Sound Consumer

Dedicated since 1961 to informing and inspiring the PCC community through the co-op’s vision of advancing the health and well-being of people, their neighborhoods and our planet.

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Sound Consumer, June 2010

Northwest food adventures

It’s no secret that the Pacific Northwest is home to some of the best food in the world — in fact, it’s probably a big reason why we choose to live here! You’ll always find your favorites at our neighborhood PCCs, but sometimes it’s fun to visit the source and see where some PCC foods come from firsthand.

It’s no secret that the Pacific Northwest is home to some of the best food in the world — in fact, it’s probably a big reason why we choose to live here! You’ll always find your favorites at our neighborhood PCCs, but sometimes it’s fun to visit the source and see where some PCC foods come from firsthand.

USDA researcher raises GE alarm

It’s one thing for environmentalists to say genetically engineered crops are dangerous but now scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture are sounding the alarm, too. Microbiologist Robert Kremer has analyzed farm soil for 20 years, the last several studying soil quality and genetically engineered (GE) plant growth.

It’s one thing for environmentalists to say genetically engineered crops are dangerous but now scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture are sounding the alarm, too. Microbiologist Robert Kremer has analyzed farm soil for 20 years, the last several studying soil quality and genetically engineered (GE) plant growth.

What I learned from the bees: patience

Ninety percent of flowering plants and 40 percent of the foods we eat depend on pollinators — mostly honeybees. They pollinate everything from almonds and apples to tomatoes and watermelon. Bees also are wonderful teachers.

Ninety percent of flowering plants and 40 percent of the foods we eat depend on pollinators — mostly honeybees. They pollinate everything from almonds and apples to tomatoes and watermelon. Bees also are wonderful teachers.

Truth, transparency and trust

Truth, transparency and trust: keys to PCC’s policies, quality standards and products. Are you a dedicated label-reader when you shop at PCC? Or is your “yellow or orange alert level” only fully engaged when you are shopping elsewhere, in mainstream or other conventional grocery stores?

Truth, transparency and trust: keys to PCC’s policies, quality standards and products. Are you a dedicated label-reader when you shop at PCC? Or is your “yellow or orange alert level” only fully engaged when you are shopping elsewhere, in mainstream or other conventional grocery stores?

Notes from the Cellar

“Au revoir … à Septembre” … and just like that, she’s gone. Agent MC shoulders her purse, turns and strides purposefully, bags in tow, toward the Air France counter. Mission accomplished. Turn the page. Next.

“Au revoir … à Septembre” … and just like that, she’s gone. Agent MC shoulders her purse, turns and strides purposefully, bags in tow, toward the Air France counter. Mission accomplished. Turn the page. Next.

Full Circle Farm

Green may be the color of spring, but it’s also the shade of some of our favorite early summer delights: bunches of spinach, tender salad mix, baby bok choy, and several varieties of chard and kale. This month we’ll get all these from Full Circle Farm.

Green may be the color of spring, but it’s also the shade of some of our favorite early summer delights: bunches of spinach, tender salad mix, baby bok choy, and several varieties of chard and kale. This month we’ll get all these from Full Circle Farm.

Saving farmland, generating questions

This saving farmland business, it’s complicated stuff. In essence our mission is simple, but realizing it is fraught with complexity. There is the enormity of the task, of course: attempting to save farmland from inside a giant system that does not, generally speaking, value farming.

This saving farmland business, it’s complicated stuff. In essence our mission is simple, but realizing it is fraught with complexity. There is the enormity of the task, of course: attempting to save farmland from inside a giant system that does not, generally speaking, value farming.

Letters to the editor

Stickers on produce? · Local produce in season? · Soil testing · Soy allergy · Sierra Nevada cream cheese · Plastic packaging · BPA in tomato cans

Stickers on produce? · Local produce in season? · Soil testing · Soy allergy · Sierra Nevada cream cheese · Plastic packaging · BPA in tomato cans

News bites

Economical horse power · College sheep club · BPA action · rBGH decline · Salt an additive? · Subsidies don’t make people fat · “Stacked” GE seeds · GE in Spain · GE soy: sterility, infant mortality · Legalizing pot hurts small farmers? · Dine out, gain weight?

Economical horse power · College sheep club · BPA action · rBGH decline · Salt an additive? · Subsidies don’t make people fat · “Stacked” GE seeds · GE in Spain · GE soy: sterility, infant mortality · Legalizing pot hurts small farmers? · Dine out, gain weight?

Your co-op

Election · Annual member meeting · Anna Lappé visits PCC · Board meetings

Election · Annual member meeting · Anna Lappé visits PCC · Board meetings