NEWS WATCH: RETAILERS CAUGHT UP IN FARMED SALMON PROTEST...NEW DAIRY ECO-LABEL AVAILABLE TO INDUSTRY

RETAILERS CAUGHT UP IN FARMED SALMON PROTEST

in a recent New York Times ad protesting the sale of farmed salmon in their stores. The Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform, based in British Columbia, Canada, called on shoppers to "Tell these stores to stop selling farmed salmon: Whole Foods, Safeway, Kroger, Trader Joe's, Albertsons and Costco." The Los Angeles Times had earlier declined to run the message, citing "business concerns," according to the group. CAAR's "Farmed and Dangerous" campaign asks that major grocery chains stop selling farmed salmon until salmon farmers make their operations more ecologically balanced and environmentally friendly. CAAR officials said the ad will preface actions aimed at supermarkets.

NEW DAIRY ECO-LABEL AVAILABLE TO INDUSTRY

CHURCHVILLE, Va. -- The Center for Global Food Issues has launched a pilot project promoting a new "Earth Friendly/Farm Friendly" seal of approval for dairy products. The science-strong group, part of the Hudson Institute, said the seal differs from "organic and other production-related niche marketing" in that processors will have more options under the seal's certification program, emphasizing "high-yield conservation" that maximizes food production per acre, thereby leaving more land untouched. CGFI officials said they will apply to have the U.S. Department of Agriculture approve the seal.