South Jersey Farmers and Distributors Promising Safe Romaine Lettuce Despite Nationwide Concerns. The recent E.coli outbreak has left many people around the country concerned about purchasing and consuming romaine lettuce. The outbreak was in Arizona, but farmers in South Jersey are feeling the impact during a very important time for business. “The greatest misconception right now is that Romaine is not safe to eat," said Landisville Produce Growers Co-Op General Manager, Felix Donato.

Merchantville resident Bill Rube is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. He's been involved with horses his whole life.In this article for The Chronicle of the Horse magazine Bill shares his personal journey. "One of the big phrases you hear in recovery is that you must avoid people, places and things associated with alcohol and drugs in order to avoid relapsing, and for a long time I had to step away from the animals and world I loved in order to focus on my sobriety. Getting sober is never easy, and leaving the horse world isn’t either, but it’s the best thing I ever did, and eventually I found my way back." 

Before chain grocery stores proliferated in rural America less than 75 years ago, canning fruits and vegetables, and even some meats, was the norm. Most produce ripens between June and October, and canning provided a way to ensure the food supply for the remaining eight months of the year. Now that growing your own is back in style again—not as a necessity, but as a lifestyle choice—canning skills are an essential component of the gardener-chef’s oeuvre.  http://modernfarmer.com/2015/09/canning

New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher will kick off the 25th annual New Jersey Envirothon, a natural resources problem-solving competition for high school students, on Saturday in Salem County, with 155 students from 31 high school teams in 16 counties participating.

Make a simple syrup: combine sugar/water in small sauce pan, bring to boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Cool completely. Prepare fruit: cut away rind, remove seeds, cut into chunks.  Puree in food processor/blender until smooth (I like mine a little chunky, not pulverized!) In a shallow baking dish, combine syrup and puree. Freeze and stir with a fork every 2-3 hours (or when you can) to create slushy texture. To serve, sit at room temperature 10-15 minutes and stir with a fork again.

More than 900 South Jersey children enjoyed healthy treats and hands-on lessons about fruits and vegetables, when the Virtua Mobile Farmers Market visited six area schools. The flavorful festivities marked The National Week of the Young Child™, held from April 16 – 20 this year. Children received nutrition education along with seasonal favorites — apples, bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes and clementines. “Virtua’s dedication to promote healthy eating behaviors and provide nutrition education is a core pillar to support health and well-being,” explained Suzanne Ghee, Assistant Vice President of Strategic Business Growth & Community Health Engagement for Virtua. https://southjerseyobserver.com/virtua-mobile-farmers-market-celebrates-week-of-the-young-child-with-fun-visits-at-sj-schools/