The Dairy Show

Tariff on Roquefort

In his final days in office, President Bush raised the tariff on Roquefort cheese from 100% to 300%.  In order to bear the name Roquefort, this blue cheese must be made in a specific region of France from the Lacaune breed sheep's milk and the fungus Penicillium roqueforti, from caves in Roquefort-sur-Soulzon.    According to the press, the reason for the increase is a response to the French ban of the import of American beef.  This ban is said to be because of our industrial farming practices.

The Roquefort producers are counting on President Obama to undo this tariff and have sent him a big box of cheese to enjoy while he thinks about it.

You can find an American made version of sheeps milk blue cheese from the folks at Old Chatam Sheepherding Co. in Vermont.

Food Systems Network NYC

Food Systems Network NYC has selected Episode 1 of the Dairy Show as the first feature of their new NY Regional Food Systems Film Showcase.

Food Systems Network NYC is an organization working toward universal access to nourishing, affordable food. Through collaboration, education, and advocacy, the Network is helping to establish a just and vibrant regional food and farm economy that promotes human and environmental health and prevents hunger.

I would like to thank the members of the Food System Network for selecting The Dairy Show for this honor.  I would also like to thank Karen Correa of the Eat Well Guide for making the introduction.

Soda Tax

New York Governor David Paterson wants to start taxing sugar-sweetened drinks 18% to raise money and improve the health of the NY population.

I think its a good idea.  Soda is a major source of useless calories that contribute to the obesity epidemic.  I suppose everyone will just switch to diet soda, but that is unlikely to improve anyone's health.

Here is the state health commissioner Dr. Richard F. Deines doing his version of TheDairyShow 3 minutes of science in 5 minutes and 9 seconds on why he supports this tax.