Would you like some Roundup to round off your meal?

So I've been reading about changes coming up in the world of sweets next year. It seems that some major sugar producers in the US have announced that they're going to be switching to genetically modified sugar beets to produce their sugar. The sugar beets in question will be genetically engineered to withstand heavy doses of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide (these crops or then referred to as "Roundup Ready", which means that farmers get to use oodles more herbicide to get from point A to point B -- from their chemical-saturated fields to your sweet tooth. This sugar will make its way into most non-organic processed foods and won't be labeled any differently than the sugar that's being used now. Whatever happens to the US food supply will follow suit in the Canadian food supply. In fact, here's Health Canada's official response to the whole matter.

The Organic Consumers Association in the US has a letter writing campaign on the go right now to try to convince American Crystal, one of the larger producers involved, to reconsider its decision. Call me cynical, but I honestly don't see it amounting to much, especially considering that this story seems to be staying completely out of the mainstream media.

Thanks to The Ethicurean for spreading the word about this.

Chill

I had hoped to hop on the bike today to enjoy some rays. With the shorter days and daylight savings changes kicking in again later this month, I've been sneaking in my bike riding jaunts whenever and wherever I can. It's hard to believe that I've had KevinSpacey, my mint-ish coloured Hampton Cruiser, for an entire five months or so already. I'm still discovering new trails, even as the seasonal changes make themselves obvious in the bold reds and muted yellows of the tree-lined tunnels of sorts that make up the trail system. It's chilly outside, though, and I have beets to jar and a 12-lb. zucchini to shred.

I should kick start the whole process with a nice hot bath and some leafing through my copy of Putting Food By to track down some different ideas for the beets and zucchini. Maybe a couple of jars of zucchini relish wouldn't be such a bad idea. Of course, that nice hot bath could be the kiss of death for each and every good intention I may have today. Mango-scented bubbles, cocoa, some sweet bossa nova in the background...

Uh...

Is this thing on?