Local Fremont Businessman Hosts Sports Festival For All

Fremont, CA – Dharminder Dewan, a local Fremont businessman is extending his passion for sports and joining hands with the Federation of Indians in America (FIA), the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) and numerous sponsors to engage the community in civic participation with the 3^rd annual Youth Sports festival. The event is also a kickoff for the upcoming and much anticipated FIA Festival of India in August.  

 Armed with a small band of school volunteers, Dewan who is also the founder of Nurture Kids, a provider of academic enrichment classes from Kindergarten through 8^th grade, began the idea in 2011after receiving community support which seemed to crave an athletic event. 

Although the meet was envisioned as youth centered, interest from the adult and senior population was fulfilled “on the spot as a new category for them was created so that they could participate at the races” says Dewan. 

After drawing record crowds, Dewan worked with FUSD board member Lily Mei, and school superintendent Dr. Jim Morris to garner students throughout the district to participate in the yearly event. Proceeds from this event will be donated to FUSD. 

The event will kick off with an opening ceremony which will be graced by numerous local officials in addition to Mei and Morris. Fremont Vice Mayor Anu Natrajan, City Counil member Su Chan, Planning Commissioner Yogi Chugh, Assembly member Bill Quirk and Senator Ellen Corbett will also attend. 

Competitors of all ages can participate in not only the fun and entertainment but also contend for medals in the 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 meter races throughout the day. Other popular events include the sack race, a spoon race, the 3-legged race, a jump rope and a cookie eating competition. 

Dewan, a FIA member, also worked in conjunction with its chairman Dr. Romesh Japra, to establish the sports festival as a commencement to the upcoming FIA Festivals of India. The 21^st festival will be held from August 17^th to August 18^th in Fremont and is expected to draw thousands of attendees from the Bay area. FIA’s Independence Day themed celebration occurs yearly and includes parades, a banquet night, all day entertainment and numerous cultural activities. 

Event Information:  3^rd Annual Youth Sports Festival
Date: Saturday July 20 2013

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Place: Tak Fudenna Stadium, Washington High School, Fremont, CA

Tickets: Free Event

Contact: 408 621 6704 or dharminderd@gmail.com

Event Registration: WWW.WENURTUREKIDS.COM/SPORTSDAY

Ravi Shankar Memorial Concert In San Diego

Courtesy: Oviya Design Studio

 La Jolla, CA - Come March and San Diego will be harmonizing to the beat of Indian Classical music as roughly seventy world renowned artists flock here to play, sing and dance to traditional Carnatic and Hindustani music at the six day, 6th Annual Indian Classical Music and Dance Festival hosted by the Indian Fine Arts Academy of San Diego (IFAASD).

The intention of this festival is not only to bring the ancient and resplendent tradition of Carnatic music outside of South India to Southern California “to create an environment of learning” says Shekar Viswanathan, president of IFAASD, but to also celebrate the quaternion artistic legacies of: The late Bharat Ratna Ravi Shankar, the bicentennial anniversary of Kerala’s Maharaja Swati Tirunal, a patron to arts and the Mohiniyattam dance style, the centennial anniversary of Sri K.P. Kittappa Pillai, who contributed to the development of Carnatic music and Bharatnatyam dance, and Sangita Kalanidhi Pinakapani, a medical doctor and vocalist who received one of the highest awards in Carnatic music.

The significance of Shankar’s influence between the Southern Carnatic and Northern Hindustani styles of Indian classical music and its introduction to the West will be omnipresent at the festival. Dubbed as the “global ambassador of India’s cultural heritage” by many, Shankar introduced music from the Carnatic South to Northern India where some of the ragas were popularized. In turn, he also popularized North Indian music in the South and connected Carnatic and Hindustani musicians to the West per Viswanathan.

A few must see events occur during the festival which will be infused with Shankar’s endeared artists and instruments per Viswanathan. On March 22nd Pt. Ajoy Chakrabarty, a Hindustani classical vocalist, has composed a special performance in the late maestro’s honor entitled ‘Ravimalika’ which will consist of many melodies Shankar liked.

On March 23rd, a felicitation ceremony with honorary guests San Diego mayor Bob Filner and Council President Pro Tem Sherri Lightner, will pay respect to Hindustani classical vocalist and sister-in-law to Shankar, Lakshmi Shankar.

Lakshmi Shankar will also be joined on stage with Carnatic veterans such as vocalists Trichur Ramachandran, Gayathri Venkatraghavan and N. Ramani amongst other cherished artists who will sing and imitate many of the late maestro’s compositions.

The homage to Shankar will wind to a spectacular grand finale on March 24th as some of Shankar’s past students engage in a flute and shehnai jugalbandi showcasing a contrast of styles between similar instruments. The Southern style will be distinguished from North Indian music which has blends of Persian and Islamic influence.

The dance portion of the festival will feature three Bharatnatyam performances and one Mohiniyattam performance. An item which is sure leave an inerasable image for dance buffs is the March 20th presentation of Kalidas’ ‘Celebration of Sringara Rasa’ often knows as the queen of all rasas due to the range of complex emotions and expressions dramatized throughout the performance.

The program is choreographed by Radhika Shurajith, famed director of the popular television show, Thaka Dhimi Tha, a classical dance program. On March 24th, Gopika Varma, a leading artist of the Mohiniyattam style will present ‘Dance of the Enchantress’, the mystical ocean churning tale from the ancient Hindu epic Bhagvata Purana.  

