Above: Chestnut Hill Farm has fresh produce and local prepared foods for sale – though this year online pre-ordering is required. And most area Farmers Markets are still offering a slew of local produce and vendors. (Photos from Facebook L-R of Chestnut Hill Farm and Ashland Farmer’s Market)
One of the great things about summer is all the fresh produce. If you’ve only been getting your food at the supermarket, you may be missing out.
There are quiet a few options worth checking out – including two over the weekend.
For the time being, the only way you can buy from the farm stand is through our online store. The ordering window is Mondays at 6PM through Thursdays at noon, for pick up on Saturdays between 10AM – 12Noon. We have fresh, organic CHF and Trustees produce grown in our greenhouses all year long as well as other local goods!
While you’re picking up your goods, you can also take a walk on the trails to enjoy their Storywalk:
Laminated pages from a children’s book are attached to wooden stakes, which are installed along one of our farm’s trails. As you stroll down the trail, you’re directed to the next page in the story.
There aren’t currently and farmer’s markets in Southborough. But you don’t have to drive far to find one. There’s a farmers market open nearby five days per week in a neighboring town. (It appears only a couple of neighbors cancelled the season.)*
Saturday:
Featuring: close to 20 vendors (including produce, meat, eggs, prepared foods, and artisan goods). You can find their Covid guidelines for the season here. Pre-ordering is encouraged but not required (or even available) for all vendors. This weekend, they’re promoting Peach Day. (Some pre-ordering deadlines have passed for this weekend, but some are still available.)
Sunday:
Hopkinton Farmers Market – Open Sundays from 1:00 – 5:00 pm through October 11, on the Hopkinton Common (corner of Marathon Way and Ash St).
Featuring: produce, meat, breads, prepared foods and artisans. You can find their Covid guidelines here. To submit pre-orders, click here.
Tuesday:
Hudson Farmers’ Market – Open Tuesdays from 2:30- 6:30 pm through September 29 at Town Hall (78 Main Street).
Featuring: fresh fruits, vegetables, wine, meat, dairy, eggs, baked goods, prepared foods and more, plus occasional live music. Masks are required and there are some pre-ordering options.
Wednesday:
Shrewsbury Farmers Market – Open Wednesdays from 2:30 – 6:30 pm through September 30 at Shrewsbury Senior Center Parking Lot, 100 Maple Ave.
Featuring: Seasonal market hosting fruits, veggies, bread, meats, honey, jams, fudge, soap, skincare & more! Sorry No Dogs Allowed. Masks must be worn.
Thursday:
Framingham Farmers’ Market – Open Thursdays from noon – 5:30 through October 11, on the Village Green/Center Common (60 Edgell Road).
Featuring: local corn, peaches, tomatoes, eggs, bread, honey, flowers, and more.
Did I miss something? If you’d like to share your favorite local places to get fresh food, comment below.
*Westborough Farmer’s Market isn’t being held this summer and the most recent info I can find on Marlborough’s Market is from 2019.
Formerly known throughout the state as “get real. get Maine!,” the “Real Maine” brand promotes Maine farms, agricultural businesses, and farm products. Consumers will see the logo on foods in farmers’ markets, farm stands, and grocery stores, as well as at agricultural events throughout Maine, New England and nationally.
“Real Maine” is the foundation of an increased marketing and advertising initiative led by the Division of Agricultural Resource Development at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) to generate a broader awareness and interest in farms, agricultural events, Maine-sourced foods, and other farm products. The original program, “get real. get Maine!” was created in 2001 and was refreshed with the new look in early 2020.
Image provided by Real Maine.
In addition to the refreshed logo, the Real Maine website was launched in July, providing more resources for people looking to connect with Maine agriculture. GetREALMAINE.com now provides information on individual Maine agricultural producers, events, and partners. There is also an interactive tool, a trip-building feature that allows people to plan for their next Maine agritourism adventure, whether that’s visiting a farmers’ market or the nearest apple orchard or pumpkin patch.
