KOL Foods on NPR's Marketplace

The story is "about two young business-owners — one Muslim and one Jewish (Devora Kimelman-Block of KOL Foods) — who are raising the ethical standards of halal and kosher food."

Click here to hear the story.

Please if you can, write a quick comment and share the story, its important that we give positive feedback when uplifting news items are run. Many people were really touched to see a Jew and Muslim working together.

States ban practices that support CAFOs

From the Union of Concerned Scientists...


Several states recently banned specific practices that are common in CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations), taking small steps to level the playing field for more sustainable farms. California outlawed the amputation of dairy cows' tails, and Michigan passed a law phasing out restrictive crates for veal calves and pregnant sows, and tiny "battery" cages for egg-laying chickens, used to pack many animals together in a small space. Arizona, California, Florida, Maine, Colorado, and Oregon had previously acted to ban crates and battery cages, which, along with tail docking, are unnecessary practices that serve only to make large, polluting CAFOs viable. Meanwhile, examples abound of farmers successfully working with nature rather than against it to produce animal products without the problems associated with CAFOs. Listen to this recent National Public Radio story about one Ohio dairyman's efforts to transform the industry and produce fresher, more flavorful milk from cows on pasture.

A Prairie Home Companion has fun with Feedlot Beef & Industrial Corn

Garrison Keillor's show was broadcast in Des Moines last week. He did a terrific job of putting humor into the issue of feedlot/industrial beef and industrial corn in contrast to grass-fed beef. And why not have some fun? Here is the NPR feed for the Dusty Cowboy show (go to minute 24).

He also put a shout out to Grinnell College (in Grinnell, Iowa) where I went to college.