A daily platter of performances from famed artists and their accompanists will continue to entertain music enthusiasts. Other festival highlights include a lecture demonstration from legendary Carnatic percussionist, Trichy Sankaran and Trichy Thayumanavan, Carnatic music vocalist duos, the Malladi Brothers and the Trichur Brothers, noted South Indian flutist Mala Chandrasekar and expressions in dance by Leela Samson just to name a few.

For the untrained ear, such Indian classical music may seem daunting, but the festival is not reserved for music aficionados. Although Carnatic music is not limited to spirituality, it is likened to a state of divinity. Rather than wondering about the utility of improvisational exchanges and intricate timing of notes one can simply close one’s eyes and soak in the blends of melodies demonstrated through the magical lilts and drones of vocals, and instruments such as the Flute, Veena, Violin, Mridangam, Khanjira and Tabla which will be showcased at this must see event.

Southern Carnatic music with its emphasis on vocal music primarily sung in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, is an art form which was once dependent on the patronage of royal houses and is now ablaze in popularity thanks to private institutions and non profits such as IFAASD whose events garner thousands of attendees on a yearly basis.

Event Information:  6th Annual Music and Dance Festival

Date: March 19th – March 24th   2013

Place: David & Dorothea Garfield Theater, 4126 Executive Dr., La Jolla, CA 92037

Time: Varies by day, please see website

Tickets: $25/Day prior to March 01, $30/Day after March 01 and considerations for IFAASD 

              members.

For tickets and more information: http://www.indianfinearts.org/concerts/6th-annual-ravi-shankar-memorial-concerts/

SENZ°: The Storm Umbrella which beats 70 mph winds

Courtesy: MailOnline, Daily Mail

Tired of umbrellas which blow inside-out, break, poke you in the eye or catch your fingers in the springs?

This is precisely what Dutch designer, Gerwin Hoogendoorn's countered with the creation of his award-winning, aerodynamic SENZ° umbrella. 

This design sensation is sturdy yet light, and redefines storm protection by effortlessly withstanding winds up to 70 mph without inverting, and instead, gravitates to put itself in the best position in the wind! (Watch Video Below)

The umbrella has a sleek, wing like canopy with a trailing edge, designed to maximize protection, reduce drag and keep rain off your back .

The short side is meant to face the wind and also features Eye Savers, a solid connection between the canopy and the frame, designed with the front slanted down to protect your eyes from any possible harm. The tips on the canopy are also flat and rounded to aid in minimizing injury from accidental pokes.

A foamed, rubberized handle keeps your grip from slipping. The umbrella does not pop open like traditional styles, instead, SENZ° gives users full control by allowing them to pull the opening mechanism down. A push button on the handle, closes the umbrella.

Storms aside, the protection extends to all seasons, and the umbrellas are offered in trendy colors and patterns, and also comes in a XL size for taller people. Three foldable pocket size umbrellas are also offered. 

Kid friendly you ask? With a little bit of initial instruction on handling, children should not have problems using the SENZ° umbrella.

Warranties range from 12 months or 2 years based on the style. The company has a customer friendly approach to returns. There is no need to return a problematic umbrella, instead, just take a picture during the warranty period and save your old one for spare parts.

SENZ° storm umbrellas are offered world wide. Please visit their web shop for purchase or contact customer service. Amazon has great prices on this product as well.

http://www.senzumbrellas.com/

Winner of the 2007 Red Dot design award, along with other major design awards, SENZ° is the perfect umbrella for the perfect storm. 

Press Release 1st Southern California Ms. India on November 18, 2012

Press Release by: Dilip Butani

After many of its successful endeavors in fashion shows and beauty pageants all over the world Shekhar Rahate and Finesse events & films, Hollywood, are pleased to highlight the 1st Annual Miss India California, 2012; a talent & beauty Pageant, to be held on Sunday, November 18th 2012 at 6 PM at the William and Jane Bristol Civic Auditorium, 16600 Civic Center Dr. Bellflower, CA 90706.

Shekhar Rahate

This event will be covered & broadcast by Sahara One Television. The team putting up this show includes Vijay Patil, Dilip Butani, Ramesh Ramnani, Mike Raja and Sunil Narkar.

The Miss India Southern California 2012 Beauty Pageant is intended to provide entertainment and enlightenment about Indian arts and culture to the audience; benefits and opportunities for the contestants; and an annual event for the participation of the Indian Community in Southern California. The goal is to promote the glorious Indian culture and performing arts development and enhance awareness of our arts, customs, performing arts, culture, philosophies and history through this Miss India Southern California 2012 Beauty Pageant.

In an exclusive interview, Shekhar mentioned that we are affiliated with the Miss India Worldwide Pageant. The winner of the Miss India Southern California 2012 Pageant will get tremendous media exposure and the opportunity of a lifetime to represent Southern California in the forthcoming Miss India USA 2012 pageant to be held on Sunday, December 2, 2012 in New Jersey, USA and the winner of Miss India USA 2012 beauty pageant will participate in the internationally established Miss India Worldwide Pageant to be held on Saturday April 27th, 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Per rules, the contestants in the pageant should be of Indian origin, between the ages of 17 and 27, never married, and are citizens, residents, or born in USA or at least have 1 parent of Indian decent. The pageant consists of five segments - Indian Sari, western gown, Modern Indian, Talent and a Question & Answer session. For registration the contestants have to log on to missindiasocal.com. Dance performances are by Varsha Parikh group, and fashion show is by Divine Ray officially couture by Maneka and Shekhar Rahate. Outfits for the pageant will be provided by ‘Fashion By Rohini Bedi’.