It’s no surprise that agriculture is deeply woven into the fabric of Maine’s way of life and it is through the Real Maine website, consumers can easily find information to connect them to this community—discover when your favorite Real Maine products are in season, experience one of the delicious pick-your-own crops throughout the state, or explore a farmers’ market in your community. Check the website regularly for updates on upcoming virtual Maine agricultural events like Open Farm Day Online, news, activity suggestions, recipes, and more.
We are fortunate to live in a state that offers such diverse products year-round from a thriving agricultural community. By sharing information and giving consumers access to local Maine farm products and experiences, we are supporting the growth of an industry that is an essential part of the state’s economy and the quality of life enjoyed by Maine people.
When you now see the new green Real Maine seal on products in stores, markets and beyond, be confident these are the same high-quality, locally grown Maine agricultural products you love.
WASHINGTON — A crucial week on Capitol Hill that began with a rocky Republican rollout of a coronavirus relief package ended with a complete breakdown in negotiations, threatening to deepen the perils of an already embattled President Donald Trump.
The Republican-led Senate adjourned Thursday for a long weekend with no action on COVID-19 relief, all but ensuring that a $600 weekly federal unemployment benefit would expire Friday.
The payment has been a financial lifeline for more than 20 million out-of-work Americans. The U.S. recorded its worst quarterly economic contraction ever Thursday — during a week when the national death toll from the virus topped 150,000.
It was a precarious position for Trump, who has gotten low marks in surveys for his handling of a crisis that has devastated Americans — and is about to get worse for many of them. The recent slide has left him trailing Democrat Joe Biden by more than 8 points in the FiveThirtyEight average of national polls.
"When things go wrong with government policy, voters blame the president," Jack Pitney, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College, said in an email. "The classic case is Herbert Hoover and the Depression. Carter and Bush 41 lost their reelection bids because of economic downturns that were much less severe."
"In this case, the problems are unusually serious and the president's responsibility is unusually clear," he said. "Message to the GOP from top to bottom: Be afraid. Be very afraid."
Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak
The Democratic-led House passed a $3.4 trillion bill in May that would extend the $600 weekly benefit through January. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., twice sought to force a Senate vote on the bill Thursday, but he was blocked by Republicans who say the bonus is a disincentive to work and should be reduced.
Republicans sought to vote Thursday on a proposal to cut the benefit to 66 percent of lost wages or to $200 a week. Schumer blocked that, calling it insufficient. When Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., asked for a one-week extension of the existing policy, Schumer dubbed the request a "stunt" that "can't be implemented in time" and called on the Senate to pass the House-approved HEROES Act.
David Kochel, a Republican strategist, accused Schumer of refusing to compromise with the intention of hurting the GOP in the election on Nov. 3, when Democrats hope to capture the White House and the Senate.
"Schumer is the villain here," Kochel said. "He's lowering the faith of the American people in Washington and the Congress. He's doing more damage than just to President Trump's re-election chances."
Democrats said Republicans were the ones inflicting political harm on their own party's leader. "Beyond being substantively stupid and incredibly cruel, the Republicans are making a massive political error," said Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama. "Controlling COVID and rescuing the economy are the best ways to preserve their hold on power, yet they are too focused on helping corporations and hurting people to do what is in their own interest."
A series of bipartisan negotiations this week yielded no progress.
"Right now, we're at an impasse," Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., the chair of the Appropriations Committee, told NBC News as he left the Capitol on Thursday.
As Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., put it: "Progress isn't exactly what we're doing right now."
As Republicans accuse Democrats of refusing to negotiate in good faith, Democrats say the proposal by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is an unserious one because it lacks the support of many Republicans.
"Our colleagues on the other side are tied in a knot," Schumer said Thursday. "Our colleagues on the other side can't come to agreement on anything."
Central to the breakdown are Republican divisions that are aggravated by a mercurial Trump, who has undercut party leaders on numerous occasions.
McConnell unveiled a $1 trillion package Monday that quickly met resistance from some senators and was pronounced "semi-irrelevant" by Trump the next day. McConnell was forced to denounce a piece of his own plan, which he initially appeared unaware of when asked about it Monday, to spend $1.75 billion on a new FBI building at Trump's request.
