Strawberries and Crud

Toxins with your strawberries?

Despite the fact that we’re smack in the middle of winter and some folks are buried in ice and snow, I’m thinking of spring and all the blooming associated with it. Young love in bloom, tulips, bulbs and flowers splashing color everywhere, yummy fruits and vegetables, and crowds rushing for farmers markets. My recommendation is to favor your local farmers markets and the cornucopia of organic produce available to you. Of course, shop at mixed baby greens for all of your organic baby and toddler clothing and accessories!

More than just shopping local, my mission today is to share this rotten tidbit about the EPA’s decision to approve the use of methyl iodide, a highly toxic fumigant, mainly for strawberry fields. While I know babies aren’t supposed to eat strawberries, all our children are not young babies, and nor are we as parents.

A little background – the currently used pesticide, methyl bromide, has been banned under an international treaty because of the damage it inflicts on the ozone layer. Therefore the search has been on for a substitute. Unfortunately, the EPA selected methyl iodide, despite being strongly urged not to by 50 scientists, including five Nobel laureates in chemistry. More background – methyl iodide is a neurotoxin and carcinogen that has caused neurological damage, tumors and miscarriages in lab animals.

Farm workers and others working with, or potentially coming in contact with methyl iodide, require special training and must wear respirators. In addition, farm workers are not allowed back in the fields for five days after it has been applied. Oddly, the EPA stated “there will be no risk of concern.”

Arysta is the company that manufactures methyl iodide. Not surprisingly, they spent $11 million trying to persuade the EPA to register it as a pesticide. Much more interesting, however, is the fact that Arysta’s former CEO, Elin Miller, is now a ranking official in the EPA and was appointed administrator of the northwest region in 2006.

For more indepth information and links, please visit Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA). If workers can’t go back into the fields for five days after spraying, why would any of us eat or feed our children and food that’s come in contact with it?

Mother your baby, baby our Mother.

To a Very Hopeful, Healthful New Year!

Do you, too, begin each new year full of optimism, motivation and renewed energy? I know I do and my wish for us all is that our vision sustains us through all twelve months, only to be rejuvenated and replenished at the start of each and every new year.

This year feels different to me. For one thing, mixed baby greens is officially launching this year and my products will soon be available for the wee sprouts of the world!

Also, despite the difficult financial landscape upon us, and the sliding value of the dollar, there is continued attention being paid to the other type of green. Big businesses are feeling the pressure and we are seeing steps being taken to reduce carbon footprints, increase recycling programs, and research alternative practices.

During this New Year, and election year, my hope is that:
* thinking about what’s good for the majority becomes stylish
* planet earth (which is merely on loan to us) gets its proper respect while nay-sayers and critics lose their fear and denial in order to join our cool club
* integrity, altruism and charity become the new black

Let us all celebrate each other and motivate by example. We can all commit to just a little more (or a lot) daily change. This all adds up and is the easiest way to make a big difference.

Best...