The director and choreographer of the show is award winning fashion designer Shekhar Rahate. Shekhar was honored & awarded as Fashion Couturier of the Year 2012 for his outstanding achievements in fashion, in the presence of Los Angeles Sheriff Leroy Baca on Saturday, April 28th 2012 at Los Angeles Convention Center organized by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Indo American Advisory Council. Shekhar was also honored & awarded Versaface Fashion Award for Global Excellence in Fashion, in the presence of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Sunday September 9th, 2012 at Beverly Hilton Hotel organized by US Asia Business Forum.

Other prestigious award received by Shekhar include ‘The Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Medal 2012’ at House Of  Lords, London, UK on October 12th , 2012 for his Outstanding Services & Achievements and Role Of Global Indians In International Arena organized by NRI Welfare Society Of India.

This pageant will be as big and as successful as other pageants and fashion shows that Finesse events & films have produced in the past. 

Giving more details about the pageant, Shekhar mentioned that ‘Miss India Worldwide Pageant’ is produced by the IFC, an organization established in 1974 and based in New York City. The IFC is a pioneer organization in conducting Indian pageants and fashion shows in the USA and worldwide. The committee has also been conducting the Miss India New York and the Miss India USA Pageants annually since 1980. In 1990, Mr. Dharmatma Saran, Chairman and Founder of the IFC, decided to take the pageant one step further to an international level and started The First Miss India Worldwide Pageant.

For the first time ever, Asian-Indian communities from all over the world came together in New York for this event. The pageant was an instant success and was acclaimed as 'the most glamorous Indian function in the world." To the best of our knowledge, no other ethnic organization has ever conducted a pageant of this magnitude on an international level. In line with other prestigious international pageants, we have also started staging Miss India Worldwide in various parts of the world. In 1997, the pageant was organized in Bombay to salute India on its 50th anniversary of independence. In the year 1998, the pageant was organized, in association with UTV International, in the exotic and beautiful city of Singapore.

The IFC selects distinguished local organizations in various parts of the world and authorize them to conduct national pageants in their respective countries. At this time IFC have affiliates in over twenty-five countries.  New Jersey was the venue of the 1999 Miss India Worldwide and the sunshine state, Florida, hosted the pageant in the year 2000. The 2001 pageant was held in the Silicon Valley in San Jose, California.

The contestants in all the pageants are of Indian origin, between the ages of 17 and 25, never married, and are citizens, residents, or born in the country which they represent. The pageant consists of four segments - Evening Gown, Indian Dress, Talent and Question-Answer. The winners of all the various national pageants from all over the world vie for the glamorous and prestigious title of the Miss India Worldwide.

The IFC motivates and guides its winners and contestants to take up charitable causes. Many of our past winners have raised substantial funds for various charities, especially for handicapped children. The name Miss India Worldwide was registered under the trademark act of USA and has been granted Trade Mark by the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks of the United States Government.


Please visit http://www.missindianorcal.com/misc/tickets/index.php for ticket information.

Suggested Article: Priyadarshini Roy Crowned Miss India Southern California 2012

Indian Classical Music Festival in Los Angeles

In an era of head banging Bollywood remixes the profound, transcendental nuances offered by Hindustani classical music can never fade away. Audiences eager to experience the doyens of Indian classical music will not be disappointed with the upcoming and one of a kind all day festival entitled Raga Spirit 2012.

Film maker Gita Desai who won acclaim for her comprehensive documentaries Raga Unveiled and Yoga Unveiled along with Irvine based Ektaa Center’s President and Executive Director Harish Murthy are fusing arts with academia as they unify their efforts with the support of the Department of Ethnomusicology within the Herb Alpert School of Music at the University of California, Los Angles (UCLA).

Pandit Vijay Kichlu

Honorary coordinator Pt.Vijay Kichlu who has committed his life to preserving the traditions of classical music will inaugurate the festival. Now in his 80s, Kichlu is traveling a great distance to simply support the purist ideology and “love for an authentic cause” he shares with Desai.

The first presentation of the morning begins with Thumri Ki Kahani, a lecture-demonstration symposium by Kichlu who will guide the audience through the style’s romantic and evolutionary journey. In terms of classical vocal forms, thumri has been labeled as semi-classical by orthodox followers of classical styles, as the beauty of the composition often overrides the mechanic perfection of ragas.

Kichlu will also present rare recordings of the earliest thumri composers and the “greatest thumri performances.” He serves as executive director of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, a classical music academy that possesses a rich and priceless collection of music in its archives built up over half a century.

With ease and grace, Kichlu has laced together the presentation of two gharanas of thumri called Poorab Ang and Punjab Ang. Live recitals of the different schools will be contrasted and interspersed during the lecture which will be presented by accomplished vocalists Sanjukta Biswas and Shantanu Bhattacharyya who are accompanied by Durba Bhattacharyya (harmonium).

Aruna Sairam

Each session’s design and musician selection by Kichlu is likened by Desai as a work of art “where every flower grows in the right place, with lots of love and humor.” Kichlu afforded the same reverence for each performer he personally selected with Desai’s consultation, categorizing them as the “finest that our country has.”

In the afternoon session, an array of instruments and vocal choices representing Hindustani styles are synthesized with tabla artists Samar Saha and Calcutta’s Arup Chatterjee, Durba Bhattacharyya (harmonium) and Debashish Bath (slide guitar).

The evening performances feature a juglabandi duet with Tejendra Majumdar (sarod) and Kushal Das (sitar) and Subhanker Banerjee (tabla). Karnatik vocalist Aruna Sairam will be accompanied by H.N. Bhaskar (violin) and Patri Satish Kumar (mridangam).