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On Wednesday, Trump floated a short-term extension of jobless aid that gained little support from Republican senators. He added to the chaos by claiming that the payments Democrats supported weren't "high enough," even as GOP senators roundly said they were too high.
Underscoring his difficult negotiating position, McConnell said Wednesday on "PBS NewsHour" that about 20 Republican senators believe Congress has "already done enough" and don't want to spend more money.
By Thursday, as senators were planning to leave for the weekend, McConnell resorted to advancing an empty "shell" bill to kick off the process of debating.
"It makes it the pending business for next week, and we can keep talking and hopefully make progress, because no progress is being made anywhere else," he said.
McConnell, whose job is on the line this fall, has passed the torch to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to negotiate with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The four of them met several times this week with no apparent agreement.
A senior Democratic aide familiar with the negotiations said Pelosi and Schumer can't detect a coherent Republican position or figure out who's in charge.
"You can't negotiate with a ghost," the aide said.
"Does Meadows speak for Trump? Does Mnuchin speak for Trump? Does Meadows speak for Mnuchin?" said the aide, who discussed the talks on condition of anonymity. "You don't even know what McConnell thinks, because he doesn't have the backing of his conference."
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, argued that both parties will be blamed for the inaction: "People will just say a pox on all their houses."
And Meadows said the president is "on the side of the people" and would be rewarded for it.
"I think if you look at this and you start to focus on the politics instead of the people, you're doing the wrong thing," Meadows told reporters Thursday during a trip to Capitol Hill. "When you're on the side of the people that ultimately vote, that takes care of itself in November or whenever it might be."
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Apple Inc. (AAPL) - Get Report shares surged to a fresh all-time high Friday, trading firmly past the $400 mark for the first time ever, after the tech giant posted blowout third quarter earnings in the face of pandemic-triggered store closures and supply chain disruptions.
Apple said earnings for the three months ending in June, the group's fiscal third quarter, rose 25.9% from the same period last year to $2.58 per share, well ahead of the $2.05 per share Street consensus forecast. Group revenues rose 13.4% to a Street-beating $59.7 billion, Apple said, with gains in every geographical region and across all product line.
iPhone revenues rose 2% from last year to a forecast-beating $26.4 billion, despite the COVID-19 headwinds, thanks in part to a solid debut for the $399 iPhone SE, which was launched earlier this year. iPad and iMac sales, meanwhile, rose 22% and 31% respectively as work-from-home shifts powered computer purchases. Services revenues were pegged at $13.2 billion, just shy of Apple's recent record and up 15% from last year.
"We're very pleased with how we did on iPhone. It was better than we thought largely because May and June were much better. If you look at iPhone in totality the things that gets me very optimistic is the size of the active installed base," Apple CEO Tim Cook told investors on a conference call late Thursday.
"The installed base is growing and the new customer numbers are still very high and so, that to me bodes well for the future," he added. "There is clearly, as we had indicated, there is some amount of work from home and remote learning that do affect the results of Mac and iPad positively."
"They probably affect wearables and iPhone, the other direction. And -- but on Mac and iPad, these are productivity tools that people are using to stay engaged with their work or stay engaged with their school work," Cook said. "And we believe we're going to have a strong back to school season. Sitting here today, it certainly looks like that."
Apple shares were marked 6.27% higher in pre-market trading Friday, indicating an opening bell price of $408.90 each, a move that would extend the stock's year-to-date gain to around 40% and value the Cupertino, California-based company at around $1.77 trillion.
The stock's impact on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, is set to wane next month after the group announced a four-for-one stock split that will take effect on August 31.
Apple declined to offer a near-term profit forecast, "given the uncertainty around the world' and the ongoing COVID-19 impact, but noted that it expects to see continued gains for the iPhone, despite likely delays of "a few weeks" for its iPhone 12 launch in September.
"Management anticipates continued double-digit growth for all hardware products except iPhones during Q4/F20 with iPhones facing a difficult growth comparable combined with the new product launches coming a few weeks later or now in the December quarter," said Canaccord Genuity analyst T. Michael Walkley, who carries buy rating with a $460 price target on the stock.
