WHAT: Public hearings for HB 1172 “GMO Labeling Bill” and HB 1388 “GMO Liability Bill” (read more in ADDITIONAL INFO below and in links)

WHEN: Thursday, 2/11/2010, at 11 am (HB 1388) and 1 pm (HB 1172)

WHERE: Legislative Office Building (LOB), Room 308, 22 North State Street, Concord, NH

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW: If you can’t attend the hearings on Thursday, submit your written statement for the record. Comments to the House received by email are not included in the permanent record, so please email statements to Elizabeth Obelenus of NOFA-NH (info@nofanh.org), and she will print out the required copies and submit them in person at the hearings on Feb. 11 as official testimony.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

• HB 1172 (GMO Labeling Bill) “defines genetically modified seeds and organisms and requires that genetically modified seeds be labeled as such.” (More and more people raise their own food in NH to ensure quality and purity—and to save money. How do they know if their seeds contain GMOs if the seeds they buy are not labeled? This bill asks that the time-honored consumer’s right-to-know be extended to seed labeling.)
• HB 1388 (GMO Liability Bill) “defines genetically modified seed or organism” and “establishes a cause of action for farmers sustaining damage from the use of mislabeled or genetically modified seeds or organisms.” (Genetic drift is proving to be a huge problem for farmers that do not purposefully raise GMO crops. If a farmer’s crop becomes contaminated with GMOs through pollen drift, this bill gives the farmer the right to seek damages.)
• If you wish to testify in person or want more information about how you can participate, contact Elizabeth Obelenus of NOFA-NH at 603-224-5022 or info@nofanh.org.
• Slow Food Seacoast posted about a February 3 meeting related to these bills.
• Read an interesting recent article about GMO policy in NH in Front Door Politics.
• The House Environment & Agriculture Committee is set to make recommendations 1 week later, on Feb. 18.

From a UNH press release:

Enjoy Some Sinful Indulgence at the UNH Gourmet Dinner March 5 and 6

DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire will serve up seven courses of sinful indulgence at two gourmet dinners in March.

Organized by the hospitality management students at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, “Sinful Indulgence” gourmet dinners will be held Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6, 2010, at Stillings, 20 Ballard Drive, Durham, NH, beginning with a cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres at 6 o’clock and dinner to follow.

The concept of the dinner revolves around the Seven Cardinal Sins. Each course will include locally produced foods and represent each of the sins. The menu will be paired with elegant décor that will transform Stillings into an atmosphere where guests will experience the seven indulgences representing greed, lust, wrath, gluttony, pride, sloth, and envy.

“This event challenges the students of UNH’s Advanced Food and Beverage Operations Management class to design, organize, and direct two gourmet dinners for approximately 200 guests per night. The event prepares students for what to expect in the world of hospitality management beyond the college classroom, and it provides hands-on management experience from the beginning to end of formal event planning,” said Bridget McCartney, marketing manager for Sinful Indulgence.

Students have six weeks to plan and execute the dinner, and take on real-world executive management positions in the process, including general manager, chief financial officer, front of the house manager, executive chef, human resource director, and director of marketing.

Tickets for Sinful Indulgence are $50 per person and may be purchased through UNH event online ticketing.

The UNH Department of Hospitality Management combines business fundamentals as well as classes geared toward the service industry sector. Hands-on education proves to be a strong and integral part of the experiential and academic curriculum. The department also offers the first-ever EcoGastronomy Program, which integrates UNH’s strengths in sustainable agriculture, hospitality management, and nutrition to offer a unique academic program emphasizing the interdisciplinary, international, and experiential knowledge that connects all three fields.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state’s flagship public institution, enrolling more than 12,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.

Secretary of Agrigulture Tom Vilsack made the announcement while the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a factsheet explaining plans to create the Animal Disease Traceability Framework. In this FAQ, the USDA admits that “the vast majority of participants were highly critical” of NAIS and promises to include “representatives from States, Tribal Nations, industry groups, local farms, organic farmers, and underserved communities” in the new effort. What’s more, it promises to allow “maximum flexibility” and to “reduce the burden on producers.”

Of course the reality remains to be seen, but for now, saying “no” to NAIS is a victory for small farmers, because “producers who raise animals and move them within a State, Tribal Nation, or to local markets, as well as to feed themselves, their families, and their neighbors are not part of USDA’s framework’s scope and focus.” Thanks to all the people who signed petitions, wrote to lawmakers, and generally made noise about NAIS—and hoorah for all of our local livestock farmers!

