grapes

On July 7, 2017, officials in Arkansas and Missouri enacted a temporary ban on dicamba, the herbicide blamed for vaporizing and damaging crops which have not been genetically engineered to withstand the weedkiller. The Arkansas Plant Board had voted June 23, 2017 to temporarily ban the spraying of dicamba on any crops except pasture land for 120 days. [1]
The newest ban, set to start July 11, 2017, extends the 120-day moratorium.

Every year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts out a list of the 12 types of produce that contain the most pesticides. The group analyzes tests by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the list. The list was released in the beginning of the year, but it’s important to browse the list multiple times so the information is at your fingertips. [1]

Most people know that fruits and vegetables are essential staples of a healthy diet, and consuming plenty of them have been found to cut the risk of various cancers. However, most of those studies have focused on how fruit and vegetable consumption benefit the health of adults, but we know that a healthy start in life can protect people from diseases later on.

Some of the best wines in the US come from California, with more wineries in the state working to become better by going organic. Now, Sonoma County is taking steps to become GMO-free, putting a ban on the ballot this November, 2016.
The county will begin to collect signatures from thirty different venues throughout the area this December 12th to help kick off the GMO Growing Prohibition it hopes to add to the November 16th ballot. The county joins the Bay Area to try to make more of California GMO-free.

A naturally occurring compound found in red grapes, raspberries, dark chocolate, and red wine may halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, the results of a new trial suggests.

Most health experts say that avoiding alcoholic beverages is the way to go, but there’s one exception that most agree on – the drinking of red wine. What makes red wine stand out as different? It’s the best source of a polyphenol known as resveratrol, a compound that may lead to a healthier heart, a slimmer body, and a longer life.

Are dozens of wineries violating California state law by selling wine contaminated with arsenic? A class action lawsuit filed on March 19th suggests the answer may be yes. This suit claims the wineries knowingly produced, marketed, and sold wine that contains levels of highly toxic arsenic that grossly exceed the legally allowed limit, and failed to warn those buying the wine of the potential danger.

One of the most publicized nutrients in the media is the stilbene known as resveratrol. This organic compound has been found to cut down cardiovascular disease, prevent certain cancers, help slow aging, and possibly aid in weight control. It can even improve spinal bone density in men with metabolic syndrome and may be one reason why people belonging to wine loving cultures are often so healthy. However, scepticism abounds with many naysayers claiming that there is not enough evidence and that any purported benefits are just an excuse for red wine fans.

Dow and Monsanto’s failed glyphosate-resistant crops have caused cotton farmers in Texas to reach for a new concoction of chemicals, namely 2,4-D and dicamba. They are threatening the viability of vineyards across Texas.