The evening will end with vocalist brothers Rajan and Sajan Mishra and their accompanists.

Rajan & Sajan Mishra

Thoughts on the state of Indian classical music were expanded by Kichlu, who called it a “marvelous blend of academics, science and artistry.” He is wary of modern tendencies in music that seeks thrill and excitement created by skill. “Our music is not skill only, it has a deep academic background we call it Raga music, which is not just a scale, it is rules, melodic notes, and the artist’s inner condition.”

On the idea for the festival, Desai was partly inspired by the total immersion festivals people experience in India which are “common in Indian pockets such as Madras and Calcutta and often stretch as long as 10 days.”

Attendees “soak themselves till late night as the festivals begin with new comers and end with the very best.” Such an experience is like a “yatra and pilgrimage of the arts” says Desai.

Murthy, who is also keen on establishing the festival as a tradition in Los Angeles understands the complexities, “this is an introductory effort in Los Angeles, and we must take into consideration, the audience here.”

Murthy encourages lovers of world and Indian music to come and enjoy “the finest exposition of Indian classical music, vocal and instrumental where one can garner awareness and understanding of the different styles and genres of Indian music.”

Saturday October 20. 9:30 A.M. – 12:30 A.M. Ucla Schoenberg Hall, 445 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles. Tickets: All Day Concert Series Passes: $60-$125, Individual Concerts: $15-$35.Www.Ragaspirit. Com, ektaacenter.Org.

Yoga Gives Back

10 Children supported by YGB

Just $25 can buy a Justin Bieber “Boyfriend” t-shirt for the average American, but for India’s destitute, the very amount is a path to transformation from poverty to hope manifested through collateral free micro-credit programs and education funds initiated by an unexpected source, the Los Angeles based organization Yoga Gives Back (YGB).

YGB will hold its second global event called “Thank You Mother India,” which is a call to action within the universal yoga community to repay India for affording the ancient gift of yoga to millions world-wide. Spearheaded by founder Kayoko Mitsumatsu in 2007, the organization realized the potential of the six billion dollars per year yoga industry, to help the poorest people in the world.

Jayshree 

Mitsumatsu and her small troop of volunteers diligently worked to assemble nearly 100 yoga studios in 14 countries including Belgium, Portugal, Singapore and others to host a special class this September. Mitsumatsu’s credo “for the cost of one yoga class you can change a life,” resonated through grass-root ambassadors or teachers from various yoga studios. The ambassadors will offer the proceeds from the donation sessions to YGB which works with local NGO partners in India to fund struggling women with little access to capital.

Kayoko Mitsumatsu

Women are the bulk recipients for such micro loans as YGB research shows that they “are more likely to use the profits from their businesses, not just to feed their families, but to improve their families’ nutrition and living conditions, as well as to send their children to school thereby giving the next generation a much better chance to climb out of poverty.”

YGB’s inspiration is drawn from Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus’ revolutionary micro financing breakthrough in Bangladesh. YGB began by supporting micro-loan programs in India and partnered with the Grameen Foundation USA.

By 2010, in addition to supporting the Grameen Foundation, YGB sought to build direct relationships with its fund recipients, and developed a direct funding program called “Sister Aid” with NISHTHA in West Bengal and Deenabandhu in Karnataka which provide educational, vocational training and micro-credit programs to help ailing women and children in India build sustainable lives.

Mitsumatsu recalled her visits with one such recipient named Jayshree in Bangalore, who lived in a one room house with her husband Ramo and two children. Jayshree recently qualified for her fourth loan for Rs. 30,000 (About $550) from YGB affiliates, after successful repayments of her prior loans. The current loan will be fully utilized to pay for medical school for her eldest son who dreams of becoming a dentist.

Back in 2007, Ramo’s rented rickshaw barely provided food for the family. After Jayshree’s discovery of micro-loans through neighbors, she received Rs. 7,000 Which funded the rickshaw business and tripled their income. Jayshree paid back her initial loan in one year and doubled her second loan amount to purchase a sewing machine to make custom bags for clients. With a third loan Jayshree expanded her business to include a snack shop from which she continued her ongoing sewing business.

The average funding commitment is for 5 years and $25 is the usual loan amount to start a business for many recipients, which according to Mitsumatsu has ushered a positive impact in many recipients’ lives. Last year’s fund raiser raised $27,000 with 50 studios participating from 10 countries and resulted in “doubling the number of our fund recipients in India, which is now funding 103 women and children” adds to Mitsumatsu. As an example, Mitsumatsu explained nishtha is now funding 44 mothers with micro loans and 44 daughters with education funds so that they can remain in school.

By the second year, out of the 44 women, 22 women who received the loan in 2011 have reported an income increase of 400% on average. Nearly half of the daughters have remained in school to date. Loan repayments increase chances of new future loans and YGB affiliates are reporting a high success rate of roughly 90% and above in loan payback rates.

This year’s Indian themed fundraiser is geared to raise awareness within the Indian community as well as the local yoga community and aims to raise at least $50,000.

The event will take place at philanthropist Dr. Amarjit Marwah’s 14 acre ranch in Malibu. The evening’s entertainment will feature Kirtan music and Odissi dances by Sharanya Mukhopadhyay and her dance group, dinner, a silent auction, guest speeches and video presentations.

Top yoga celebrity and Mitsumatsu’s trainer and YGB ambassador Jorgen Christiansson who taught Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sting will be in attendance amongst other yoga celebrities and guests.N

Saturday, September 29. 6 P.M.-10 P.M. Pre-buy tickets through www.Yogagivesback.Org/tymi.

