When Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore s Dilemma, and John Mackey, the co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods, sell-out a 2000 seat auditorium at UC Berkeley for a debate on the merits of simply organic versus strictly locally produced food as they did in February, you know that the concern with the origins of our food borders on an obsession with many in the Bay Area. When Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore s Dilemma, and John Mackey, the co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods, sell-out a...

The Joan of Arc line is enjoying such great success with the new product line launch that the company anticipates stepping up their distribution so that the goat cheese logs and goat cheese brie can be offered in increasing numbers of retailers across the country. Now we have extended the popular Joan of Arc line to include some great new products goat cheese brie and goat cheese logs that come in four flavors. dBusinessNews :: Daily Business News Delivered to Your Desktop. The Joan of Arc...

Farmers and ranchers in Northern California are already predicting losses from dry spring conditions. Down the road from the wheat field, Medvitz points out hills that should be green with grass to feed his sheep. Instead he and many other farmers plan to buy feed for their flocks. Medvitz says he knows of ranchers near Bakersfield who have been forced to sell off their flocks. He said this season is one of the worst because of the lack of rain. He expects his profits will be down anywhere...

The Mersingers also have two adults goats, a baby goat and two pigs. On a recent afternoon, Terri headed to the barn to check on the newest arrival, born in late March. She carried its bottle of formula in her right hand as she headed to a lawn chair to feed the baby. Four acres are for the sheep's pasture. They need room to graze, must be vaccinated, have their hooves trimmed and need to be sheared before summer to stay cool. He brought them to the family's home, which is on land that's...

Natives of Mexico and India and other immigrants searching for a delicacy they remember from their homelands could soon be turning to local farmers for help. A group of predominantly Amish farmers in Allen County bought more than 5,000 goats in the past year to fill the growing demand from diverse ethnic groups for the specialty meat, said Gonzalee Martin, agriculture and natural resources educator at the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service s Allen County office. A group of...