Sara Ventiera

Right now, people pretty skeptical about big ag, specifically Monsanto. As a result of the failure of California's Prop. 37 last November--the state's GMO mandatory labeling initiative -- and the passage of the 'Monsanto Protection Act' -- i.e. the Farmer's Assurance Provision, a part of the Continuing Resolution Act--a large portion of the population is pissed.

And they're showing it.

As part of the worldwide March Against Monsanto, South Floridian activists are preparing to stage a massive demonstration in Miami. They've managed to score some help from Senator Maria Lorts Sachs.

See also:
- Obama Signs Monsanto Protection Act
- Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon Planning to Push Monsanto Protection Act Repeal

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Photo via jamieoliver.com

We're not sure if you've noticed, but our food system and way of eating is pretty freaking messed up. We're supposedly the first generation in history whose lives are going to be shorter than our parents due to our terrible diets.

Yes, we're extremely busy with little or no time to cook, but, unfortunately, lack of skill in the kitchen and diets of cheap and easy fast foods are leading to skyrocketing numbers in heart disease and diabetes.

Luckily, there's a revolution on the rise: one that is trying to take back our food. Today is the second annual Food Revolution Day, created last year by none other than the cute English chef trying to force kids to eat healthy foods in school, Jaime Oliver.

See Also:
- Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon Planning to Push 'Monsanto Protection Act' Repeal
- Whole Foods Florida Hosting Best Butcher and Fishmonger Face-Off

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In case you haven't heard: a couple months ago the Senate and President signed off on a little piece of legislation entitled the Farmer's Assurance Provision, section 735 of the Continuing Resolution Act--the bill that was signed into law to keep the government from defaulting on its bills.

Known to the general population as the 'Monsanto Protection Act,' the rider basically encouraged the USDA to supersede the courts in terms of allowing the planting of GMO crops. Democracy in action, huh?

One member of the Senate has finally stepped up to the plate in an attempt to repeal the highly despised rider Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon).

See Also:
- Obama Signs Monsanto Protection Act
- Frankenfish Rejected From National Retailers: Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and More

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Collinn Bennett

These days, everyone is all local this, sustainable that. While it's great that the world is waking up to the benefits of a local, sustainable food system, it still has a long way to go.

Yeah, we're buying fruit and veg from farmer's markets as much as possible. We're trying to buy locally caught fish. Even so, it's hard to get anything that is 100% sustainable.

If it's local produce, there's a high chance it contains pesticides or chemical fertilizer.

If it's fresh caught seafood, it could easily be a product that is over fished.

You get the point.

Well, South Florida is about to see one of its most sustainable fish and produce options yet. Enlightened Aquaponics at Marando Farms is a closed loop system that provides--you guessed it--sustainable fish and pesticide-free vegetables.

See Also:
- PETA Wants You to Have Hot Vegan Sex (Like Animals Do)
- Marando Farms Rolls Out New Artisan Market Saturdays (Photos)
- Composting: It's Not About If, but When an How (Part 1)

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Sara Ventiera

Obviously, people are pretty pissed about the lack of labeling on Genetically Modified Foods--a.k.a GMOs or GE foods.

Since California's Proposition 37 failed last fall, anti-GMO groups across the country have rallied together to get labeling initiative put on state legislative agendas.

Some have held up better than others--Florida's House bill didn't even make it to its first committee.

Regardless, activists are forging along. In preparation for the global--yes, global--March Against Monsanto on May 25, local activists are holding a benefit tonight.

See Also:
- Oregon Saying No to Frankenfish: Florida Senate GMO Labeling Bill Not on Agriculture Committee Agenda
- Monsanto Protection Act Makes Its Way Through Senate

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Military personnel get discounts at Indigo and other Las Olas eateries.

Mission United and the United Way of Broward County have gotten together to honor the men and women who serve our country.

As a way of saying "thank you" during National military appreciation month, several Las Olas businesses are providing discounts throughout May to veterans and active military personnel who show their military ID.

Mission United is a new program that supports US military service members, veterans, and their families in Broward County by helping them are-acclimate themselves to civilian life.

Some of Las Olas' best restaurants and venues have joined in the program, providing some good discounts or freebies. Here's the list of participating businesses and the discounts offered:

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Sara Ventiera

This meal was lacking a shake anyway.

At Shake Shack for the entire month of May, you can assuage any caloric guilt you feel for ordering a shake by telling yourself, you did it for the kids.

During their second-annual Great American Shake Sale, any customer who donates $2 or more to Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign will receive a card good for one hand spun shake ($5 value) on their next visit.

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Roy Anderson

Mermaids do it raw! (Probably because it's hard to cook underwater.)

If you've ever stumbled out of the blaring Florida sunlight and into the dimly lit, aqua-hued tourist spot, the Wreck Bar at Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel, you've probably noticed the bar's main attraction: A stunningly beautiful and incredibly buff mermaid-tailed woman who swims by the porthole windows of the bar as she does her underwater performance at the hotel pool.

While you might imagine the mermaid sustaining off of sea life or burgers serves up by the hotel staff in between underwater feats, Marina Anderson is a devoted raw foodie who made the switch starting with no processed foods about 6 years and 90 percent raw diet for the last year and a half in an effort to get food as fresh and close to its natural state as possible.

Want to eat like this fire-eating mermaid? Marina shares a couple of her favorite raw food recipes with us.

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Unfortunately, this has been a horrible week for explosions.

While the nation is still coming to terms with the tragedy that took place at the Boston Marathon, a massive explosion took place at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas at around 7:50 p.m. last night.

More than 160 have been reported injured so far, with two patients in critical condition, three in serious condition. While there is no official count on the death toll, Dr. George Smith, the city's Emergency Management Systems Director, said it could go all the way to 60 or 70.

Since the explosion involves chemical fertilizer - something Farmer Jay McCobb and other organic types extol the dangers of often - we reached out to him this morning to get his take on the tragic events.

See Also:
- Max's Harvest Debuts New Organic Menu Items
- Florida-Based Benihana Celebrates Children's Day, Supports St. Judes

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stjude.org

If you don't want to help this face, there is no help for you.

We've got a lot seemingly random "National Days" in this country, from National Bacon Appreciation Day to National Eat What you Want Day. Yes, these are both real things.

Turns out we're not the only country that does this and some are a bit more meaningful and heart-warming than others.

In Japan, May 5 is Children's Day and in celebration of that Florida-based, Benihana Inc. has brought back their "Children Helping Children" campaign.

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