So what is basmati anyway? Indian boffins all too available for comment.
Hamming it up
Jamon iberico finally gets a visa.
Ethiopian farmers beating pulses
Reuters has a video (about 7 minutes long, and you’ll need a fast connection) about farmers in Ethiopia turning to beans and other pulses as a replacement earner for coffee, which has been buffeted by global production shifts. The hero of the story is Hailu Worku, who does indeed seem to be a pretty impressive farmer. But he has 20 hectares. How typical is that of the “smallholder” farmers that a government spokesman says are the ones growing all those beans for export? And I wasn’t clear from the video whether the farmers are growing beans as part of a rotation with their grain crops. The story mentions an Italian company that is buying up lots of beans for export and a farmer cooperative, which returns 70% of profits to the farmers. Hailu Worke sells to both; now that’s diversity as insurance.
Biblical transportation makes a comeback
Asses Donkeys and mules still big in Gaza.
Ancient brewing
Puebloans and ancient Irish brewed beer. Pass the bottle.