Food & Farm News

» November 16, 2011 «

Eating up time: Study tracks meal patterns

How much time do you devote to eating? On average, Americans spend about two-and-a-half hours eating each day, according to a study by the U.S. Agriculture Department. The study monitored the behavior of Americans aged 15 or older. Researchers found that more than half of the time spent eating and drinking came as a secondary activity, or while doing something else such as watching television, driving or working.

Local food sales expand quickly

Those of us who live on the West Coast are more likely to purchase locally grown food than people in most other parts of the country, according to a study that tracks the growth of local food sales. The report says the marketing of local foods grossed nearly $4.8 billion a year nationwide. Farms on the West Coast accounted for nearly one-quarter of the nation's local-food sales. Consumers in metropolitan areas and in the Northeast also bought local food at a higher-than average rate.

Harvest seasons wind down

With the arrival of mid-November, farmers in many parts of California are ending their harvests. A new crop report notes that nearly 75 percent of the cotton crop has been harvested in the southern San Joaquin Valley, with some farmers considering a second picking in their fields. The report says harvests of rice, grapes, almonds and walnuts have all virtually ended, while the navel orange harvest begins, and other fruit and vegetable seasons continue.

UC Davis partners with Dutch university

Studies about water usage will play a prominent role in a new research partnership between the University of California and a Dutch university. UC Davis announced that it will work with Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands, to advance agricultural and environmental studies. Students from the two universities will participate in exchanges to learn about global issues and technologies relating to food, agriculture and the environment.