soil, no sustenance.? Soil is where our food begins.? In terms of climate change, soil matter is one of our major pools of carbon, capable of acting as either a source or a sink.? Read more about the seven ways soil supports us.

What We’re Feeding Our Children

A new spending bill passed in the Senate on Saturday.? Part of the stipulations prohibit the federal government from requiring less salt in school lunches and allow schools to obtain whole-grain requirements for pasta and tortillas.? The School Nutrition Association, representing cafeteria directors, welcomed the change of provisions regarding salt and whole grains, saying the previous standards set by first lady Michelle Obama, were too difficult to achieve.? They, the SNA (which receives support from food companies), believe the government needs more research before compelling schools to enact such expensive changes.? This bill not only effects healthier patterns in schools, it also limits the Environmental Protection Agency’s to follow through with key conservation acts, allows more spending for national defense, and claims that the government cannot require cattle farmers to report greenhouse gas emissions coming from their herds.? Read more about the bill approaching the President’s desk, awaiting signature, here.