Scientists at Stanford found advances in high-yield agriculture over the latter part of the 20th century have prevented massive amounts of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. They say farmers have reduced the equivalent of 590-billion metric tons of carbon dioxide by not converting forests to farmland.
The researchers say that equals about a third of the world's total output of greenhouse gases since the start of the industrial revolution in 1850.
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Extra-virgin olive oil, once the domain of Spain and Italy, is popping up in surprising new places. It can now be found in South America, Australia and even China.
California went from about 6,000 acres of oil-producing olives in 2004 to 22,000 acres last year in 2009.
The boom is fueled by a growing appreciation of extra-virgin olive oil as a healthier fat and technological advances that have made it more cost-effective to harvest.
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Cool weather has also slowed development of the California olive crop.
The Olive Growers Council says many northern California olive trees are still behind schedule.
Olive growers had a tough year last season and hope for a good crop this year.
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Karoun Dairies in Turlock will travel to Madison, Wisconsin this week to collect their three awards from the 2010 World Championship Cheese Contest.
Karoun won two gold medals one for its Mykonos Creamy Feta in the feta category and another for the Panela in the Quesos Frescos category. The Basket Feta with sundried tomato & thyme also took a bronze medal in the Flavored Feta category.
The 2010 World Championship Cheese Contest is hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association and is the largest international cheese and butter competition in the world.
