An over a millienium old tradition is being reborn and explored in China.  Modern Agricultural Science Demonstration Park at Xiaotangshan, is located in Beijing, 17 Kilometers from the Asia Games Village.  It’s a planned community, 111 sq K, of which 2/3 is used for farming and rest is an urban community.  Don’t get too excited, it seems there is nothing organic yet and the “exciting” news is that ‘tomato trees’, ‘vertical pillar cultivation’, ‘industrialized seedling production line’ exist.  While I wouldn’t call this great news to hear, lots of good …

The Congressional Research Service, a research arm of the USA Congress recently presented a report titled: “Health and Safety Concerns Over US Imports of Chinese Products: An Overview” publish January 2008 by Wayne Morrison
The report largely references news Stories from 2007, criticizing USA importants of Chiense products based on a number of safety concerns and lack of regulation. 
Some snatch shots of the stories:

Xinhua News Agency reported that former director of State Food and Drug andministration had been sentenced to death for bribes, $850,000 USD for apporivng untested medicines, executed …

China is a complex, diverse and beautiful country with a rich cultural and culinary heritage. During the past two decades, China has taken on and achieved the monumental task of becoming an economic superpower, as it was for much of its history.
But this astounding progress has come at a price. China catapulted to power by joining, and excelling in, the Western game of economies of scale, technological intervention, and globalized business.
Meanwhile, during these same decades, the Western world has gradually become aware of the unsustainability of some of its own …

Shanghai is a large, roaming city. For many, the first hunt for greens for dinner will take them to their neighborhood grocery store. The unease that most people have with any kind of Chinese grown vegetables, organic or not, is China happens to be a large producer of agricultural chemicals, DDT included, which are banned in USA. While there are plenty of markets and grocery stores to chose from (Look for future blogs), the task of completing a shopping list of vegetables is not easy.
Today’s quest for organic vegetables in …