USDA permits of genetically engineered sugar beets ruled illegal yet again

A federal court has ruled against the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and deemed that it has acted illegally by allowing limited planting of an herbicide resistant, genetically engineered sugar beet called Roundup Ready despite a prior court-ordered ban.

Sugar beets are commercially grown plants for sugar production. The Roundup Ready sugar beet, also known as Event H7-1, was engineered by Monsanto and the German corporation KWS to include a gene that is tolerant to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup herbicide.

On August 13, 2010, in another case, federal district Judge Jeffery White ruled that USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) had illegally deregulated a sugar beet designed to be resistant to Monsanto's herbicide, Roundup Ready.

Less than three weeks later, the USDA issued limited seeding permits to four sugar beet seed producers, arguing the step  didn’t violate the ban because those plantings wouldn’t be allowed to flower and that the  seeds would be used for widespread production in 2012 growing seasons.

By mid September 2010, the four seed producers stated that plantings had been completed and specified within the permits that their purpose was to produce stecklings (seedlings) to transplant into basic seed for commercial production in the winter of 2010-2011, a production stage which goes beyond the supposedly limited plantings at issue. “The permits are replete with references to future transplantation and use of the stecklings” according to case notes.

In Ctr. for Food Safety v. Vilsack, No. 10-04038   The plaintiffs, Center for Food Safety (CFS), Organic Seed Alliance, Sierra Club, and High Mowing Organic Seeds asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to stop APHIS from issuing permits and any planting allowed by them.

The judge granted the plaintiffs request to vacate approval of the crop.

Plaintiffs want the judge to order the destruction of the genetically engineered sugar beets that were planted. The judge will rule on the next steps by October 22.

History

In March 2005, USDA announced the deregulation of Event H7-1 stating that it "would not present a risk of plant pest introduction or dissemination" and could be introduced into the environment without permits.
Roundup Ready sugar beets were planted for the first time in the spring of 2008 by growers.

In 2008, CFS and the remaining plaintiffs argued that USDA failed to take a "hard look" at the environmental effects of cross pollination with conventional beets with its decision to deregulate in 2005 and called for a thorough assessment.

By 2009, federal court judge Jeffrey White ruled that the USDA had violated federal law in deregulating Roundup Ready sugar beets without adequately evaluating the environmental and socio-economic impacts before approving commercial release.  He ordered APHIS to complete an environmental impact statement (EIS).

By August 13 2010, the Court overturned USDA’s deregulation decision based on APHIS’s failure to prepare an EIS.

What does this mean for growers and the sugar beet industry?

According to a 2009 European Commission report the sugar beet event H7-1 shows that the likelihood of potential adverse effects on human health and the environment resulting from its cultivation and use as any other sugar beet is negligible.

Currently a large percentage if not 95 percent of sugar beet growers use Roundup Ready crops. The European Union, the United States, and Russia are the world's three largest sugar beet producers.

Roundup Ready sugar beet event H7-1 contains a gene encoding which tolerates Roundup herbicide. The objective of the gene modification is to improve expensive weed management practices and for optimal production efficiency of sugar beets.

No single currently registered herbicide offers the broad spectrum weed control afforded by Roundup. Instead, farmers today must resort to using several applications of multiple herbicides with high input of the respective chemicals.

The already popular strain of genetically engineered sugar beet can no longer be used by growers, most of which come from Oregon's Willamette Valley.

Consumers can consider local alternatives to processed and refined sugars such as organic sugar, evaporated cane juice, rice syrup, barley malt, tapioca syrup, wheat and oat syrup, honey, fruit juices, molasses, maple syrup, brown rice syrup, and agave.

Suggested Articles:
Eat, Pray, Fight: IHOP sues IHOP
One hundred years of American food trends
Best and Worst fruit and veggie list with pesticides
Fabrikators cool tools for the urban kitchen

American food trends since 1909

Courtesy: Renegade Lunch Lady

Since 1909, American food trends have shifted to cheese, processed eggs, chicken and carbonated drinks over whole milk and beef per USDA’s latest report. 


Economists at Economic Research Service (ERS), one research arm of the United States Department of Agriculture, have compiled an extensive data set which tracks the U.S. food trends dating back to 1909.
The data sets are based on several factors such as national food supply availability, adjusted losses to the supply from spoilage, moisture loss, waste and nutrient availability.

What are some interesting trends?
For most commodities, better processing techniques, health concerns, information availability, education, economic factors such as wars and availability of large selections at numerous locations are factors in the shift. The estimates are converted to pounds per person (PPP) with recognition of the population count for the period.

The fluid milk category which includes whole, skim, low fat and flavored milks plummeted on a per person per pound basis from 1909 onward, although low fat and skim milks within the category have increased. Yogurt demand has increased from .1% in the 1950s to 11.8 PPP.

Within the red meats and poultry category beef, pork and chicken lead, however, by 2008 chicken demand is quickly overtaking a declining beef demand. Beef declined from 88.8 PPP in 1976 to 61.2 PPP by 2008, while chicken steadily rose to 58.8 PPP by 2008. Pork demand has remained relatively stable.

Fish and shellfish, edible stocks have moved from 8.4 PPP in the depression era of 1932 to double the amount by 2008.

In oil and fat category, as butters and lard use reduced, salad oils and shortenings increased. Salad and cooking oils moved from 12.5 PPP in 1965 to 54.3 PPP by 2008.

Legume demand is relatively stable through the century, however imports of dry edible beans increased from negligible amounts in the 1900s to almost 300 million pounds by 2008.

Retail coffee diminished from peak post World War II numbers of 16.5 PPP to 7.2 PPP by 2008 while cocoa numbers improved.

