Local foods key to growing economy

CHAMPAIGN - October 27, 2011. At an award ceremony celebrating 25 of the greenest public, private and non-profit organizations and businesses in Illinois, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon said good environmental practices strengthen the state's economy.

"These awards recognize leaders in sustainability, and they also recognize smart economic policy for businesses and governments," Simon said at the 25th Annual Governor's Sustainability Awards Ceremony hosted by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center at the University of Illinois.

Among those recognized was Uncommon Ground in Chicago, which runs two restaurants serving locally grown food from its 2,500 square foot rooftop farm. The group received a Continuous Improvement Award, given to organizations that have won awards at previous Sustainability Award Ceremonies.

Simon noted that Uncommon Ground helps keep local food dollars in the state. Simon, who chairs the Governor's Rural Affairs Council has targeted building opportunity in Illinois by promoting local foods.  Illinoisans spend roughly $46 billion annually on food, but only $2 billion of that amount on food grown in Illinois.

The awards have been presented since 1987 by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) at the University of Illinois. Awards are given to organizations for their efforts in implementing green practices such as technology and energy conservation.

"The efforts of these businesses and organizations demonstrate that it is possible to meet social and economic needs while minimizing impacts on the environment," ISTC Director Manohar Kulkarni said. "Present and future generations will appreciate their foresight."

A Sustainability Award, which recognizes first-time winners, was given to the University of Illinois Retro-commissioning Group, which is comprised of engineers, field technicians and tradesmen. The group has spent $6 million making 27 campus buildings more energy efficient. The team's efforts have resulted in an average energy savings per building of 26 percent and a total $9.7 million reduction in utility costs since 2007.

Four community colleges - John A. Logan College, Lewis and Clark Community College, Rock Valley College and Southwestern Illinois College - all received sustainability awards for implementing energy efficiencies on campus.

"More efficient energy use in community colleges means more opportunity for students to get the education they need to be ready for the workforce," Simon said.

The winners are:

·         ActOnEnergy Business Program, Peoria

·         Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne

·         Cabot Corporation, Tuscola

·         City of Evanston, Evanston

·         City of Naperville, Naperville

·         DuPage County, Wheaton

·         Earth Friendly Products, Addison

·         Elmhurst Park District, Elmhurst

·         Gabriel Environmental Services, Chicago

·         GE Healthcare IT, Barrington

·         Harris Corporation, Quincy

·         J.L. Clark, Rockford

·         John A. Logan College, Carterville

·         Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey

·         Lincoln Park Zoological Society, Chicago

·         NOW Foods, Inc., Bloomingdale

·         PortionPac Chemical Corporation, Chicago

·         Rock Valley College, Rockford

·         Solberg MFG., Itasca

·         Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville

·         The Sherwin-Williams Company, Effingham

·         Uncommon Ground, Chicago

·         University of Illinois at Chicago, c/o Office of Sustainability, Chicago

·         University of Illinois Retro-commissioning Group, Champaign

·         Village of Hoffman Estates, Hoffman Estates

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FEATURE - USDA COOKING GUIDANCE FOR PORK, RED MEATS

INTRO: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has lowered its recommended cooking temperature for pork cuts and other meats. USDA's Patrick O'Leary has more from Washington, D.C. (1:57)

THERE'S A NEW RECOMMENDED TEMPERATURE AND PROCEDURE FOR COOKING PORK. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAYS THE NEW TWO-STEP PROCESS IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT FOODBORNE ILLNESS:FIRST, PORK ROASTS AND CHOPS SHOULD REACH A SAFE MINIMUM INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF 145 DEGREES FARENHEIT, BEFORE REMOVING FROM THE HEAT SOURCE AND AS MEASURED WITH A FOOD THERMOMETER. SECOND, CONSUMERS SHOULD ALLOW A THREE-MINUTE REST TIME BEFORE CARVING OR CONSUMING PORK CUTS.

Dr. Elisabeth Hagen, Under Secretary Food Safety: So USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has determined that it is just as safe to cook pork, whole cuts of pork and other red meats to 145 º with a 3-minute rest time as it is to cook them to 160 º with no rest time. And this combination is sufficient to protect against pathogens such as Salmonella that could be found in those cuts of meat.

DURING THE 3 MINUTES AFTER MEAT IS REMOVED FROM THE HEAT SOURCE, ITS TEMPERATURE REMAINS CONSTANT OR CONTINUES TO RISE, WHICH WILL DESTROY ANY PATHOGENS.

