More on Russian PNTR & Winter Farmer's Markets

More on Russian PNTR & Winter Farmer’s Markets plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Both houses of Congress have now approved giving Russia most favored nation trade status, which should boost ag exports. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack comments on passage of Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Russia.

VILSACK: We had the Senate pass Russia normal trade relations which is a great opportunity for agriculture. It’s a victory for all who are interested in free trade and unfettered trade. And it will give us the opportunity and capacity to significantly expand trade opportunities in Russia and to do it in a way in which we can compel Russians to play by an appropriate set of rules and not to make decisions on agricultural products in an ad hoc way.

USDA says more communities are warming up to winter markets. According to Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan - the number of winter markets listed in USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory is up 52-percent in 2012 to 1,864. That’s roughly 24-percent of the more than 78-hundred farmers markets listed in the directory. Winter farmers markets are those operating at least once between November and March. Merrigan says these farmers markets offer additional opportunities for farmers to generate income year round and provide consumers with a reliable supply of local food regardless of the season.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

Tis the season for food. Whether you’re making it, eating it, or both, food is something that’s a primary focus during the holiday season. If you’re like me, you often find yourself on auto pilot when it comes to mindlessly popping another piece of fudge, or that occasional errant gingerbread man. There are all kinds of things experts say we can do to help ourselves get through the holidays without gaining too much extra weight, such as eating till we are only eighty percent full, tricking our minds into thinking we have more food than we do by using smaller sized plates, or the one I like the best, eating foods high in protein. This leaves me open to eat all kinds of delicious goodies, such as roasted nuts and seeds, smoked salmon, gourmet cheeses, and lean meats. But this year, while I will try to behave myself, I won’t spend a lot of time beating myself up, if I happen to eat a little too much of this or that over the holidays. As we have often heard in some of our favorite literature and broadway productions, tomorrow is another day, there’s always tomorrow, and yes, don’t put off until tomorrow what you can eat today.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.