Border Security & Toxic Shellfish Warning

Border Security & Toxic Shellfish Warning plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. While political leaders continue to discuss and debate a guest worker program another aspect of immigration was just given a boost. President Obama on Friday signed into law a $600 million border security that will put more agents and equipment along the Mexican border. The measure will fund the hiring of 1,000 new Border Patrol agents to be deployed at critical areas along the border, as well as more Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. It also provides for new communications equipment and greater use of unmanned surveillance drones. Dangerous toxins have closed a number of beaches to shell fishing due to the neurotoxins that can poison shellfish and are sometimes mis-labeled as Red Tides. Washington's Pierce County has closed several areas to clams, oysters, mussels and scallops and other mollusks, but not crab or shrimp. Frank Cox, with Shellfish & Water Protection in Washington State explains. COX: This time of year and the conditions that we've had recently and are continuing to have are the types of conditions that cause this algae to grow really well and when the shellfish feed on it they become toxic and I'm fairly certain we are going to see more of it. I'm quite certain that this bloom is going to continue growing rather than diminish and die off. Eating shellfish contaminated with marine biotoxin can kill you and these biotoxins are NOT destroyed by cooking or by freezing. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. Paris Hilton, meet farmer John, he's providing fresh produce today for your $200 facial. If today is one of the rare days in which you'll be eating, he'll also be providing the fresh fruits and vegetables served in the dining room. Nope, that wasn't the latest script synopsis for a Kevin Smith film; it's a very probable scenario. Much like the current trend of upscale restaurants using fresh produce and meats from local family farms, upscale spas have started using fresh local produce in their skin and facial treatments. For the most part fresh seasonal fruits and herbs are the primary ingredients used during spa treatments, but even certain veggies such as cucumbers and tomatoes are known to do amazing things for the skin. The concept of using fresh produce for outer beauty is more common in Europe or Asia, but now here in the U.S. it's offering a new and exciting way of connecting consumers and local family farms. And what do most farmers think of this up swing in fresh produce sales for use in spa treatments? Whether they eat it in the dining room or use it in skin treatments fresh produce sold to spas is helping people be healthier and supporting local farmers. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.