Updates, we’ve got updates. (cue SFX of teletype machine)

Last week, Aunt Toby discussed findings from British researchers regarding chemicals found in carpeting and nonstick cookware being associated with Thyroid disease. This week?

Arnold Strikes Again

“California’s governor has vetoed a bill that would have banned a DuPont-made chemical in food packaging in that state.

Instead, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier this week signed a pair of bills backed by the chemical industry that establish a regulatory framework for chemicals that are potentially hazardous to human health.

State legislators had approved a bill that would have limited the amount of perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, in stain- and grease-proof items like fast-food wrappers to no more than 10 parts per billion by 2010….PFOA, also known as C8, is used in the production of DuPont’s nonstick coating Teflon and other products….United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard said in a statement the union was "outraged" that Schwarzenegger bowed to pressure from DuPont and the chemical industry, which lobbied against the bill. Gerard called the veto a "slap in the face" to workers at DuPont plants who have shown higher levels of PFOA in their blood than the general public.”

Thanks, Arnie.

Update on Fruit and Vegetable Crops After Week-Long Freeze in Florida: Florida Gov. Crist requests disaster aid from USDA: Crist Request Disaster Aid

“The governor took the occasion in the middle of the grove to announce his request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture that it declare the state of Florida an agricultural disaster area, which would allow growers and farmers access to federal help.

"The whole state has suffered – citrus, sugar cane, vegetable crops, tropical fish," Crist said while visiting Polk County, which is the state’s largest citrus producer.

In his letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Crist wrote "Preliminary assessments indicate that all of Florida’s sixty-seven counties will meet the damage threshold for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretarial Emergency Disaster."

Higher prices for fruit and vegetables have already been implemented in retail grocery stores across the country.

Killer Bee Scenario NOT Playing Out in US as Feared: Effect of Killer Bees on Commercial Hives

“According to an economic analysis from UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, since their arrival in the U.S. in October 1990, Africanized honey bees (often called killer bees) haven’t had a substantial economic impact on the honey production of domestic hives — even after spreading throughout 10 states…The analysis, published online by the journal of Ecological Economics, seems to indicate virtually no hive loss to the bees — any economic loss was likely due to the cost of preventive measures taken by hive keepers to keep the Africanized bees away, said Charles Moss, one of the analysts behind the report and a professor in UF’s department of food and resource economics.

“This helps to show that the primary concerns with Africanized honey bees are liability and safety, which are everyone’s concern and aren’t strictly attached to beekeepers,” Moss said. “Beekeepers already have a much more pressing economic concern from Colony Collapse Disorder.”

Changing the Order of the Day Shows Benefits At Schools: Play Then Eat

“..Some schools are rescheduling recess — sending students out to play before they sit down for lunch. The switch appears to have led to some surprising changes in both cafeteria and classroom.

Schools that have tried it report that when children play before lunch, there is less food waste and higher consumption of milk, fruit and vegetables. And some teachers say there are fewer behavior problems.

“Kids are calmer after they’ve had recess first,” said Janet Sinkewicz, principal of Sharon Elementary School in Robbinsville, N.J., which made the change last fall. “They feel like they have more time to eat and they don’t have to rush.”

In gardening news, the All American Selections have come out – only one non-flower, a water melon. How many violas do we need, huh?

Cornell University has started a Citizen Scientist program to gather actual ‘in the ground’ experiences on vegetable varieties in New York State. More information can be found at:

Cornell Citizen Scientist Program

Until the next time.