United Natural Foods Incorporated, the largest wholesale distributor of organic and “natural” foods in the U.S., is currently under investigation for 45 violations of federal labor law.

“The union is like having herpes. It doesn't kill you, but it's unpleasant and inconvenient, and it stops a lot of people from becoming your lover." -- John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market (WFM) CEO John Mackey has done a brilliant job of creating the illusion that his empire is all about abundance, bounty and the good life. But there’s nothing bountiful or good about the way the second-largest non-unionized food retailer exploits workers.

United Natural Foods Incorporated (UNFI), the largest multi-billion dollar wholesale distributor of organic and “natural” foods in the U.S., is currently under investigation for 45 violations of federal labor law, including physically threatening immigrant workers in California who were trying to form a union.

http://www.alternet.org/food/exposed-how-whole-foods-and-biggest-organic-foods-distributor-are-screwing-workers

ST. LOUIS • A $60 million project to build apartments and a Whole Foods Market in the Central West End has become entangled in a push for a union organizing agreement.
United Food & Commercial Workers Local 655 is trying to get a “neutrality agreement” with Whole Foods, in which employers refrain from opposing employee union organizing efforts.

None of Whole Foods’ nearly 340 stores, including the St. Louis-area stores in Town and Country and Brentwood, has unionized workers. Labor groups have long targeted Whole Foods, accusing the company of being anti-union.

The project seemed to be on the fast track in October, when the city’s Tax Increment Financing Commission approved the developer’s request for $10 million in TIF assistance for the project. Neighbors cheered what appeared to be the imminent arrival of an upscale grocer known for its organic food and prepared dishes.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/whole-foods-project-in-central-west-end-entangled-in-union/article_b37071e9-4df3-59db-bb1e-2d3ff5b67680.html#.UQqIxUU6zJU.email

PHILADELPHIA — Hunger relief organization Philabundance here has retained retail design consultancy CBX to design a prototype for Fare & Square, a not-for-profit grocery store slated to open this summer in Chester, Pa.

Fare & Square, a 13,000-square-foot store, will sell nutritious food staples with a focus on fresh produce, meats, dairy, seafood and frozen foods at everyday low prices. It will give residents of Chester — one of the 35 food deserts in the Delaware Valley according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture — easy access to fresh foods for the first time since the town’s last full-scale grocer closed in 2001. Philabundance recently purchased the town’s former grocery building.

Under its not-for-profit grocery store model, Fare & Square will offer a customer-focused shopping experience and will partner with local organizations and businesses to provide a range of services to the community.

One aspect of the overall design “is that it will reflect the hopeful and respectful nature of Philabundance’s goal to serve Chester residents through a store that could look at home in any community,” said Joseph Bona, president of CBX branded environments, in a statement. “Ultimately, we’re designing a neighborhood store that will have the look and feel of a traditional supermarket in that it's clean, well lit, convenient and friendly, but also a place that the community can call their own, instilling a sense of optimism, pride and connection.”


Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/retail-amp-financial/non-profit-store-open-pa-food-desert#ixzz2JYFoO280

JEFFERSON CITY — The 8th Congressional District Democratic Committee will meet Saturday, Feb. 16 to select a nominee the represent the Democratic Party in the June 4 special election set by Gov. Jay Nixon to replace the seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson who resigned Jan. 22.

The meeting’s location and time have yet to be determined.

Committee members receive one vote for each office they hold and must be present in person to vote. A majority vote of those present is required to win the nomination.

If no candidate receives a majority vote after the first round of voting, the one with the lowest number of votes will be dropped out and a vote among the remaining candidates will be held. Voting in this manner will continue until one candidate receives a majority of the votes present at the meeting.

http://dailyjournalonline.com/news/local/bf2b5028-6ad0-11e2-9195-0019bb2963f4.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_Tape

Where would we be without it?

COLUMBIA • President Barack Obama on Thursday will award University of Missouri researcher M. Frederick Hawthorne the National Medal of Science.

The National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation are the highest honors awarded by the United States government to scientists, engineers, and inventors. Hawthorne will receive his award along with 20 other recipients.

Hawthorne is the director of the International Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine at MU and is the school's Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Radiology.

Hawthorne was named a National Medal of Science recipient because of his work on the chemical element boron, according to news release from the university. He developed the use of a technique known as Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, which is used in experimental treatments for cancer, arthritis and other diseases. His work with boron also has been used to fight heart disease and Alzheimer’s. He pioneered the use of “boron cages,” chemical structures that can be attached to other compounds and thereby change their physical properties, the university said.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/2f8decb2-7a67-5557-b716-f77cdcc1c989.html

As part of the bankruptcy process, the divisions of Hostess Brands are being auctioned off and, says David B. Durkee, international president of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM), “We are working diligently with potential new buyers on behalf of those workers affected by the ongoing process.”

The success of the new companies is dependent upon a turn-key restart of operations, which our highly skilled members are more than able to provide.

One of the identified bidders for the bread divisions, known for its Wonder Bread and other brands, is Flowers Foods, makers of Tastykakes. Flowers was designated by the bankruptcy court as the “stalking horse” bidder. That means other companies interested in bidding on the bread division must offer a higher bid than Flowers.’ Says Durkee:

Whether the new owner is Flowers or another company, our goal is to work with interested bidders in both the bread and snack cake divisions to preserve jobs and the legacy of these timeless snack cakes and breads. We’ve worked with Flowers on occasion in the past and would hope to continue a positive working relationship should they become the new owners.

http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Organizing-Bargaining/BCTGM-Members-Vital-to-Success-of-Spun-Off-Hostess-Brands

ATLANTA — Illnesses linked to produce account for the highest number of foodborne illnesses and hospitalizations, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By examining outbreaks from 1998-2008, the CDC found 46% of foodborne illnesses and 38% of hospitalizations could be traced back to produce commodities, which include fruits and nuts, leafy greens, fungi, root vegetables, sprouts and vine and stalk vegetables.

Among all commodities, leafy greens caused the highest percentage of illnesses (23%) and second-highest percentage of hospitalizations (14%), although only 6% of deaths.


Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/food-safety/cdc-produce-biggest-culprit-foodborne-illnesses#ixzz2JUr4yye3

SHREWSBURY, Mo. -- Plans for a new Walmart Super Center in the St. Louis County town of Shrewsbury are moving ahead after aldermen approved tax breaks for the project.

Aldermen voted 4-2 Tuesday to award $15 million in subsidies. Their vote overrode a Jan. 8 decision by the city’s Tax Increment Financing Committee.

Some residents have been critical of the $46 million project and the idea of providing tax subsidies to a company worth billions of dollars. The battle in Shrewsbury has been going on for two years.

http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Shrewsbury-OKs-tax-breaks-for-new-Walmart-189004411.html

TUSTIN, Calif. (AP) — The massive blimp-like aircraft flies but just barely, hovering only a dozen feet off a military hangar floor during flight testing south of Los Angeles.

Still, the fact that the hulking Aeroscraft could fly for just a few minutes represents a step forward in aviation, according to the engineers who developed it. The Department of Defense and NASA have invested $35 million in the prototype because of its potential to one day carry more cargo than any other aircraft to disaster zones and forward military bases.

"I realized that I put a little dot in the line of aviation history. A little dot for something that has never been demonstrated before, now it's feasible," said flight control engineer Munir Jojo-Verge.

The airship is undergoing testing this month at Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin, and must go through several more rounds of flight testing before it could be used in a disaster zone or anywhere else. The first major flight test took place Jan. 3.

http://news.yahoo.com/high-tech-cargo-airship-being-built-california-100513071--finance.html