Food & Farm News

» January 16, 2006 «

South Korea to loosen beef ban

A key overseas market for California beef will begin to reopen this spring. South Korea agreed (Friday) to a partial reopening of beef trade with the United States. It will begin in March to import boneless beef from cattle younger than 30 months old. South Korea stopped accepting American beef in 2003, after a case of the cattle disease BSE in Washington. Before the ban, Korea had been the number-two export market for California beef.

Farmers work to know their customers

Knowing more about their customers will help farmers to prosper in coming years, according to a study of future agricultural trends. The American Farm Bureau appointed a group of farmers and ranchers to study trends likely to affect agriculture during the next 15 years. Among its conclusions, the study says farmers will become better marketers, and will focus more attention on the global marketplace.

Desert asparagus harvest to start

The year's first California-grown asparagus from the Imperial Valley will soon reach market. Observers say the valley's farmers will start their asparagus harvest this week. Meanwhile, harvest continues at a slow pace for the Imperial Valley's other winter vegetables. Because prices are low, farmers have delayed harvest until they can earn more than they pay to produce the crops. Cabbage has been the main exception to the current lull in vegetable demand.

Study checks benefits of figs

Preliminary results from an ongoing study point to health benefits from figs ... and one of those benefits was unexpected. The California Fig Advisory Board says the study at Loma Linda University indicates that people who consume four ounces of dried figs a day had lower levels of harmful cholesterol. And the fig board says the study has found a surprising increase in "good" cholesterol among fig consumers. The study continues through June.