This awareness sparked discussion of environmental factors such as food miles that there is a cost to the environment when food travels long distances. Grocers have long recognized the appeal of local produce, promoting products from neighboring and regional farmers in their stores. Restaurants and grocers are striking partnerships with small farmers, driven in part by food safety concerns, environmental sensitivities and just plain marketing savvy. And a hand-painted map of Loudoun County...

Some of that rush on permit applications concerns the new impact fee schedule, which significantly raises impact fees on new homes and other construction. As the home building industry slumps, one category of construction is going through the roof. Permit applications for non-residential construction this year have already passed all of 2006, suggesting that commercial construction has picked up where the residential boom ended. Tina Gilson, senior non-residential review coordinator, said...

industries, other federal government agencies, state departments of agriculture and Congress. Ultimately, Cathleen stood out for her combination of academic training in science, intellectual firepower, her energy and determination and her substantial record of achievement in the difficult world of foreign trade negotiations. Enright's experience working with American agricultural commodity interests provides both international and domestic policy expertise, noted Nassif. State Department,...

The warning came as research suggested that farmers are generally more unhappy than any other group of self-employed workers. KEEPING up with the Joneses has become a source of misery for cash-strapped farmers who live beside wealthy neighbours, it was claimed yesterday. ADVERTISEMENT Farmers live with the frustration that they cannot give their family a similar standard of living and worry they are locking their children into a way of life they would not choose. Many farmers can no longer...

The states citrus industry, which is a leading producer of orange and other fruit juices, produces citrus peels by the ton, but the rinds currently have little financial value. Much of it is used as animal feed but still is sold at a loss. The state wisely nixed that idea because of concerns over the plants emissions, which had garnered opposition from environmental groups and, it seemed, just about everyone else who didnt live in Glades County. More value for Florida citrus, more jobs, a...