A three-bill local food package was signed by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm last month. The legislation is designed to facilitate greater purchasing of local farm products by school food-service managers.

Michigan ranks second in the nation when it comes to agricultural diversity, producing apples, grapes, strawberries, carrots, potatoes, beef, dairy, greens and eggs. However, Michigan’s public schools serve, for the most part, reheated processed foods that have traveled great distances.

This new legislation should help ensure that Michigan schoolchildren enjoy more healthful, fresh, locally grown and raised foods at school.

-Karen

A while back I wrote about legislation concerning toy safety that is getting ready to go into effect, and how it might affect small toy makers. Yesterday, an announcement was made by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission clarifying how these new laws will affect resellers of children's products, such as thrift and consignment stores. But back to the effect the law may have on small domestic producers... the Handmade Toy Alliance has put up a page outlining how individuals can help these small, responsible toy makers stay afloat in light of the new laws .

-Karen

Plenty Magazine has a piece on Locavore Statistics, as compiled by by Jill Richardson at La Vida Locavore. Check it out for the good, the bad, and the ugly in the world of eating.

-Karen

An avowed meat lover becomes a dedicated vegetarian all in the name of decreasing his carbon footprint. Read Mike Tidwell's low-carbon diet story here .

-Karen