05/26/05 No on Durango; New on the portfolio

The U.S. and Mexico are working together to enact corrective measures after U.S.D.A. announced the closure of the U.S. border to cattle from the Mexican state of Durango. U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns said inadequacies in Durango's bovine tuberculosis management program, specifically in how Durango cattle were separated from export and non-export sectors, led to the shutdown. Johanns says under the declaration, cattle imported from Durango must now meet all Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service guidelines before normal trade can resume. A big name now owns one of the Northwest's largest privately owned power utilities. Noted investor Warren Buffet, a majority stockholder in Iowa-based MidAmerican Energy Holdings, has agreed to purchase Portland based PacificCorp for the price of $5.1 billion dollars. Or putting it in this context, it is the second single largest purchase in Buffet's storied career. The deal also includes the assumption of PacificCorp's $3.4 billion dollar debt from current owner ScottishCorp. The transaction is not expected to be finalized until next year. A total of twenty seven contracts in the Northwest were signed with U.S.D.A. for the 2004 Environmental Quality Incentives Program. The payout for those farmers with contracts in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho comes to over $900,000 dollars. In total, over $18 million dollars was paid out in E.Q.I.P. contracts, that according to U.S.D.A. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. ALLEN: As I am sitting here savoring my morning donut, I learn of new demographic group emerging in our society and because of the donut I know I am not one of them. Trend forecasters have discovered" Lohas". Oh, they are all around us. You might even have a "Lohas" sitting next to you at the office. "Lohas" is an acronym for the Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability consumers and economists report that "Lohas" now make up a third of our population. Come on we all know a "Lohas" usually they are the ones that live an affluent lifestyle, drive a Lexis or Volvo and wouldn't think twice about paying double for organic produce. To qualify as a "Loha" you typically need to be between the ages of 35 to 65, passionate about the environment and always concerned about the details; packaging, story and style. In fact the ideology of a product is often the most important feature to a "Loha". Now I know I will never be one my pick-up immediately disqualified so I'll finish this donut with as much dignity as I can muster. I'm Susan Allen and this is Food Forethought.