Sound Consumer archive
March 2012
Biosolids hit the fan
By Joel Preston Smith
PCC advocates buying organic and not just because of pesticides, antibiotics and hormones. Unlike conventional farmers, organic farmers can't use sewage sludge as fertilizer. It was one of the most hotly contested battles in developing national organic standards. Here's why.
News bites
Fair labor certified farms · GMO bourbon · Non-GMO sales growing fast · China suspends GE rice · Chicken welfare · Organic vet shortage · Horses for meat · BPA linked to obesity · Cephalosporin livestock ban · Climate change and cocoa · WSU in Afghanistan · Public land grazing
Letters to editor
Labor Rights, Worker Unions · Body Care Standards · Paleolithic Diets · Non-GMO, Organic · Chinese Imports · New Concerns About Roundup® · 2,4-D GE Corn
Light affects nutrients
Researchers have found that exposure to light affects the nutrients of fruits and vegetables.
Food trends
The consumer research firm, The Hartman Group, based in Bellevue, released findings on recent “food culture trends.”
Washington state bills to label GE foods
by Trudy Bialic, editor
The bills SB 6298 and HB 2637 failed to move out of the Senate and House agriculture committees in late January, but the show of support seemed to surprise lawmakers. There were overflow crowds at the hearings and legislative aides say the number of people commenting was second only to support for same-sex marriage. Democratic aides say every single individual who called or e-mailed supported labeling. None were opposed.
Hungry Planet - What the World Eats
Imagine your family collected every food and drink it consumes in a typical week — every carrot, every grain of quinoa, every coffee bean, every PCC take-and-bake pizza — and you took a snapshot of it all piled up in your kitchen. What would the photo show? That’s the question you may ask yourself after visiting the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture’s exhibit, “Hungry Planet: What the World Eats,” which runs through June 10 and is sponsored by PCC.
Soil & Sea: reports from our producers
Learn what's happening with California Navel oranges, a virus infecting cherry trees, shrimping in Lousiana, and more.
What's new in store — March 2012
We've got new crop Bartlett pears and Altaulfo mangoes; plus local corned beef for St. Patrick's Day, delicious banana bread from the PCC Bakery and more!
Coffee rediscovered
All coffee at PCC is organic, fairly traded, shade-grown, and Northwest-roasted. We’re excited to share the great quality of our brew and we’d love you to try it — stop by our coffee bars for a small drip coffee for just 50 cents all month! If you make your own at home, try any of these six brands, in packages or bulk.
Recipes from the March issue
Cooking with coffee
Sure, a cup of joe can perk you up anytime, but why stop there? Cooking with coffee accentuates the flavor in a range of dishes.
PCC Board of Trustees report
Notice of annual membership meeting · 2012 PCC election — April 24 through May 17 · Board meeting report · Board retreat · PCC renews organic certification · Comments on organic standards