"Starting in Q1/F21, we believe Apple is well-positioned to benefit from the 5G upgrade cycle and anticipate strong iPhone growth to contribute to overall strong growth trends as 5G smartphones ramp and Apple continues to grow its installed base and higher-margins services revenue," he added. "Apple’s ecosystem approach, including an installed base that exceeds 1.6 billion devices globally, should continue to generate strong services revenue, and we expect the higher-margin services revenue growth to outpace total company growth."
On the heels of its latest quarterly results, toymaker Hasbro's (NASDAQ:HAS) board of directors declared a new quarterly dividend. The company will pay out $0.68 per share, dispensing the cash on Nov. 16 to stockholders of record as of Nov. 2. On Thursday's closing share price, the distribution yields 3.7%.
Hasbro seems very comfortable with that amount; it has paid it in each of the preceding seven quarters. Prior to that, the company handed out $0.63 per share. Although it has had its ups and downs in the frequently trend-driven toy and gaming industries, it has been a steady and reliable dividend payer since the beginning of 1981.
Image source: Hasbro.
Hasbro's Q2 of fiscal 2020 earnings were released on Monday, revealing a worrying 29% year-over-year revenue decline, and a plunge well into the red on the bottom line (to nearly $34 million, from Q2 2019's $13.4 million profit). Much of this, not surprisingly, can be attributed to the coronavirus pandemic, as retail stores were forced to close temporarily and Hasbro's supply chain suffered disruptions.
Compounding that, a lack of compelling new content from key toy license partner Walt Disney contributed to a 35% decline in the partner brands segment. All in all for the quarter, only one of the company's five divisions -- gaming -- saw an increase in sales.
Maintaining the dividend might not be enough to keep investors in this game. Hasbro's shares slumped by nearly 1% on Thursday, a deeper fall than that suffered by many peer consumer goods stocks, and the top equity indexes on the day.
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A mother’s love turned Marcus Simmons’ life around.
Her letters, combined with Simmons’ own self-reflection, helped him change his heart and ultimately his life.
Simmons, 49, of Lafayette, Louisiana, will share his story of resilience and grace as part of a live storytelling show about fresh starts produced by the USA TODAY Network’s Storytellers Project on Aug. 6.
“People love stories about fresh starts because we all feel like we need one from time to time,” said show emcee and Storytellers Project founder Megan Finnerty. “Hearing how other people got themselves out of an overwhelming situation can be powerfully helpful.”
In 2018, Simmons told his story on stage in Lafayette, talking about growing up in violence, experiencing homelessness, turning to drug dealing and being sentenced to prison. Storytellers Project leaders selected it as one of the best stories from the last three years and he’ll tell it with four other Americans during the show.
The hour-long event will stream on the Storytellers Project’s Facebook Page and YouTube channel at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. Other tellers will share stories about recovery from gambling, about launching a podcast, and about moving forward after a husband’s death.
Simmons, who grew up in the 1970s and ’80s, said he never knew his dad, and as a young boy, he saw his mom shot twice. One of the shootings paralyzed her from the waist down, the family couldn’t afford rent and had to sleep on park benches and in public restrooms.
WATCH: Americans share entertaining and illuminating personal stories
Determined to protect and provide for his mother and siblings, Simmons said he made the “horrible decision” to sell drugs and shot two men during a robbery. He was sent to prison for attempted murder.
“I want to send the message to people in my similar shoes because they need to see that hard work and perseverance are tools -- tools that you can use to propel yourself and fix your situation,” Simmons told USA TODAY in an email exchange about the show.
Simmons will join Lee Rood, 53, of Des Moines, Iowa; Carly Davis, 39, Phoenix; Shannon Cason, 44, of Detroit; and Anjeanette Damon, 44, of Reno, Nevada.
The Reader’s Watchdog columnist at the Des Moines Register since 2012, Rood first told her story on stage in her home city. Rood’s is about a fresh start she unknowingly helped give someone else.
“I love everything about the Storytellers Project and this story involving my husband, who died in 2013, is quirky but entirely true,” she says of her reasons to tell it again.
