In the rush to cash in on the “organic” buzz, seemingly everything is organic these days. Even stuff that’s always been organic now has “organic” emblazoned across its packaging. Last weekend, I spotted a pallet of organic soil at Home Depot. What?!! I assume the little white fertilizer balls are the only inorganic ingredients added to typical potting soil. Organic Marketing 101: don’t put the fertilizer balls in, slap organic on the bag, and mark…

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I’ve written numerous blogs and articles on the topic. I’ve sent Tweets and engaged friends in Facebook discussions. And, yet, my efforts to explain animal agriculture and condemn HSUS' secret agenda seem to go largely unnoticed. I’m sure many in ag feel the same way. Just when I’m sick of the whole topic, someone like Amy Hansmann says something that makes it all worth it. “Treating animals humanely is not the same as treating them like…

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As a native Missourian, InBev’s hostile takeover of Anheuser Busch in the 2008 was less than thrilling. I’ve lived in the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis for about four years now. Busch Stadium, the Clydesdales and Grant’s Farm were tangible reminders of the brewing family that put St. Louis on the map. Finding out one of the city’s top corporate stewards would be Belgium-owned and Brazilian-run was a shot to the gut. For most (at least those not directly employed…

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A couple years ago, I decided I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t bear to watch another one of network television’s new sitcoms or fantasy dramas. The breaking point was when I realized Charlie Sheen’s “Two and a Half Men” was one of the top-rated sitcoms. I was beginning to accept that I was paying for cable just so I could watch sports. Then I found “Doomsday Preppers.” If you haven’t seen this show, do yourself a favor and set the…

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s bid to ban sugary drinks that contain more than 16 ounces hinges on a not-so-exact science – psychology. The ban assumes if New Yorkers can’t carry more than 16 ounces of an unhealthy drink around, they will consume less overall. By consuming less, they will lose weight. As a psychology minor, I’m in no way qualified to speak to the reasoning behind this bit of mental trickery. But I will. I’m reminded of a funny conversation from my…

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Genius, revolutionary, innovative … no, I’m not describing myself. Rather, these are terms I’d use to describe Steve Jobs. Having read Tyler Cowen’s An Economist Gets Lunch, I’m even more impressed at Jobs’ accomplishments. Cowen points out numerous times that the customer drives a restaurant’s menu as much as the chef. If a menu is filled with deep-fried offerings in the middle of a health-conscious community, demand will likely suffer. Either the…

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It seems my “Consumers Got Exactly What They Asked For” blog has sparked some conversation. While some agreed with my comments (actually they came primarily from Tyler Cowen), many were outraged that I would pit farmers vs. consumers. And, how dare I cast the blame on consumers? How dare I? Are you joking? These folks have been blaming farmers for everything from destroying the earth’s atmosphere with animal farts to maliciously abusing every hog, cow and chicken that…

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When Newsweek arrives in my mailbox, standard operating procedure has been to toss it in the trash on the way into the house. I’m not a fan of one-sided, liberally-skewed reporting. This week’s cover sucked me in. On it is a photo of a baby holding a huge thing of French fries with the headline “When I Grow Up, I’m Going to Weigh 300 Lbs. Help!” My past experience with this magazine led me to believe I’d find another scathing critique of modern…

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Last week, I picked up a new book – An Economist Gets Lunch by Tyler Cowen. The blurb promised a refreshing look at mainstream food production and the foodie revolution through the eyes of an economist. I was intrigued. I haven’t yet finished the book, but, thus far, I’m impressed. In the early pages, Cowen admonishes the naysayers of modern ag production. Sure, McDonald’s, Hungry-Man and Spam are examples of low-nutrition, mass-produced food that is made possible via…

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Two weeks ago, the wife and I started a new diet together. The basic premise is you eat super healthy for six days. On the seventh day, you can eat whatever you want. Thus far, we've both seen promising results. I'm averaging about five pounds a week. Of course, we're also working out at least four times a week. When I say healthy, I mean oatmeal for breakfast. Then we have a small lunch, such as a sandwich, hold the mayo, with a side of fresh veggies. A lot of days I'll eat a left…

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