Harry & David Troubles & Sage Grouse Issues
Harry & David Troubles & Sage Grouse Issues plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.
The protection of the Western Sage Grouse has been the subject of recent efforts by the NRCS. A key component in protecting habitat of the threatened bird species is crediting landowners for their conservation efforts according to Tim Griffiths of Natural Resources Conservation Service.
GRIFFITHS: The service came back and provided two things; one they said this initiative is fully compliant with the Endangered Species Act if it’s listed and landowners have certainty they can continue implementing those practices even if the bird is listed. It also enabled producers a platform with which we could take all this science and what the outcome based research does – give that back to them in their annual listing determination to make sure that producers receive credit for the voluntary conservation they apply.
One northwest heritage company is trying to avert troubles. The 75-year-old Harry & David company who sells fruit baskets and other gifts, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday. They have been brought down by a weak economy and a proliferation of competitors. The Medford, Ore., company said Monday that it agreed with a majority of its senior noteholders on terms of a reorganization plan that will eliminate "substantial" debt and provide equity financing to restructure its balance sheet.
Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.
Leave it to Hollywood and the disgustingly rich to “discover” what the rest of us have enjoyed and known about all along. This time it’s a mealtime favorite, pot pie. Yes, you heard right, pot pies, the meat and veggies in thick gravy covered in a crust pot pies. It’s turning up in all the fashionable foodie restaurants. Similar to the rave over mac and cheese just a short time ago this dinner or lunchtime favorite of the middle classes has suddenly turned into gotta have it elitist fare. I can remember when frozen pot pies or pot pies made with Bisquick were all the rage, dare I say it, back in the 1950’s and 60’s. Frankly, pot pie has never gone out of style in our house, and we’ve been eating bacon too without realizing it was a big food fad nationwide; who knew we were so avant-garde in the kitchen! The answer to this curious habit of the rich and famous embracing the ordinary is probably no more than the simple fact that they miss what grandma or mom used to make. Who wouldn’t get tired of having to appear excited over a plate consisting of two fava beans, a slice of lemon, and a small sprig of rosemary? All good in their own right but pale in comparison to say, pot roast with carrots and potatoes, or of course, chicken pot pie!
Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.
