They want to make it ALL illegal. What do you think of Senate Bill 510

[GardenerGal]

Related, though not directly, to imported food inspection (or lack thereof) is the process by which other plant matter -- in this case, cut flowers for the florist industry -- is processed when it arrives in the U.S. If you haven't read Amy Stewart's "Flower Confidential," I recommend it (published by the Algonquin Press of Chapel Hill). She goes on at length in one chapter about how roses and other florals are grown, the kinds and amounts of pesticides used on them, and why you should never bury your nose into a rose to smell it, or use flower petals in your cooking or baking.

Flowers are not too far removed from fruits and vegetables.

 

[buildingmyark]

Quote:
Thanks for sharing that. I do freelance floral design and all of my flowers are shipped from outside of the country. I was pretty sure that they got "fumigated" at customs. Is the book interesting? Very interesting. I'm probably all poisoned up by now!

 

[Wifezilla]

I've never seen Firefly, worth getting from the library?

Worth buying

Sam's Club has the set for less than $20. After you watch that, then get the movie Serenity.​

 

[GardenerGal]

Quote:
Thanks for sharing that. I do freelance floral design and all of my flowers are shipped from outside of the country. I was pretty sure that they got "fumigated" at customs. Is the book interesting? Very interesting. I'm probably all poisoned up by now!

It's a fascinating read, and makes me think about the issues we're now discussing on food safety. Nearly all the roses used in the florist industry come from Equador and other South American countries, and they don't have the regulations the U.S. and Canada have for pesticide use. A lot of the pesticides are cumulative on the surface of the flowers, and a certain amount probably is absorbed systemically, too. As if that weren't enough, those roses do get fumigated (random boxes of flowers are opened and inspected, and if any have so much as a speck, the entire hangar of imported flowers gets fumigated!) and while it's supposed to dissipate before it gets to the consumer (or floral arranger), there already is such a buildup of pesticides that you definitely do NOT want to scatter rose petals in your wedding punch or take a whiff of a bouquet!

I did a little floral design training, and one of the first things my instructor told the class, each semester, is "Don't stick your nose into the flowers to smell them, and DON'T use them for cooking!!!" Fortunately (sort of), most commercial strains of roses and other florals have been so specially bred for size and color, and longetivity, etc. that a lot have inadvertantly had their genes for scent bred out in the process.

 

[BlackBart]

A lot of hard candy is made in countries where regulations are lax.
Many of the florist cut flowers are also grown in China. I know, I have been to the airport to pick them up and have seen the country of origin written on boxes they arrive in.

This is a new organization on Facebook regarding the choice of organic foods in relation to the climate crisis. (If you beleive there is a climate crisis)
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/520?m=aebdba3e

and pro sites on Raw Milk
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/FindRawMilk

http://ftcldf.org/

 

[oswegoscott]

Quote:
Bart- you now have a lovely new law. Bill C36. For all the folks who think more regulation is good

 

[Hillsvale]

Quote:
Bart- you now have a lovely new law. Bill C36. For all the folks who think more regulation is good

Link?

This bill per my google is oon CPP and old age security...

 

[oswegoscott]

Quote:
Bart- you now have a lovely new law. Bill C36. For all the folks who think more regulation is good

Link?

This bill per my google is oon CPP and old age security...

Huh,really? http://windfarms.wordpress.com/2010/12/15/bill-c-36-is-now-law/

 

[slc]

Well it looks like s510 is a done deal.

The stalled s510 bill was quickly and quietly attached to the HOUSE continuing resolution (CR), H.R. 3082: “The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011” s510 is now called HR3082 (division D). I believe it has already passed the House next on to the Senate again then sure to get signed by the President.

The president has already appointed the guy who will have a significant part in implementing the plan. His name is Michael Taylor and he is fresh from vice president of public policy at MONSANTO INC! This is the guy responsible for rBGH hormone in our milk supply.

He has gone back and forth from the FDA, USDA, Monsanto's law firm and Monsanto itself his whole career. His second time at the FDA (after working for Monsanto's law firm) he immediately approved Monsanto's rBGH hormone and prevented the labeling of it. This action got him investigated for conflict of interest by the FDA, nothing happened with the investigation and he was allowed to continue serving big ag interests inside the FDA, imagine that.

I don't know about anyone else, but somehow I don't think public safety will take priority over big ag interests if Monsanto is already inside the head office and who knows where else.

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Quote:
Oh crap.

This guy will need to be watched with all the energy and resources we have.

While I think that is terrible news, I still think it unlikely that they will have enough manpower to go after all the little guys saving seed and raising gardens in their back yards. The sky is not yet falling.