By Tom Philpott

Things are getting rough here in the land of cheap food. Corn and soy -- building blocks of the industrial-food system -- are trading at or near all-time highs. And that's rippling through the food chain, from feedlots and food factories to the supermarket shelf.

Here's the latest:

Some folks see opportunity for reform in this situation: As prices for industrially produced food rise, the playing field will level for more sustainably produced food. But then there's another possibility: people will "trade down," economize, look for the cheapest food possible, regardless of quality or sustainability concerns.

On that note, from the consumer-trend spotter Euromoitor:

Meanwhile, though ...

Bananas? A summer fruit? Well, yes, bananas are a summer fruit although truth is, banana trees produce fruit year-round so bananas are also fall, winter and spring fruits, too. Still, since bananas are available year-round, we don't see them much in summer, not while precious cherries, apricots, blueberries, raspberries and other summer-only fruits show their much-awaited faces. But this week, food bloggers had me rethinking the idea: bananas, they belong in our summer fruit panoply.

Dog pulling systems for scooters, trikes and soon - skateboards from dogpoweredscooter.com - pricing varies.
Here is a great way to have some fun and great exercise with your dog - and maybe help you spend a little less on gas. Dogs who love to work, are still young and energetic and are big enough (over 35 lbs according to their website) should love this new sport. Dogpowered Scooters basically just make the harness for particular scooters and trikes but for an extra $20.00 they should be able to custom fit another brand of scooter. Their prices vary but is around $300.00 - $250 for the first harness and to add more dog harnesses is another $250-200. They can fit up to 4 harnesses per scooter, here is a link to more info on their pricing.
Check out this video to see the dog power in action.

iStockAnalyst reports that growing rice for ethanol in Japan appears to be just as controversial as growing corn for ethanol in the United States. A Wall Street Journal said rice-to-ethanol production in Japan would not increase prices and it would actually help improve the environment and food safety in the country. But iStockAnalyst says there are also downsides such as automation, limited government subsidies, and drastically different prices in rice sold for food vs. for fuel.

European Union energy ministers said at an informal meeting on Saturday they had been labouring for 18 months under the false impression that an EU plan to fight global warming included an obligation to develop ...

Rene Marie Sings Black National Anthem Instead

If the economy has you thinking cheap, genetically-modified corn-and-soybean junk foods may be the way to go, frugal foodies serious about cheap, tasty eats are blogging to convince you otherwise. Sustainable, yummy eats don’t have to break the bank!

First, check out this list of 13 ways to eat locally and sustainable on a budget, from Jennifer Maiser of the Eat Local Challenge blog. One main tip she offers is to eat in season. “In season eating offers the best value for local produce, and if you put up or preserve foods while they are in season you can have a version of them throughout the year.”

I went to the farmers’ market earlier today — so I know luscious peaches are in full season. The 7 I bought won’t last long enough for me to think about preserving them though…

My favorite tip for reducing local-eating costs is growing your own herbs. Every little bunch of basil, parsley, fennel, and many other easy-to-grow herbs costs you a buck or few every time you decide to buy them from the grocery store — but if you keep your own little pot o’ herbs, you have a gift that keeps on giving.

If any sort of plant maintenance seems like too much work for you, maybe I can draw you in via the cute and crafty factor of these mini-herb gardens. Here’s instructions on how to create a Credit-Card Flower Box-Fridge Magnet or a Lightbulb Greenhouse of your own (both via re-nest).

Last but not least: If your garden gets weedy, don’t fight ‘em — eat them! Jennifer M. aka Baklava Queen at Ethicurean points out that weeds are growing even more like weeds than usual, thanks to global warming. On the upside, many weeds are edible! Says Jennifer M:

The weeds might have the advantage as our climate changes and cultivated species find themselves more prone to pests and diseases as a result. But there’s one possibly delicious way to tame those wild plants: grab a fork and dig in.

She even provides a tasty-looking recipe for Wild and Weedy Potato Salad (right), sure to be a hit at any summer pot-luck –

Top image by Siel; middle images via Instructables; bottom image via Ethicurean

[crossposted on BlogHer]

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If the economy has you thinking cheap, genetically-modified corn-and-soybean junk foods may be the way to go, frugal foodies serious about cheap, tasty eats are blogging to convince you otherwise. Sustainable, yummy eats don't have to break the bank!

It's no secret that I love libraries. If I were the type to say so I'd say that I big puffy heart them. For the past year I've lived without a good library system. When I was in Montreal I joined a library that was way better than I was expecting for English books but now that I'm in Ottawa I'm not only part of a library but a library system. I got my own library card a couple of weeks ago (had to wait for proof of residency first - bah!) and started my book request list yesterday and already there are two books in transit to me. If I could I'd give my library a big hug.