Food & Farm News
» November 2, 2007 «
Nursery owners work to resume shipments 
Nursery owners in fire-damaged parts of San Diego County say they're working to resume shipments, as they repair damage from wildfires and windstorms. It may be weeks before some return to full production. Solid figures about nursery losses are still being developed, but the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers says some nurseries were burned "pretty severely." Others had greenhouses damaged by wind, or must try to clean ash from their delicate plants.
Domestic fruit harvest drops while imports rise
Fruit production in the United States dropped to its lowest level in 15 years, while the proportion of imported fresh fruit rose to record levels. A government summary says total fruit production in the U.S. declined 4 percent last year, due to acreage reductions and weather. Nearly half of all fresh fruit consumed in the country … 47 percent … now comes from imports. That proportion has doubled since 1975.
Americans buy more lower-fat dairy products
The popularity of lower-fat dairy products continues to rise steadily. About two-thirds of the milk consumed by Americans consists of lower-fat varieties, according to U.S. Agriculture Department analysts. Sales of lower-fat and nonfat cheeses have more than doubled during this decade. But Americans still fall short of consuming their daily two-to-three cups of milk or dairy products recommended in government dietary guidelines.
Central Coast farmers expand olive oil production
By depending primarily on local markets, Central Coast farmers have slowly expanded production of olives and olive oil. A San Luis Obispo County farm advisor says olive acreage has been growing, mainly among small-scale farmers who sell handcrafted oil. One couple moved their entire, 96-year-old olive orchard more than 300 miles from the Sacramento Valley, to re-establish it near Creston.
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