All you culturally curious eaters will want to know about a new series at Halley Gallery titled Art & Dine. Each themed event will include a sit-down dinner as well a presentation and discussion. Take a dinner-table trip to Iran on March 19th, as the gallery celebrates  the Spring Equinox and Persian New Year (No Rouz). Guests will sample Persian food, view Rick Steves’ presentation on Iran - Yesterday and Today, and take an armchair tour through Iran’s history, art, culture, and politics, seen through the eyes of a world traveler. All this for $60 a couple, which includes event, food, and 15% discount on gallery shopping. Seating is limited! Contact the Haley Gallery to reserve your spot.

]]> http://www.slowfoodseacoast.org/2010/02/art-dine-at-haley-gallery/feed/ http://www.slowfoodseacoast.org/2010/02/federal-proposal-to-create-new-urban-food-outlets/ http://www.slowfoodseacoast.org/2010/02/federal-proposal-to-create-new-urban-food-outlets/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:08:25 +0000 Pam http://www.slowfoodseacoast.org/?p=937 Via Streetsblog Capitol Hill (with thanks to Joy!):

A new budget proposal is aimed at developing new food outlets in urban neighborhoods that policymakers call “food deserts”: White House Pitches $400M for Healthier Neighborhood Food Outlets

WHAT: 2010 Open House

WHEN: March 27 and 28, 2010

WHERE: Sugarmomma’s Maple Farm, Northwood, NH

MORE INFO: Sugarmomma’s website

Go Green, Go Healthy Fair - February 6th in Fremont
“This free, family-friendly event will also include massage, chiropractic care, natural cleaning ideas, nutrition ideas, energy conservation tools, stress reduction services, face painting, and healthy food samples.”

Bringing together farmers, gardeners, localvores, educators, and consumers … featuring workshops and vendors: NOFA-NH Winter Conference: “A Place at the Table”

ACT AGAINST GENETIC ENGINEERING IN OUR STATE!

There is nothing locally grown nor heirloom about genetically engineered food. The NH localvore, slow food and organic movement can collaborate and take the first steps in discouraging the presence of genetically engineered food and products in our state.

Take part in a meeting on

Wednesday, Feb 3
6:00-7:30 PM
Blue Moon Market and Café
8 Clifford Street, Exeter, NH

to hear about two bills in the NH House Committee on Agriculture and the Environment: one to label seeds that are genetically engineered or contain genetically engineered organisms (GMOs) and the other to provide farmers the right to seek damages if their crops become contaminated by GE crops. (The Café will still be serving food if you come hungry.)

Speakers at this meeting:

• Bob St. Peter of Food for Maine’s Future, will share his experience working on the GE issue in Maine, and will brief everyone on current Maine laws regarding GMOs and past failed attempts at labeling.
• State Representative Susan Wiley and others that sponsored the bills will be present
• Northeast Organic Farming Association of NH (NOFA-NH)

There will also be time for an open discussion about your interests in this issue.

The hearings for the two bills are scheduled for

Thursday, February 11
Legislative Office Bldg (LOB)
Concord, NH

11 AM for HB 1388 - Compensation for contamination

1:00 PM for HB 1172 – Labeling of GMO seeds

• NH House Bill # 1388: Give farmers the right to seek damages if their crops are contaminated by genetic drift
  Genetic drift is proving to be a huge problem for farmers that do not purposefully raise crops that have been genetically engineered. If a farmer’s crop becomes contaminated with GMOs through pollen drift, the farmer can be sued by the manufacturer of those genetically engineered seed, most often by Monsanto. This bill gives the farmer the right to seek damages if genetic contamination occurs.
• NH House Bill # 1172: Label seeds with genetically modified organisms
  More and more people raise their own food in NH to insure quality, purity and to save money. How do they know if their seeds contain genetically modified organisms or not if the seeds they buy are not labeled? This bill asks that the time-honored consumer’s right-to-know be extended to seed labeling.

Please make the time to appear in person at any of these hearings, and let Elizabeth Obelenus at NOFA-NH know your plans. The many aspects as to why genetic engineering is not welcomed need to be covered at these hearings to build a strong case. For example, if you or someone you know works in the sciences and can talk from that point of view about why genetic engineering is bad for our health, or know a farmer that wants to grow sweet corn organically but wonders if their crop will get contaminated by neighboring GE corn, ask them to contact Elizabeth at NOFA. Written testimony is also encouraged.

NOFA-NH CONTACT INFO: (603) 224-5022 or info@nofanh.org.