Americans are drinking more carbonated and alcoholic beverages as opposed to milk. Total soft drink availability has increased to 46.4 PPP by 2003, trailing is the alcoholic beverage section which was at  25.7 PPP to date. Milk declined to 20.8 PPP by 2008 from a peak of 31.3 PPP in 1970.

Americans are eating their broccoli demonstrated by the PPP which grew from 1.5 in 1970 to 8.3 in 2008. Potatoes, Tomatoes, Sweet corn and onions are top vegetables for consumption in 2008.

For the fruit category, oranges are consumed the most followed by grapes and bananas.

USDA's data set is unique and the only extensive source of this research in the U.S. today. The data set is a valuable tool which can assist anyone in understanding the socio-economic influences shaping our country and its eating habits.

Suggested Articles:
Schools need healthy salad bars
Santa Ana's milkman makes home deliveries

Best and Worst fruits and vegetables with pesticides

Caramelized Onion, Fig and Goat Cheese Tarts

Courtesy: California Fig Advisory

Figs and cheese have harmonized well for generations as the flavors contrast the sweet with the salty. There are no die-hard rules for the type of cheese pairing one should consider as the cheese flavors range from mild to sharp. Here is a warm and luscious recipe to ring in the fig season.

Recipe courtesy: California Fig Advisory board

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 medium onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
4 frozen prepared 4-inch puff pastry tart shells
8 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
8 California dried or fresh figs, sliced

Directions:
In heavy skillet over low heat, heat oil and sauté onions, cooking gently for 10 minutes or until
very soft.

Add butter, brown sugar and balsamic vinegar; continue to cook over low heat, stirring frequently, for 20 to 30 minutes until onions are very soft, caramelized, and jam-like. Cool.

Preheat oven to 375?F. Divide onion mixture among pastry shells; top with sliced figs and crumbled goat cheese. Crimp edges of each tart in about 8 places to make free form; arrange on baking sheet.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or as directed on package, until golden and crisp. Note, for dried mission figs, plump with warm water or fruit juice for 20 minutes before slicing.

Serves 4

Fabrikators cool tools for the urban kitchen

Culinary design lovers will revel in the slick and kid friendly products from Danish based Fabrikators like the Skrub’a Gloves and the Toddler Cutlery set.

The need for better cleaning tools for dirt ridden, new dug potatoes and vegetables in Northern Europe led engineers, Lars Forsberg and Peter Andersen to formulate the Skrub’a vegetable scrubbing gloves. Upon their entry, the Skrub’a gloves are a hit in Europe with adults and children.

Time conscious cooks may find the thought of adding a few more minutes of cleaning exasperating but here is something to think about - The gloves clean vegetables and retain the most important part of your vegetables, the peel. Research shows that significant amounts of the vitamins, minerals and crude fibers are lost from vegetables if we remove the peel. Studies also show that scrubbing vegetables can assist in removing topical pesticides and fungicides and hence both aforementioned factors make this scrub glove very appealing to health conscious foodies!

The gloves are a twist to the standard scrub brushes because they allow you to hold vegetables in your hands and maneuver around them for cleaning.  The upkeep is no different from your ordinary dish scrub brush so feel free to rinse or toss these in your dishwasher for cleaning.

The Skrub’a vegetable gloves are FDA tested for food safety, rugged, low maintenance, one size fits all, with bright colors and varieties. Parents can enjoy involving children in the cooking process as kid’s gloves are also available. Fabrikators will be introducing a new waterproof version which can also clean fish in 2011.

The Toddler table cutlery was designed to aid children as young as six months in adapting to the skill of early self-feeding with ease and safety. The colorful, chubby handles allow small hands to grip utensils easily while the fork and spoon have a good size scoop bowl preventing food from spilling as the little ones learn to handle food. The knife easily and safely cuts most soft fruit and vegetables. Children learn by imitation and aesthetics aside, this flatware is a great way to improve motor skills and develop good eating habits. The product is fully BPA-free, and dishwasher and microwave-safe. This line recently won the prestigious Red Dot 2010 award, a coveted international award for the most innovative and design forward products. It also won the Scandinavian Formland Design Award in 2009.

Fabrikators also designed the magnetic dish brush and the Lemon friend, a lemon squeezer. Please see the video links and pictures on each product.

You Tube: Skruba
You Tube: Toddler Table Cutlery

Where to get the products and cost:
Fabrikators products are available in the U.S. at Dillard’s department store and various kitchenware shops. Santa Ana resident can find some products at the Costa Mesa Williams Sonoma store. You can also purchase these products online from the Roland website

Roland Inc Phone No: 800.321.2226

Hours: 9:00 to 6 p.m. Mon – Sat.

Skrub'a gloves:  $9.99 adult, $6.99 kids
Toddler Table Cutlery: $40.00 for the knife, fork, spoon set
Lemon Squeezer:  $7.99 for pack of 4

Mil Jugos Arepas: The hamburger of Venezuela

Norah Briceño, a Venezuelan native has brought a taste of modest home cooking to Mil Jugos in Santa Ana.  Since 2003, this small eatery has prized itself on a lean and fat free menu and has fast earned a reputation for serving up the best Venezuelan hamburger or Arepa in town.  The Mil Jugos menu also features other traditional meals like Cachapas a sweet, corn pancake.

Mil Jugos’ grilled Arepas or flattened bread are made out of imported cornmeal and are offered plain or stuffed with various fillings like white cheese, black beans and assorted seasoned, shredded meats. Briceño prefers to replicate the menu from a similar restaurant she operated while in Venezuela and chooses to import the same Venezuelan cornmeal for an authentic taste.  The bread is gluten free and reminiscent of a breakfast muffin in shape and size.  A plain arepera averages one hundred calories and is traditionally eaten with soups.

