Mr. Nunes Went To Washington

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the now-controversial chair of the House Intelligence Committee, is a bit different from what Washington expects in its politicians. He grew up in the agricultural cornucopia of the Central Valley of California -- fruits, vegetables, beef, dairy products and fibers -- the concrete expression of a myriad of hard-working ethnic groups.

Hash Browns Recalled Over ‘Extraneous Golf Ball Materials’

On 21 April 2017, McCain Foods, USA announced they were recalling some of their hash browns due to "extraneous golf ball materials" found in some packages. The company has issued a press release detailing the scope of the recall, which affects hash browns manufactured on 19 January 2017 that apparently harvested and packaged fragments of golf balls along with potatoes.

Bloomington is a Food Desert 47 minutes ago

Did you enjoy a good, healthy meal today? Were you able to include fresh fruits and vegetables as a part of your meal? Did you have easy access to the fresh produce? Believe it or not, many folks in Victoria County do not have adequate access to fresh food as they live in a food desert. According to the USDA, a food desert is defined as "parts of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas.

Backyard gardening makes comeback –

The Union Times Brussel Sprouts and Collard Greens like these growing in the Piedmont Physic Garden are among the many types of fruit and vegetables that can be grown in a backyard garden. Backyard gardening is making a comeback in South Carolina in response to the expansion of food deserts in communities across the state.

USDA offers new loans for portable farm storage, handling equipment –

Attention Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, and Whitley County producers - Farm Service Agency will provide a new financing option to help you purchase portable storage and handling equipment. County Executive Director Megan Moore explains, "The loans, which now include a smaller microloan option with lower down payments and attractive interest rates, are designed to help our producers grow their businesses and markets.

The Reliable Source’s Thanksgiving Talking Points 2016

For the past 10 years, the Reliable Source has published its annual Thanksgiving Talking Points, a handy guide for sounding like the most plugged-in Washington insider to ever navigate the Beltway, all the better to impress your family over the turkey and stuffing. But then came the 2016 election.

Officials survey crop damages

Hurricane Matthew might have been the death knell for many Eastern North Carolina farmers, according to federal officials touring devastated farms Thursday in Edgecombe County. U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-1st District, said many farmers were already operating at a margin when the storm blew into town in early October.

Garden Q&A: What organic means; what are the moth-looking insects in…

I was in the grocery store and started wondering, what am I really getting when I buy organic fruits and vegetables? What makes one onion organic, and another not? The United States Department of Agriculture answers your question this way: "Organic agriculture produces products using methods that preserve the environment and avoid most synthetic materials, such as pesticides and antibiotics," and "a are grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing, among many factors, soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives." The key words in that rather long definition are "according to federal guidelines."

Donald Trump Mocked for Eating KFC with a Fork and Knife on His Private Plane

Donald Trump 's eating habits were the talk of Twitter after the GOP nominee shared of a photo of himself digging into some chicken from KFC with silverware on his private jet. After a day on the campaign trail, Trump picked up what looks like an eight-piece bucket meal with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy to feast on during travel.

Food Policy and the 2016 Presidential Election

With the Libertarian Party picking its nominee this weekend, and with Democrats and Republicans having all but chosen their respective nominees already, it's as good a time as any to chew on some of the key food-policy issues candidates should be discussing as we inch toward the general election in November. In that spirit, here are nine key issues I'd like to see the presidential candidates discuss this year.