You can follow the fabulous Berkshire Grown member chefs as they prepare for the sold out "Whole Berkshire-raised Hog Dinner" at the James Beard House in NYC on February 4th, 2011.
Jeffrey Kingman will be filming, tweeting, posting on You Tube - everything about the culinary adventure from the Berkshires to NYC.  Jane Watson of GreenPeasTV, who has been documenting the story pre-event, will also be on site capturing footage to produce a full episode featuring Berkshire food culture for her web channel.  

Thanks to Caroline Alexander of Berkshire Food Journal for photos.
 

 Berkshire Chefs Participating: Brian Alberg The Red Lion Inn (pictured), Matthew Duley, The Red Lion Inn, Lester Blumenthal, Route 7 Grill, Dan Smith, John Andrews Restaurant, Nicholas Moulton, Mezze Bistro + Bar, Chris Amendola, Allium Restaurant + Bar, Wines by Dan Thomas, Sommelier, The Red Lion Inn
 

Read more on Mezze's blog here  and here on James Beard site

More on the new website Berkshire Farm and Table here. 

"U.S. Approves Genetically Modified Alfalfa"

Much to read, think about and do:  

Here are links to the news story, and responses, including links to the Center for Food Safety,  Michael Pollan & others state why they oppose GE Alfalfa, Marion Nestle and The Cornucopia Institute (promoting economic justice for family scale farming). 

-- In the NY TIMES you can read the news story: "U.S. Approves Genetically Modified Alfalfa" by Andrew Pollack,  

-- Read Sam Fromartz, in ChewsWise about the impact.  

Fromartz writes: "Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (in picture by Chris Wattie/ Reuters in NY TIMES) decided this week to fully deregulate the planting of genetically modified alfalfa, so why should you care?

"This move had been opposed by organic farmers and consumers because of the strong possibility that genetically modified alfalfa will cross-pollinate non-GM alfalfa. This has been recognized by the Supreme Court as potentially harmful to the organic sector, since organic foods cannot be produced with genetically modified crops. Once organic livestock are fed GM alfalfa, they can no longer be called organic.

"The only appeasement the USDA offered were panels on studying ways to prevent contamination from occurring in the future. But this seems akin to studying ways to protect a forest after loggers have been allowed to cut down the trees.

"The decision was a stunning reversal of a more measured approach that Vilsack appeared to be taking in December, when the USDA talked about considering the impact of the GM crop on other sectors of agriculture. But that was before he faced an uproar by the GM industry and the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal for playing nice with organic farmers.

Read more here.

What We're Reading

Marion Nestle (introduced in the last e-newsletter): 

USDA approves controversial GM alfalfa

"In an action long expected, the USDA approved commercial production of genetically modified alfalfa.

The announcement makes it clear that USDA did not do this lightly.  The agency was well aware of the concerns of organic farmers that GM alfalfa could-and will-contaminate their fields.

 READ MORE
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Michael Pollan writes:

" ... In announcing the decision, Secretary Vilsack also announced a $1 million study to look at "gene flow"-- an implicit acknowledgment that we don't know enough about the risks of GMO alfalfa. You would think the Administration would want to conduct such a study before releasing GMO alfalfa, not after."

He adds: "For more information, check out thewebsite of the Center for Food Safety, which has been leading the legal battle with some success (and vows to continue to fight in court)."

He also suggests going to the Food Democracy Now! website

.

Quick Bites

Berkshire Grown Online Farmers' Marketplace

Self-propelled by Berkshire Grown members, the page will benefit those of you who choose to participate in it. Farmers and food producers can post what they have available, and chefs and community members can comment or contact suppliers directly with requests for product or more information.
 

Thanks to Chris Blair for the photo of Cricket Creek Farm's Maggie's Round Cheese.
 

Berkshire Grown offers this as a networking service and bears no responsibility for transactions.

 If you are traveling through Massachusetts check out this map, support our local farmers throughout the state!