Cornucopia’s Take: If you find yourself in South Jersey, take a trip to the pick-your-own blueberry farms selling heirloom varieties you’ve never conceived of if you’ve only eaten blueberries from the store. Large producers increasingly grow them hydroponically, although Driscoll’s uses the misleading euphemism “container growing.” They grow varieties that can be easily harvested, packed,… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: Chlorpyrifos was banned by the Obama administration due to its toxicity, notably causing brain damage in children. EPA scientists were in rare agreement on banning this pesticide, but Trump’s former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt called for more study instead. Sued by multiple public interest groups over this decision, the EPA has now been… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: The FDA is slowing company bids to create hornless cattle and tailless pigs, seeking regulations for the possible animals of the future. Some of these companies are working with the White House to be (less) “regulated” by the USDA, given Secretary Perdue’s recent statement on gene editing in plants. Gene editing is not… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: Our friends at Family Farm Defenders recently visited a family operated dairy farm in Japan.  We thought you might enjoy this account of their visit to the Two Little Hills farm. “Watch out for the cars, Karen! You can’t trust those old folks’ driving!” my host father warned as he shuffled over to pick… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: Use of the herbicide dicamba has skyrocketed since Monsanto released its dicamba-ready seed. It is known for its high volatility, dispersing into the air and drifting onto neighboring fields, killing plants and trees. Some scientists are speaking out about what Monsanto allowed them to study – and what they weren’t allowed to study…. Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: A new study indicates that glyphosate, at levels well below those permitted in the U.S., may lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats. Glyphosate is not allowed in organics. Groundbreaking Study Shows Roundup Herbicide Causes Liver Disease at Low Doses Sustainable Pulse Source: Mike Mozart A new study published Monday in Scientific Reports, an online,… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: Bloggers often give their favorite products good press, and native advertising can sometimes be hard to separate from authors’ opinions. Dietitians have frequently taken money from corporations to espouse company lines they agree with. When should a professional disclose their sponsors? Information is a commodity, and each of us must determine who is funding… Read more »

Supersized genetically modified salmon grown fast and fat and after years of wrangling, are ready for market – but is the market ready for them? And why is the firm hidden away in Panama? The Guardian By Suzanne Goldenberg It is hard to think of a more unlikely setting for genetic experimentation or for raising… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: As more consumers seek eggs, dairy, and meat from healthy, well-fed animals, demand for high quality feed is skyrocketing. The operations in this article are working to commercialize insects for feed, a relatively new entry into the industry and one that could be incredibly useful for poultry. Maggot Revolution bioGraphic by Gloria Dickie… Read more »