Short Takes

“Tailgating a tractor trailer is much more dangerous than being around live chickens,” the National Chicken Council in the United States said in December. That statement follows widespread publicity regarding a John Hopkins University study claiming that diseases could be spread by transporting chickens in crates on flatbed trucks.

In the study, published in the first issue of the Journal of Infection and Public Health, scientists took samples from air and the surface of cars driven “two to three car lengths” behind chicken trucks for 17 miles.

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Apple competition returns to the Royal after 44 years

Interest in locally produced food is back, and so is an apple competition at Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. There is a connection.

With more than 326,000 visitors to the Royal each year, apple industry officials saw the fair as a good opportunity to connect directly with consumers and decided to revive the competition, explains Brian Gilroy, board chair of Ontario Apple Growers, one of the competition’s sponsors.

This year, entries came from British Columbia, Ontario and Nova Scotia. Judging was based on general appearance and trueness to variety.

Rain, finally, in the land of Oz

Cities no place for hens

Markham first community to mandate local food

‘Discretionary spending’ takes a hit

Round one to Mayor Travale

Rain, finally, in the land of Oz

Australian farmers finally got some rain this spring, ending a seven year drought, and are planting one of the country-continent’s biggest wheat crops ever. The New York Times and Reuters news agency report that farmers still have their fingers crossed. They are looking for a 200 million tonne crop but will only get it if timely rains arrive in their spring, September.

Milk in Starbucks coffee has a bitter taste for its boss

Looks like the Irish had it right

Every price spike is different

PETA’s million-dollar craving for man-made meat

More on those ‘free- range’ cows

How organic is airfreight?

Milk in Starbucks coffee has a bitter taste for its boss

The newest boss of the Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association (CRFA) is also the boss of Starbucks shops in Quebec and he says that the milk he puts in $3.75 (plus tax) cups of coffee costs too much.

He wants supply management torn down.