Philippine Regulations & Allowing Schools to Opt Out

Philippine Regulations & Allowing Schools to Opt Out plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

The Philippine Bureau of Customs announced new regulations last week that took effect yesterday due to smuggling, fraud and price and quantity mis-declaration in commodity imports. The bureau is now requiring inspection and certification of all bulk and container imports at the port of loading - which is to be performed by one of a limited number of BOC-approved inspection companies. Importers will absorb the costs of inspection - which are estimated to be five to 15-dollars per metric ton. Even though there have been no smuggling incidents originating in the United States - the bureau has imposed a blanket inspection requirement on cargos from all countries of origin.

A move to remove a controversial provision that would allow some schools to opt out of complying with federal nutrition standards for school meals was turned down in the House appropriations committee. Rep's Rosa DeLauro,

DeLAURO: We do not have to waive the regulations in order to be able to get these schools up to parr, making sure there's healthy food at the school lunch program and the school breakfast program.

A move to drop the waiver from the bill failed and California's Sam Farr had this to say.

FARR: This section is a poison pen for this bill. It's going to go to the floor and tie up the whole ag appropriations bill.

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

As I've mentioned previously, with the purchase of his first home our son has been bitten by the gardening bug. His new home has a brick planter running the full length of his front porch and his plans are to turn it into an edible gardening area with herbs, salad greens and small vegetables such as radishes, green onions, and small bush peppers. Being an avid cook he is excited about the possibility of being able to step out his front door to harvest sage, basil, chives or oregano to use in preparing his family's evening meal. He has been doing his homework when it comes to companion planting as well, discovering that when you plan on combining several different types of plants in one container it's best to match plants that have similar requirements when it comes to water and fertilizer. In other words, don't plant rosemary, which doesn't like to have wet feet, right next to water thirsty bush cucumbers. It will certainly be interesting to watch his gardening and culinary expertise develop and expand. Our grandchildren are also looking forward to helping their Dad grow their own food. And you know what they say a child who helps grow their veggies, eats their veggies.

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