There are ten varieties of Arepas offered to satisfy the eclectic palates of Santa Ana patrons.  Available choices like shredded beef with black beans or finely shredded chicken breast drizzled in garlic and cooked with onions and tomatoes can be accentuated with accompanying sauces called Perejil and Guasacaca.  The Perejil or parsley sauce is a mild, aromatic fusion of parsley and garlic while the Guasacaca is a zesty and hot combination of Jalapeno peppers, cilantro, sweet peppers and parsley in an oil and vinegar base.  The service is warm, relaxed and guest requests for a vegetarian Arepa is surprisingly accommodated regardless of its absence on the menu!

The restaurant has a light and fresh ambiance and the healthy meals are modestly priced. For returning customers Rosemary and Chris Foreman, the restaurant is a quick pit stop to satisfy a craving en route to their new home in California. It is the only place which carries the Arepa and Cachapas she discovered on her frequent trips from Texas.  Arepa is a daily and common meal in most Venezuelan homes and per Briceño, “it is what hamburger is to Americans”.  True to her motto, Norah Briceño is well on her way in ensuring customers that Mil Jugos is the best Venezuelan restaurant in town.

 Mil Jugos is located in downtown Santa Ana at 318 W. 5^th St. catering is offered.

El Toro Carniceria: Santa Ana's Triple Threat

Located in the heart of Santa Ana, hungry passerby's rarely miss the wafting aroma of freshly made tortillas which lures them in for an unforgettable taste of El Toro Carniceria's famous carnitas. Once in, customers delight not only in the variety of selections from the deli, grocery and spirit shops but are also at once enlivened with the bustling mariachi music at this one stop shop for all things 100% Mexican according to Rudy Navarette. Navarette is one of nine brothers who help operate the triple stores since their mother, Justina Navarette opened it in 1976.

Maria Duran, a weekly customer of twenty years meanders down the glittering pinata topped aisle to one of her favorite sections which carries a variety of fine cut meats. She has driven four miles past her neighborhood grocery store for the fresh cut pork. Today, the meat case features a large pork's head centerpiece which overlooks exotic selections like Octopus pulpo or whole octopi, beef honeycomb tripe and pig's feet.
A few feet ahead, customers toggle between the produce aisles featuring fresh coconut, cacti leaves and Flor de Calabaza or squash blossoms, used as an ingredient in Mexican and Salvadoran cuisines. Tucked in the back corner, an unassuming clerk sorts a pile of dark chile pods for a counter filled with sixteen varieties of dried Chile and peppers like Chile de Arbol, Morita and Chile Guajillo.

On the west side of the store resides the deli where throngs of customers have grabbed a ticket and ordered food in an elbow to elbow standing room only area. A queue of hungry patrons stretching into the parking lot is a common affair. The success of El Toro's deli lies mainly in its key ingredient: Masa. The cornmeal dough filler is used in making tortillas, tamales and assorted baked goods. It is the Masa which contributes to the production of some of the finest, softest and mouth watering tortillas in this city. Three tortilla machines operate twenty-four hours a day churning approximately 30,000 fresh, corn tortillas a day. Customers can order beef carnitas or a sumptuous carne asada topped with garnishes like fresh guacamole, Nopales or prickly pear pads and rojo salsa. Add a salty snack called chicharon or pork rind and don't forget the six choices of tamale offerings from vegetarian to beef and chicken.

As the west end of El Toro quenches hunger, the east end quenches thirst at its renowned liquor store which carries the largest variety of tequila according to Navarette. El Toro carries one hundred and twenty varieties of tequila with top agave sellers like Tequila Cazadores and Tenampa Azula. Some prestigious brands include Don Julio Real and Seleccion Suprema. A popular seller at El Toro's liquor store is the repackaged beer. Try a customized, disposable beer bag of six Corona bottles, buried in ice and accompanied with salt and fresh lemons at $7.99 each!

Over the last twenty years, the growing celebrity of the market has extended to famed visitors like mixed martial artist, Tito Ortiz and members of the Angels team. For Rudy Navarette, the success of  this reclusive market in Santa Ana's barrio lies in the authenticity and wholesomeness of its products which keep first to third generation shoppers coming back for a memorable link to the flavorful tastes South of the border.

El Toro Carniceria is located at 1340 W. 1st in Santa Ana, California. Store hours are 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The deli hours are 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. El Toro Carniceria can be found in additional locations in Costa Mesa, Santa Maria and Fresno.

The Indian Spice box: A Commentary on the Masala Dabba

I have yet to walk into an Indian house which is amiss of the "Masala Dabba" (Indian Spice box), and its accompanying infamous waft when one walks into the pantry. The shiny little steel box is our true blue companion and the odd man out sitting on a pantry shelf filled with Post cereal boxes and Bertolli pasta packages. Veggies, meats and legumes come and go but the trusted spice box stays on forever. It is the sole and distinct link to a heritage Indian families abroad have left behind and it is the sole and unwavering promise to jazz up the variety of foods in one's kitchen.

The masala dabba is a round stainless steel box which contains seven stainless steel spice cups which are normally filled with:

1. Cumin seeds
2. Turmeric powder
3. Mustard seeds
4. Garam masala (blend of pepper,cinnamon,cloves,nutmeg,anise,cardamom)
5. Coriander powder
6. Fennel seeds
7. Red chili powder.

