healthy food - FDA UPDATES NUTRITION LABELS - SIBEJO

The Food and Drug Administration finalized a rule last week to update Nutritional Fact Labels on food products. The updates include a new design for the label that highlights  calories and serving sizes, as well as new serving sizes that more closely reflect the amount of food people actually eat. The update will include two columns that list both �per serving� and �per package� calorie and nutrition information for certain products consumed in one or multiple sittings like a pint of ice cream or 3-ounce bag of chips. The rule also includes a provision that forces food producers to list the grams and a percent daily value for added sugar, that is ingredients like high fructose corn syrup they add to a product�s natural sugars. Other changes to the label include a requirement for products like a 20 ounce soda that�s consumed in one sitting to be labeled as one serving and removing from labels �calories from fat,� but �Total Fat,� �Saturated Fat� and �Trans Fat� will remain. Food groups up in arms over the new requirement have accused the Food and Drug Administration of pushing forward without the proper science to back it up.

Source: The Hill, 5/20/16, Food Label Update

healthy food - GardenShare annual dinner and auction coming up in June! - SIBEJO

GardenShare will hold its seventh annual fundraising dinner and auction on June 14, 2016 at Jake's on the Water in Hannawa Falls.  There will be a cash bar cocktail hour at 5:30 and dinner will be served at 6:30.  The event will feature a locally-sourced, fresh, seasonal menu prepared especially for GardenShare by Jake's head chef, Josh Taillon.  Tickets are $75 each.

 

All proceeds from this fundraiser support GardenShare's efforts to make healthy, sustainable food choices available to everyone in the region.

 

The dinner is sponsored by presenting sponsors St. Lawrence Health System and Stauffer Farms; partnership sponsors County Seat Realty, Green Hammer Construction, and North Country Savings Bank; and friend sponsors Coakley Ace Hardware Stores, Community Bank, Conboy Law Firm, Glow Skincare and Spa, and Save-a-Lot.

 

A silent auction at the event will also support GardenShare.  Early donations of auction items have been received from Brewer Book Store, Coakley's Ace Hardware Stores, First Crush, Inlay Design, MH Studio, Northwind Farm Day Camp, Orebed Sugar Shack, Potsdam Food Co-op, and Potsdam Town and Country Club.

 

Additional information about tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or auction donations is available at www.gardenshare.org or by calling GardenShare at 315-261-8054.

healthy food - Young Farmers & Ranchers Award Applications Are Available! - SIBEJO

The New York Farm Bureau State Young Farmers & Ranchers Program is excited to announce the 2016 Young Farmers & Ranchers Awards: Achievement and Excellence in Agriculture.  These competitive events allow young farmers to be recognized for their involvement, achievement & leadership in agriculture, Farm Bureau, and their community as well as their understanding of agricultural issues.
Young Farmers applying for the Achievement Award or the Excellence in Agriculture Award must submit their applications to NYFB by August 15, 2016.  These contests are for farmers who are 18-35 years old as of 1/31/17.  For eligibility requirements and applications visit the Young Farmers & Ranchers page on the New York Farm Bureau website or contact NYFB at 1-800-342-4143. 

The NYFB state winner of each of these competitive events receive a cash prize and trip to the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention held in Phoenix, AZ in January 2017. In addition to these prizes, the winner of the Achievement Awards wins use of a Kubota Tractor/Compact Track Loader/Skid Steer Loader and the Excellence in Agriculture Award winner receives a STIHL MS251 18� Chainsaw, Chainsaw Carrycase, Chaps, Hearing Protector & Protective Glasses (see contest information sheets and applications on NYFB website for more details).

Young Farmers be sure to submit your award applications NOW!


If you would like to nominate a young farmer to receive an application to apply for one of these awards, please contact NYFB at 1-800-342-4143 by July 1 so that the pertinent application and information can be sent to the young farmer.

healthy food - BEST PRACTICES FOR AN EQUITABLE & SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM - SIBEJO

A new report outlines the state of food insecurity in the United States and highlights successful tools to bring healthy and sustainable food sources to underserved communities. The reportnotes that people of color, low-income communities, and families with children are most likely to live in �food deserts� with limited or no access to consistent sources of healthy food. The authors illustrate successful policies and approaches to address food insecurity through case studies of programs to (1) create healthy corner and nonprofit grocery stores and food cooperatives; (2) develop farm-to-school networks; and (3) use and improve state and local governments procurement policies, land use ordinances, and permitting processes to improve residents� diets and bring more local, fresh, and unprocessed food into low-income neighborhoods.

Source: Center for American Progress, 5/12/16, Best Practices 

healthy food - Have you ordered your CSA share yet? - SIBEJO

It's time, maybe even past time, to order a CSA share.

CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a concept where consumers buy a share in a local farm.  By paying the farmer up front, you help him or her plan, purchase seeds and equipment, and so on.  Then you get to have a great box of fresh, nutritious, locally grown produce every week of the growing season.

Find the CSA farms in the area here on GardenShare's website.  Just click on the CSA tab to narrow down the list to CSA farms.

Think you'd like a CSA, but can't afford it?  Check out GardenShare's Bonus Bucks program to see if you qualify for a subsidy to help you purchase one.

Farmer Dulli from Birdsfoot Farm in Canton sent me these photos of how some of the crops are progressing this week!

Apple trees in bloom

Onions coming up through the mulch and under the netting

First peas are up, next ones planted

Tomatoes are planted right in the bed of mixed greens in the high tunnel.
The tomatoes will take over as the greens are done.

healthy food - SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFITS REDUCE CHILD HUNGER - SIBEJO

Providing low-income children with $30 to $60 a month during the summer reduced severe food insecurity, according to a USDA report. The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (Summer EBTC) demonstration project was also associated with positive nutrition changes in participating children. the Summer EBT demonstration project provides parents or guardians of children eligible for free and reduced-price meals with a monthly benefit via a debit-type card that can be redeemed for food purchases throughout summer when children do not have access to school meals.  Providing low-income children $30 or $60 per month per child during the summer reduced the most severe type of food insecurity by one-third.  A $60 per month per child benefit cut less severe food insecurity by 10%.

Source: USDA, 5/11/16, Summer Benefits

healthy food - THE END OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING COULD DRIVE UP WIC COSTS - SIBEJO

The Education Committee bill would change WIC in ways that cater to corporate interests and could make the program less cost-effective. For decades, WIC has used competitive bidding to reduce the cost of infant formula and some other foods for infants. The billwould require states that want to use competitive bidding to jump through a series of hoops that appear designed to discourage competitive bidding.  (Gerber Foods, which controls the majority of the U.S. market for infant foods other than formula and is a subsidiary of Nestl�, has been lobbying for limits on competitive bidding for infant foods other than formula.)

Source: Center for Budget & Policy Priorities, 5/17/16, WIC Costs