Hagen: And so lowering the cooking temperature of raw pork, steaks, roasts, and chops by 15 degrees with the addition of that 3-minute rest time will provide consumers with a product that is both microbiologically safe and at its best quality: juicy and tender.

THE USDA SAYS THE SAME GUIDANCE APPLIES FOR ALL MEATS, INCLUDING BEEF, VEAL AND LAMB. THEY SAY THE SAFE MINIMUM INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF 145 DEGREES SHOULD BE VERIFIED WITH A FOOD THERMOMETER.

Hagen: That's right, a food thermometer is really the only way to determine if meat has reached an internal temperature that ensures the product is safe to eat.

THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE RECOMMENDED SAFE COOKING TEMPERATURES FOR GROUND MEATS, INCLUDING BEEF, VEAL, LAMB AND PORK, WHICH REMAINS 16O DEGREES FARENHEIT, OR FOR POULTRY PRODUCTS, INCLUDING GROUND CHICKEN AND TURKEY. THAT REMAINS AT 165 DEGREES FARENHEIT.

Hagen: To learn more, you can ask a food safety question at AskKaren either on-line or on your smart phone, or call the USDA's Meat & Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPhotline.

IN WASHINGTON, FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, I'M PAT O'LEARY.

Learn how your remodel can impact a child's health during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

Survey results reveal homeowner attitudes about lead hazards during a renovation

Des Plaines, Illinois, October 26, 2011?The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is raising awareness of the dangers of lead exposure by observing National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week on October 23-29, 2011. The Environmental Protection Agency's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule requires certification and lead-safe work practices for any renovation, repair or painting projects in homes and child care facilities built before 1978. For more background on the EPA's RRP rule, please click here.

"Through awareness and education, NARI is hoping to motivate every remodeler and homeowner to abide by the RRP rule when renovating their homes for the safety of the vulnerable populations who could potentially be impacted by lead exposure," says NARI National President Michael Hydeck, MCR, CKBR, of Hydeck Design Build in Telford, Pa.

The RRP rule is designed to protect pregnant women and children under 6 from toxic lead exposure by requiring contractors to complete an eight-hour training course outlining lead-safe work practices that contain and minimize lead dust. Those who complete the course must supervise the renovation of pre-1978 homes, and the contracting firm must be a Certified Firm with the EPA. NARI is concerned that lack of awareness of RRP and additional costs to comply with this rule is actually putting this target audience at higher risk for lead exposure.

NARI's June 2011 consumer survey proved this, revealing an opposite effect from the rule's intended purpose based on consumer behaviors and buying habits for renovations in older homes. The survey, which used Meredith Corporation's Home Enthusiast Panel to gauge homeowner attitudes and knowledge of RRP, found 53 percent of respondents had not heard about this rule prior to the survey. Fifty-nine percent of homeowners responded they would do demolition work themselves in order to save money?an activity that can create significant lead hazards. Twenty-nine percent would likely hire a non-certified contractor to work on their home in order to save money. Click here to request a copy of the Consumer RRP survey from NARI.

"These results indicate that homeowners are largely unaware of the dangers of lead?so much so, that they are willing to put their families at risk in order to reduce remodeling costs," Hydeck says.

That was not the case with Dan and Michelle Neifert, homeowners from Boise, Idaho, whose 75-year-old home recently went through a complete renovation. "I knew that I had to find a lead certified renovator to work on my home because every contactor we talked to said we needed to test the home and that it was against the law not to," Dan Neifert says.

The RRP rule became even more important to the Neifert's after discovering they were expecting their first child. Though they did not live in the home while the gut-rehab took place, it was still important that lead-safe work practices and clean-up processes were implemented and followed to protect their child from lead exposure.

"We figured lead was in the home, and we wanted to have everything done correctly and safely for our new child, regardless of added costs and time," Dan Neifert says. They conducted lead testing before demolition to identify exactly which areas required lead-safe work practices.

Lead was found in the exterior and interior of the home. The exterior windows, tiles, stucco siding of the home and detached garage tested positive, and the interior bathroom tile floor, utility room ceiling and crawlspace access were positive as well. Since the remodeling project involved replacement of all windows, renovation of the main floor and conversion of a garage into living space, all work was done within RRP guidelines.

The Neiferts said that lead testing, labor and materials added cost to the project, and they say the demolition added an additional week to their project.

"The lead-safe work practices I witnessed from visiting the home was the worksite was surrounded by cautionary tape, the entire exterior of the home was covered in plastic, and those working inside wore respirators and suits," Dan Neifert says. He adds that because he was located in a historic district, he had to notify neighbors of his remodeling plans and inform them of the RRP renovation that was taking place.

