More coffee deals (Bloomberg): Nestle will spend over $7 billion to market Starbucks’ global coffee offerings, including packaged coffee sold in supermarkets and restaurants.
A USDA healthcare plan? (NPR): An obscure title in the House version of the farm bill would create a Department of Agriculture-run healthcare program for farmers. It would be less comprehensive than plans offered under the Affordable Care Act.
More toxic than tested (Guardian): New U.S. testing finds that some popular weedkillers are more toxic in their “formulated” state than the active ingredients are when tested by themselves.
Slowing farm runoff (Civil Eats): Across the country, regulators and farm groups search for enduring ways to keep farm nutrients from running off into waterways when progress is slow, whether carrot or stick is used.
Pelosi: Democrats oppose farm bill (Quad City Times): Visiting an Iowa farm, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said Democrats solidly oppose the farm bill due to nutrition cuts.
Committed to reducing food waste (USDA): Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, after meeting lawmakers and food industry leaders, said USDA is “committed to helping to reduce food waste as we are excited to work with all stakeholders from farm to fork to further elevate this effort.”
Big schools, “Fresh Attitude” (USFA): A coalition of the largest public school districts in the nation, the Urban School Food Association, is holding “Fresh Attitude Week” to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption.