Man, if the USDA ain't something else! They keep track of everything going on in America! Seriously, everything! You have got to check this out!
http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/portal/fv
You can find out anything and everything about the country! Its all here except the bombs! You can know the shipping costs of asparagus across the country and how many times we go to Mexico for watermelons, what the weather was like at Spring in Pennsylvania versus Florida or California and how that affected the avocadoes and honey. Every random fact that relates to food, market conditions, outbreaks of drought or disease, international politics swaying the cost of Brazilian mangoes or rapeseed oil from Germany.
Like, the National Honey Report! $1.43 per pound on average, more for organic with a preference towards white or orange blossom as opposed to honey from mixed wild flowers. Did you ever think you'd be setting your eyes on one document that told you everything you didn't know about honey?! This is your opportunity! usda.gov
If you are into carrots or bananas or baby fruits you can check that out, too! I mean EVERYTHING you'd ever want to know about it for the year 2009 thus far. Where did that strawberry really come from? What did it have to go through to be eaten by you? How did the rest of us help make that happen? Was it you? Did you help make it happen? Where did your breakfast come from today, I wonder?
God, it tells you everything about food costs and expenditures! Not to mention trends and health updates on the crops coming from various places not necessarily in or outside of the United States. Its like a snapshot of the entire living, breathing, eating, sleeping, driving country.
All signs point towards= grow your own food and buy local, organic, free range and don't forget the honey! Its too expensive and such a waste of resources otherwise. Find your local CSA or farmer's market and make a friend! Bees, too! Local honey is good for curing allergies!
Also, check this out! Spin-farming! http://www.spinfarming.com
You CAN be an urban farmer and grow your own food on the patio!
Have you ever thought about starting a co-op? Claim your summer days outside for a change!
Garden! garden! garden!
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