Stores & Markets

Monsanto is in the process of introducing legislation in states throughout the country that would bar dairies from advertising their products as "rBST-free" or "rBGH-free." The "r" stands for "recombined," meaning that levels BGH and BST— two naturally occurring bovine growth hormones — have been unnaturally elevated to increase the amount of milk that the cows produce.

Local Harvest offers a comprehensive database of local farms, markets, community supported agriculture and local supplied restaurants, as well as an internet store that allows small farmers to sell goods like soap, maple syrup, preserves and dried fruits to a national market.

Wal-Mart opened its annual meetings to reporters for the first time yesterday, announcing a variety of measures aimed at repairing its image among American consumers. At the center of the reforms are Wal-Mart's health care plan — which is now used by more than half of its retail employees— and a suddenly vigorous devotion to environmental responsibility. CEO H. Lee Scott promised that Wal-Mart will continue to expand its sales of environmentally responsible products and work with its suppliers to strengthen their environmental standards.

Whole Foods has announced that it will completely discontinue the use of plastic bags in all of its 270 stores. Although most customers already favor the brown recycled paper bags that the store already offers, Whole Foods is hoping more will opt for reusable bags, completely cutting bag waste out of the equation. The change will take effect on Earth Day of this year, April 22.

Bluefin tuna is the sushi lover’s sushi of choice—feeding a growing demand. Many sushi restaurants in the U.S. are called Bluefin. But the Atlantic-based fish is nearing extinction, a fact known for decades, but now is of great urgency. Despite international catch quotas set, bluefin tuna was over fished this year by 50 percent. The plight is now so severe that even chefs in restaurants and cooking writers are strongly advocating that consumers stop ordering Bluefin sushi.