“We’re living in a very judgmental era. But everyone who ever did wrong hopes for, and often deserves, a second chance.”
Davis, who has done storytelling coaching, first wrote her story about becoming a mother a few years ago.
“I felt so alone and adrift in this new world of motherhood. I made a lot of weird promises I couldn’t keep and finally realized that the best part is, we get to try again tomorrow,” she said.
“As I have revisited it to prepare for this virtual show, I think my theme of ‘we (parents) get to try again tomorrow’ is relevant to our lives in this pandemic,” she said. “Parenting little children right now feels like the same thing over and over, but every day is a chance to take care of each other and be proud of how we got through this together, and forgive ourselves because this is hard.”
Cason, who is a Motor City podcaster who produces ”In Good Co. Detroit” and “Homemade Stories,” said he agreed to share his “Fresh Starts” story because he wanted to reach more people.
“Fresh starts can be scary, but when you really examine them, many times, that fear is excitement. Instead of it being fear of the unknown, turn it into excitement about all the possibilities,” he said.
Anjeanette Damon, a journalist at the Reno Gazette-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, and a reporter on “The City” podcast’s second season, also will be telling her story for the first time with Storytellers.
Her story will convey that “contrary to what the term suggests, fresh starts can often take a fair amount of care and work to do right.”
READ: Storytellers Project cancels in-person shows, extends virtual season
The Storytellers Project’s virtual series, called “LIVE, In Your House!," has been drawing hundreds of thousands of views since debuting April 2, when the COVID-19 pandemic started closing down venues where in-person shows had been held. Viewers can now tune in to the Storytellers Project's Facebook page or YouTube channel to watch and comment live.
What: Storytellers Project LIVE, In Your House!, "Fresh Starts"
When: 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 6
Where:Storytellers Project Facebook and YouTube channel
More: Check out the Storytellers Project's past shows
Tell a Story:Click here to apply to tell a story at one of our virtual shows
Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2020/07/30/storytellers-project-presents-fresh-starts-virtual-audience-storytelling-show/5548097002/
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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Buckeye Fresh Days at farmers markets throughout Ohio are helping families in need access fresh, healthy produce, while also engaging members of the general public.
The first Northeast Ohio offering for 2020 takes place at the Kamm’s Corners Farmers Market in Cleveland, 16906 Albers Ave., from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 2). Kamm’s Corners again hosts the event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13.
Buckeye Health Plan organizes the statewide fresh produce initiative by working with farmers markets and community partners in Cleveland, Kent, Toledo and Cincinnati.
In honor of National Farmers Market Week, which kicks off Sunday (Aug. 2), Buckeye Health Plan is also partnering statewide with Produce Perks, an Ohio nonprofit that promotes healthy eating habits while addressing iniquities involved with food distribution and access.
Buckeye Health Plan members need only show their membership ID to earn a $10 voucher to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Children of plan members will receive a complimentary “Buckeye Buck” to purchase a healthy snack. Giveaways, recipes and educational activities are free to all patrons.
A pair of Produce Perks programs further incentivize healthy eating. Shoppers using SNAP and EBT cards will earn a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $25. Families with children can receive an additional $40 voucher by simply visiting the Produce Perks tent and verifying that they meet certain income requirements.
“Access to healthy, affordable food is a growing concern across the state, impacting many low-income communities where our members live,” said Steve Province, president and CEO of Buckeye Health Plan.
“Buckeye is honored to partner with local farmers and Produce Perks to introduce our members to affordable, healthy food options in their back yard and provide them with financial support to purchase fresh produce.”
The coronavirus pandemic and its effects on the job market have compelled many families to sacrifice healthy eating habits. Even prior to the extraordinary events of 2020, much of the Buckeye State had trouble putting food on the table.
A 2018 Policy Matters Ohio report, citing the the U.S. Department of Agriculture, categorizes nearly 15 percent of Ohioans as food insecure.
Counterintuitively, poverty and food insecurity frequently result in weight-related health issues since processed foods often cost less and are more readily available to many consumers.
