save the apples! + more

*An interesting apple conservation effort is underway across the USA to save heirloom apples.
Renewing America's Food Traditions (RAFT) has named 2010 "Year of the Apple".
Some interesting tidbits from their press release.

-Roughly nine out of ten apple varieties historically grown in the U.S. are at risk of falling out of cultivation and falling off our tables.

-The Red Delicious, now comprises 41% of the entire American apple crop. Eleven common varieties produce 90% of all apples sold in chain grocery stores.

-Of some 15,000 to 16,000 apple varieties that have been named, grown and eaten on the North American continent, only
about 3,000 remain accessible through nurseries.

- There are signs of hope. Despite the economic downturn, heirloom and antique apple varieties are being
successfully marketed at many of the 5,000 farmers' markets and 2,500 Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects in
the U.S. Some CSAs, like the one of Mortez's Mountain Apples near Boone, North Carolina, specialize in introducing
customers to a wide variety of delicious heirlooms.

The Renewing America's Food Traditions Alliance is now proposing that at least 90 endangered apple varieties in each
region be earmarked for recovery to our orchards, cideries, restaurants and kitchens. RAFT will be releasing its first
regional list of apples for recovery - including over a hundred heirlooms unique to Appalachia - at the Marketing
Opportunities for Southern Farmers conference on February 27th at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina.
To find out ways you can celebrate the Year of the Heirloom Apple, go to http://www.raftalliance.org and http://www.garynabhan.com.

For further information contact:
Gary Nabhan gpnabhan@email.arizona.edu, Regina Fitzsimmons pimareggie@gmail.com, Kanin Routson kaninroutson@gmail.com,
(all at 520 621-5774), or Ben Watson BWatson@chelseagreen.com, John Bunker john.p.bunker@gmail.com, Tom Burford
burford@msn.com and Dan Bussey yorkshireman@hughes.net.

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*Calling all Toronto students with an interest in food issues! Here is your chance to participate in the consultation process for the Toronto Food Strategy's consultation report - Food Connections: Towards a Healthy and Sustainable Food System for Toronto Food Connections Members of Toronto Public Health's Food Strategy team will facilitate a consultation session on March 19, 2010 from 9AM-11AM. Light refreshments will be provided. Location to be confirmed (later this week).

*What does permaculture look like? Applied permaculture on the Quail Springs
is the quintessential example. The founder says seven generations are needed to bring the necessary cohesiveness between the people and the land, so look for this to be PERFECT in
200 years.

*The Zumtobel Group created an award that focuses on those contributions in architecture and engineering that can improve quality of life. The Zumtobel Group Awards were announced a few days ago with a dozen bright ideas including the two winners: A creative work environment that's completed in Sao Paulo, and a visionary research proposal for a "self-sufficient" New York City. Check out a winner!