Calif. To Return Foreign Food

[Kadie]

Calif. To Return Foreign Food
Backlash Comes From Local Leaders

POSTED: 12:04 pm PDT September 5, 2009
UPDATED: 12:19 pm PDT September 5, 2009

FRESNO, Calif. -- The state of California is returning macaroni from Mexico and carrots from China in response to a foreign food flap.

The California Department of Social Services began distributing emergency rations earlier this week in response to a Central Valley water shortage.

Local leaders began protesting after they noticed the state was giving away foreign-produced food. U.S. Rep. Jim Costa of Fresno fired off a letter accusing the department of not supporting local farms and farmworkers.

Lizelda Lopez, a spokeswoman for the Department of Social Services, blamed a contractor for not following instructions to buy food from the United States.

more...
http://www.kcra.com/news/20746525/detail.html



on edit...

Costa Questions State On How They Purchase Food For Distribution

POSTED: 3:39 pm PDT September 3, 2009
UPDATED: 3:45 pm PDT September 3, 2009


FRESNO, Calif. -- On Thursday, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) sent a letter to the director of the California Department of Social Services questioning how the state uses federal money to purchase food for emergency food distribution. During the August work period, Costa witnessed firsthand some of the produce that is being distributed to those in need is coming from China or other overseas markets, rather than from domestic farms.

“The drought has already put those who grow the most nutritious food in the world out of work and into food lines,” Costa said. “What lacks common sense is why the State of California is using taxpayer dollars to buy produce from overseas markets. Our money needs to support local, state, and United States farmers. The State of California has some questions to answer on this policy.”

California Emergency Food Assistance Program received approximately $30 million in federal money to purchase food products for low-income individuals and needy families during Fiscal Year 2009. §7 CFR part 250.23 specifically states that “When purchasing food products with Federal funds…recipient agencies shall purchase only food products that are produced in the United States.” If the state is using federal money to buy carrots or peaches from China, they would be in violation of that law.

“I have said for the last year that our Valley, our state and our nation cannot become dependent on the rest of the world to grow our food. We must come together to solve our state’s water challenges, bring Valley farms back to full operation and feed our nation, otherwise, what we have witnessed in our food lines is a very frightening sign of things to come,” Costa concluded.

more info and the text of Rep. Costa's letter at...
http://www.turnto23.com/politics/20713303/detail.html

[NYC_SKP]

1. I prefer food grown here in California and am happy to pay more for it.

Except for those rare foods that cannot be grown here, and I cannot think of a single one, I care not for Mexican or Chinese fruits or vegetables.

And if they must be sold they should be clearly labeled as to their origin.

:patriot:

[dkf]

2. Oops I read it wrong

[slackmaster]

3. Is it being shipped all the way back to its countries of origin or just to the wholesaler/importer?

And how much public money is being spent on the process?

[Kadie]

4. More info...

I just added this to my original post.


Costa Questions State On How They Purchase Food For Distribution

POSTED: 3:39 pm PDT September 3, 2009
UPDATED: 3:45 pm PDT September 3, 2009


FRESNO, Calif. -- On Thursday, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) sent a letter to the director of the California Department of Social Services questioning how the state uses federal money to purchase food for emergency food distribution. During the August work period, Costa witnessed firsthand some of the produce that is being distributed to those in need is coming from China or other overseas markets, rather than from domestic farms.

“The drought has already put those who grow the most nutritious food in the world out of work and into food lines,” Costa said. “What lacks common sense is why the State of California is using taxpayer dollars to buy produce from overseas markets. Our money needs to support local, state, and United States farmers. The State of California has some questions to answer on this policy.”

California Emergency Food Assistance Program received approximately $30 million in federal money to purchase food products for low-income individuals and needy families during Fiscal Year 2009. §7 CFR part 250.23 specifically states that “When purchasing food products with Federal funds…recipient agencies shall purchase only food products that are produced in the United States.” If the state is using federal money to buy carrots or peaches from China, they would be in violation of that law.

“I have said for the last year that our Valley, our state and our nation cannot become dependent on the rest of the world to grow our food. We must come together to solve our state’s water challenges, bring Valley farms back to full operation and feed our nation, otherwise, what we have witnessed in our food lines is a very frightening sign of things to come,” Costa concluded.

more info and the text of Rep. Costa's letter at...
http://www.turnto23.com/politics/20713303/detail.html

[Garbo 2004]

8. Returned to the broker who procured them and broke the rules of the state contract.

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1627324.html

[frebrd]

5. Who wants to eat food from China, anyway?

Not that long ago, petfood ingredients from China were poisoning our pets. I've long since reached the point where I automatically assume that anything from China is toxic.

I surely don't want my food to come from there!

:grr:

[XemaSab]

7. Hey, those carrots were not necessarily grown in a mixture of uranium, raw human sewage, and PCB's

but there's a strong possibility. :hide:

[Kadie]

9. Nah...

Maybe 2 out of 3, but I doubt all three.

;-)

[friendly_iconoclast]

6. Seems pretty clear cut to me