According to a 2012 study by the CDC, 65 percent of the state’s adults were overweight, as were many children and adolescents. The study indicated that lower-than-recommended levels of produce consumption, along with other dietary and lifestyle factors, contributed to the health concerns.
Buckeye Health Plan provides managed healthcare to Ohio residents through Medicare, Medicaid, MyCare Ohio and health insurance exchanges.
In addition to the two Kamm’s Corners events, Buckeye Fresh Days will take place at several other locations throughout the state.
Kent’s Haymaker Farmers Market plays host from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 22 and Sept. 12.
Toledo Farmers Market will be the site for Aug. 29 and Sept. 26 offerings, both of which run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Findlay Market in Cincinnati provides the venue from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 8 and Sept. 19.
Read more from the Sun Post Herald.
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The addition of the new vessels marks a new chapter in environmental sustainability for the company.
Fresh Del Monte Produce continues to fulfill its commitment to create a positive impact on the environment with the addition of six new energy efficient reefer container vessels to its fleet.
The addition of the new vessels named Del Monte Gold, Del Monte Rose, Del Monte Harvester, Del Monte Spirit, Del Monte Valiant and Del Monte Pride marks a new chapter in environmental sustainability for the company.
The first of the six vessels, the Del Monte Gold, embarked on the high seas earlier this month, traveling from Hong Kong, China towards the Panama Canal. Like its siblings, the Del Monte Gold has a full cargo capacity of 1,276 TEU with 634 plugs for forty-foot high cube reefer containers.
Given the perishable nature of fresh fruits and vegetables, the air-cooled containers will maintain the cargo at specified temperatures, traveling in reefer mode with multiple temperature variants from -25 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius.
“We have been working towards this goal since 2017 and could not be more excited to see it come to fruition,” said Helmuth Lutty, Senior Vice President of Shipping Operations for Fresh Del Monte Produce. “As one of the world’s leading producer, marketer and distributer of fresh fruits and vegetables, we have set a very high bar for all the reefer containers and ships in our fleet. These six new vessels set the bar even higher, and allow us to deliver the high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables we are known for while meeting our sustainability goals.”
Each vessel meets the most stringent emission control regulation and includes:
“Today, shipping accounts for the largest portion of our global energy use,” said Hans Sauter, Chief Sustainability Officer of Fresh Del Monte Produce. “In 2018 we committed to lead by example and reduce our vessel emission by 10 percent. With the addition of these six new container vessels we are well on our way, estimating a savings of nearly 19 thousand metric tons of fuel each year.”
For more information on Fresh Del Monte and its sustainability efforts, visit www.freshdelmontecsr.com/.
Fresh Del Monte is one of the world’s leading vertically integrated producers, marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, as well as a leading producer and distributor of prepared food in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Fresh Del Monte markets its products worldwide under the DEL MONTE brand (under license from Del Monte Foods Inc.), a symbol of product innovation, quality, freshness and reliability for over 125 years. The Company also markets its products under the MANN brand and other related trademarks. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is not affiliated with certain other Del Monte companies around the world, including Del Monte Foods, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Del Monte Pacific Limited, Del Monte Canada, or Del Monte Asia Pte. Lte.
In addition to fresh seasonal produce, farmers markets offer fresh flowers, herbs, plants, beauty products, baked foods, canned goods and crafts. Due to concerns about the coronavirus, social distancing and the wearing of face masks is recommended while shopping at markets. Also some markets have additional safety measures in place. The following is a list of farmers markets in Oakland County:
• Birmingham Farmers Market: drive-through only, 9 a.m.-noon Sundays, May 3-Oct. 25, at Municipal Parking Lot 6, 660 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, customers must stay in their cars. A preview display table will be at the market entrance. Wares will be sold in $10 and $20 units - shoppers are asked to bring exact bills, as change will not be available, 248-530-1200, www.allinbirmingham.com/visitors/birmingham_farmers_market.php.
• Clarkston Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays June 27-Oct. 10 in the front parking lot at Clarkston Community Education, 6558 Waldon Road, Clarkston, 248-821-4769, clarkstonareafarmersmarket.com. Using recommended health safety steps at the market for customer and vendor safety. Closed 4th of July.
