Local firm wins state tourism award

Ann Dougherty spends a great deal of time promoting Learn Great Foods, a national touring company that teaches people the link between sustainable farming, great cooking, and the environment. Her efforts have tripled the size of the business since its inception five years ago.

Dougherty is the president of the company, which was recently named the "Outstanding Agritourism Company of the Year" by the Agriculture and Tourism Partners of Illinois.
Learn Great Foods has a center located in Mount Carroll which covers northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and Iowa. There are also locations in Michigan and new centers are about to open in Missouri.

An important part of the Learn Great Foods mission is to educate consumers on where our food comes from and how it is grown.

During its tours, guests get an up-close look at the operations of sustainable and organic farms and have a chance to ask local farmers and vintners questions about anything from growing techniques to ecological issues. Tour destinations include organic beef and dairy farms, fruit and vegetable farms, wineries, creameries and local coffee roasters.

Read More: http://www.journalstandard.com/news/business/x716054654/Local-firm-wins-state-tourism-award

Area under horticulture increases

Chandigarh, India: The area under horticulture crops in Haryana has increased to about 5.01 per cent of the total cropped area of the State.

While stating this here on Friday a spokesman of the Horticulture Department said that 38,479 hectares of land had been brought under fruit cultivation till December, 2008 against a target of 40,410 hectares of land for the year 2008-09. As much as 1,66,530 tonnes of fruits had been produced against a production target of 2,75,000 tonnes.

He said that as much as 2,10,480 hectares of area was brought under vegetable cultivation till December 2008 against a target of 2,85,000 hectares of land for the current financial year. Similarly, 4248 hectares of arable land was brought under flower cultivation and medicinal plants were grown over an area of 909 hectares against a target of 6000 hectares and 3500 hectares respectively.

Australia-MLA Halal accredited brand.

HALAL BRAND.

The global expansion of the MLA's Halal Brand, is an important step towards expanding markets for Australian red meat, according to Ian Ross the Middle East regional manager for the MLA.

Ross said "with 28% of the worlds population being Moslem and with most of these people living in countries with growing economies, its vital the Australian red meat industry positions itself in the best possible way to supply these important markets".The world has over 2 billion Moslems and the market for Halal products, exceeds US$500 billion.

The major problems in getting Moslem nations to take meat, as opposed to live animals are two fold, one they prefer fresh meat and secondly mistrust of the Halal slaughter procedures, in countries such as Australia and the South American countries.The Australian MLA brand for certified Halal meat, goes a long way towards removing half of the problem.

In Argentina, the Council of Mosques organizes all the Halal slaughter, through a private company, that provides the service at the meat plants www.halalcatering.com.ar .

Palermo Buenos Aires, boasts the largest Mosque in the whole of the America's north and south.