NARI member Joe Levitch, CR, EPA Lead Certified Renovator and Lead Paint Inspector and Risk Assessor, of Boise, Idaho's Levco Builders completed the Neifert's renovation and lead testing. "It's a win-win for the homeowners to keep their families safe and have proof that their home is safe for anyone to live in for years to come."

NARI, along with week organizers Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the EPA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, are assisting in promotion of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, According to the CDC, childhood lead poisoning is considered the most preventable environmental disease among young children, yet an estimated 250,000 U.S. children have elevated blood-lead levels.

In honor of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 23-29, 2011), NARI is providing this checklist to minimize lead exposure for homeowners living in pre-1978 homes:

• Verify that your contractor's firm is registered with the EPA unless your state has taken over with its own lead safety program, in which case the certification process may be slightly different. To find out if your state is working under its own lead program, visit http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm#authorized.
• Verify at least one person is a Certified Renovator and has documented the training of the work crew and is supervising the work being completed in the home.
• Know that these certifications must be accessible at the work site at all times.
• Firms must post signs before renovation begins, clearly defining the work area and warning occupants and other persons not involved in renovation activities to remain outside of the work area.
• Make sure you understand and sign the EPA's "Renovate Right" brochure.
• Remove all belongings from the immediate area of the renovation.
• Notice if your contractor is using plastic sheeting that is taped 6 feet beyond the perimeter of surfaces undergoing renovation; reusable cloth coverings are not acceptable.
• Renovators should be cleaning up and mopping daily to minimize dust contamination.
• Contractors must use HEPA vacuums and/or wet mopping to remove lead particles.
• All contaminated materials should be placed in heavy duty plastic bags before your contractor disposes of them.

To learn more about testing your child's lead levels, testing your home for lead for lead or preventing health effects related to lead exposure visit http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/nlppw.htm. To find a NARI remodeler in your area who is a Lead Certified Renovators, visit www.nariremodelers.com. For green remodeling information, please visit www.greenremodeling.org.

# # #

Rural development program has great potential for rural job creation nationally

Lyons, Nebraska -  A Center for Rural Affairs report released today examines USDA's Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP), which was the only new rural development initiative to receive mandatory funding in the 2008 Farm Bill, and the extent to which grant recipient organizations provide microenterprise development services on a national scale.

"Congress should reauthorize RMAP and continue mandatory funding," said Jon Bailey, Center for Rural Affairs Director of Rural Research and Analysis and author of the report. "RMAP has had barely a year to demonstrate its merit. Excluding it from the next Farm Bill would destroy a promising and needed strategy in its infancy."

According to Bailey, RMAP is designed to provide funding to development organizations in the form of loans to relend to rural small businesses and grants to provide training and technical assistance to those small business borrowers or potential borrowers, with the goals to create jobs in and strengthen America's rural communities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agency overseeing RMAP, has announced three rounds of RMAP grant awards (October 28, 2010, March 9, 2011, and June 30, 2011, and a total of 89 awards were made to the same number of entities representing all or parts of 39 states.

The Center for Rural Affairs report, which can be viewed in full or downloaded here -- http://files.cfra.org/pdf/rmap-2011.pdf -- also maps the location of all RMAP awardees and their service areas.

"The economic future of rural places will be done a disservice by the next Farm Bill if initiatives such as RMAP that create rural jobs and opportunities for economic growth are not afforded time to prove their long-term worth," Bailey explained. "In the current budgetary climate, we know that Farm Bill funding faces serious cuts. But we have maintained for years that real reform of farm programs and crop insurance, with effective subsidy limits and closure of payment limit loopholes, can save money to be reinvested in initiatives like RMAP as well as deficit reduction."

According to Bailey's report, self-employment and small business is the core of the rural economy, and the real job creators in rural areas. For example, since 1969, the number of self-employed workers in rural areas has grown by over 240 percent (by comparison, rural wage and salary workers witnessed only a 61 percent growth over the same period). RMAP represents the largest ever expansion of rural microenterprise business development resources, an investment intended to tap into the obvious potential of rural entrepreneurial development.

Other key findings in Bailey's report include :

• the total service area population of the RMAP awardees is 115.1 million people, about 37 percent of the total population of the United States (based on the 2010 Census);
• a total of 32.7 million rural residents in RMAP awardee service areas, about two-thirds of the total U.S. rural population;
• 324 counties in RMAP service areas are also counties that have suffered high levels of outmigration and declining population.

"This is a rural development program that has demonstrated real potential for creating jobs and economic opportunities in rural communities across the country, and even in the current budgetary climate, is a worthy investment in America's future," concluded Bailey.