Handed to families generation after generation one cannot help but be amazed by this simple box's lofty past. Recall the great spice trades of the 1400s which began with the marketing of black pepper in Europe. The spice trade was possibly the first extensive global trade spanning from Europe, Africa, Middle East to Asia and in the process made numerous countries wealthy while diversifying its culinary palette. I once believed that spices were used as preservatives in the ancient world but soon discovered that salt, an abundant world wide commodity, was used for preservation possibly making the need for other spice preservation techniques negligible or on a smaller scale. The ancient world probably consumed foods faster and in a more fresh manner to avoid spoilage and therefore may not have needed preservation methods as regularly as we do today.

Apart from the culinary merits, spices hold an important link to modern medicine. The crude usage of spices are recorded in many ancient Indian Samhitas (Hindu sacred writings) such as the Atharva Veda written around 1200 B.C.E, the Charaka Samhita written around 400-200 B.C.E. and the Sushruta Samhita written around 100 C.E. All compendiums are authoritative writings on either sacred rituals or Ayurveda and directly refer to the use of herbs and spices as medical remedies. Here then lies the roots of modern day pharmacology which would and lay an important pathway and eventually peak world wide interest.

I pondered on my little spice box again and took in a deep breath upon opening my pantry door. The scents were powerful but almost screamed at me to shun my attachment to the current and commercial ideas of smell. No!  This was certainly not Channel No. 5 nor a bouquet of hyacinths, it was something much more, something solid, unrelenting and permanent. Without the spice box, would my home or pantry even retain that small link to a grand piece of history? The spices in my Masala dabba,  thereby became my seven silent guardians of health per the ayurvedic path. Cumin for its carmative and digestive properties, Turmeric and mustard seeds the anti-inflammatory herbs, fennel seeds and coriander powder my digestive aids, and the stinging red chilli powder, the loyal warrior which aids in fighting infections.

Tamarind: The Tropical Treat

Tamarindus indica L.

Leguminosae (Fabaceae)

I recently picked up raw Tamarind pods at a local Asian market and relived a wonderful childhood memory of this tropical treat. On a visit to a local village in India, I recalled dispelling the harsh summer heat under the shady refuge of a tamarind tree. I joined some of the local children to obtain its delicious fruit by pelting its branches with whatever we could find on the ground. Once the pods fell, we hungrily dove towards our treats. The tamarind pod seemed unappetizing at first glance, the large ones were roughly 6-10 cm, curvy pods, with the coloring of dirt, but it was the first crack of the matured pod which released a wonderful, pungent aroma assuring us of a true epicurean adventure. Once opened, we eagerly gnawed the sweet and sour, dark brown meat around the seeds within the pod. As a child, the journeys of such discoveries are fascinating as we were not concerned with the tough strands of fibers which needed to be pulled apart in this unrefined fruit. We were unconcerned with our sticky fingers and relished the last few nibbles on our hands. We even ventured to make games out of the glossy purplish-red seeds which resembled precious stones.  Our little unseasoned minds were unconcerned and unaware of the gift these precious stones could afford not only to this rural community but many other towns facing the blight of malnutrition.

Years later I discovered that the Tamarind was widely used in India, Asia, Africa and many other parts of the world and the term 'Tamar-Hind' was the Arabic word describing the fruit as an Indian Date. The pulp could be used in most Indian curries, drinks and chutneys and provided an interesting sweet and sour zing to many dishes. The sour taste is mainly due to the high tartaric acid content in this fruit. Aside from Tamarind pulp and the raw tamarind fruit, most parts of this tree from roots, bark to leaves are used in rural India from agricultural use to deity worship. 

Although the herbal uses of Tamarind may have been known for some time, it is the nutritional content which is equally interesting. Tamarind concoctions have been used as cooling, laxative and digestive aids for centuries. Eggs are often used as a protein standard and according to the American Egg board (Yes there is such a thing!) one large egg has about 6 grams of protein. A 100 grams of eggs equate to about 11 grams of proteins, the tamarind yields 2 to 3 grams of protein, 34 to 94 mg of Calcium and 44 mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams of the raw fruit. This baby has low water content and high levels of proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates and minerals.

Interesting isn't it how such a reclusive fruit can be a delight not only to your palette but to your health!  This is precisely what brings me to a more important pathway – the future.  According to J.T. Williams in the publication Tamarind, Tamarind trees are “easy to cultivate and underexploited.” New strains of sweet tamarind which are less acidic have created a renewed interest in growing Tamarind as a commercial crop leading to expanded cultivation in some parts of Asia. In addition, because Tamarind is easy to grow in the smallest portions of land and as its fruit and seeds possess ample nutritional value it can be an incredibly beneficial plant in low income rural communities plagued with sub-standard health conditions.  Pessimism always tempers optimism and in the case of our forgettable Tamarind new roads of improvement need to be paved to make this fruit more accessible. Post harvest issues of storage, the need for modern equipment such as shellers and better processing technology are necessary for expanding the production of this fruit.

In the meantime, for newcomers to Tamarind, visit your local Mexican, Asian, Indian or Middle Eastern market. I like the Tamicon brand paste available at most Indian stores, Add just a few dribbles to your curries and daals for a lift. Feel free to venture into putting a bit in your Western sauces for an added boost.  If you are in the mood to feel adventurous grab a pod to enjoy the pure taste and experience the journey of your tropical treat. A word of warning the Tamarind fruit does have a laxative effect so a pod or two should suffice.


http://www.aeb.org/retailers/nutrition-facts
http://www.icuc-iwmi.org/files/Publications/tamarind_monograph.pdf