• Clawson Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, May 17, June 14, June 28, July 12, July 26, Aug. 9, Aug. 23 and Sept. 13, at Clawson City Park 1080 N. Custer Ave., Clawson, www.cityofclawson.com.
• Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market, at Walter E. Sundquist Pavilion, 33113 Grand River Ave., at Grove St., open 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturdays, May 16-Oct. 31, 248-473-7276 ext. 13, www.farmingtonfarmersmarket.com.
• Fogler's Greenhouse & Farm Market: open daily, 3979 Rochester Road, Rochester, and 559 S. Lapeer Road, Lake Orion, Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, www.foglersgreenhouse.com, 248-652-3614.
• Highland Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, June 20-Oct. 10 in downtown Highland, at the Milford and Livingston Road intersection, www.highlandfarmmarket.com/vendor-information.html. Closed on 4th of July.
• Holly Farmers Market: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays, May 17 to Oct. 13 at Crapo Park, downtown Holly, hollyfarmersmarket.weebly.com.
• Milford Farmers Market: 3-8 p.m. Thursdays, June 18-Oct., at East Liberty Street between South Main and Union streets in downtown Milford, fresh produce, live music, family activities, milfordfarmersmarket.org, SNAP, Bridge Cards.
• Northville Farmers Market Northville Downs Track, 7 Mile and Sheldon, open 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursdays, May 21-Oct. 29, 248-349-7640, www.northville.org/events/details/opening-day-northville-farmer-market-560
• Oakland County Farmers Market: 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and 8 a.m.-noon Sundays. Shoppers are required to wear masks inside the market and encouraged on site. Shoppers and vendors inside the building are limited to less than 50 at one time. Also there is a limit to number of vehicles allowed in the parking lot. Phone orders for delivery or curbside pickup are available. The market is at 2350 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford Twp., 248-858-5495, email OCmarket@oakgov.com. 248-858-5495, www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/farmers-market/Pages/default.aspx.
• Oak Park Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays July 1 to Sept. 30. The first half of the season, the market is at Oak Park High School Main Parking Lot - 13701 Oak Park Blvd,, Oak Park and the second half of the season is next to City Hall, 14000 Oak Park Blvd., Oak Park, SNAP/EBT/Bridge cards, Market Fresh Coupons and WIC accepted. Social distancing guidelines including wearing a face covering and "No-Touch" market. Select items, and the vendor will handle and bag them, www.bit.ly/OakParkFarmersMarket, 248-691-2357, www.facebook.com/opfarmersmarket..
• Orion Township Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, June 3-Sept. 12, Orion Center, 1335 Joslyn Road, Orion Township, www.facebook.com/orionparksrec.
• Rochester Farmers Market, corner of E. Third and Water Street, open 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. Saturdays, May 23-Oct. 31, 248-656-0060, https://www.downtownrochestermi.com/farmers-market
• Ortonville Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. July 11-Oct. 10, downtown Ortonville, https://www.facebook.com/ortonvillefarmersmarket.
• R&L Produce Market by VanHoutte Farms: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, July 28 through end of September, at 2303 Crescent Lake Road, Waterford, www.facebook.com/renevanhoutte1969.
• Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile, open 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays only, 248-246-3276, www.romi.gov.
• South Lyon Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, June 6 to Oct. 31 at Pontiac Trail and Liberty Street, downtown South Lyon, 248-437-1735, www.southlyonfarmersmarket.org. Closed on 4th of July.
• Troy Farmers Market: noon-5 p.m. Fridays, June 19 to Sept. 25, at the Troy Public Library Parking Lot off Big Beaver & Civic Center Roads, fresh and seasonal, local Michigan grown fruits and vegetables, flowers and products, food trucks, musical entertainment, 248-524-1147, www.troymi.gov/farmersmarket.
• Walled Lake’s Park & Recreation Commission Farmers Market: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays June 17 to October at the Walled Lake City Event Field, 1499 E. West Maple Road Walled Lake, 248-624-4847, www.walledlake.com.
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A propaganda poster on preventing the spread of Covid-19 is seen on a wall as a man smokes a cigarette along a street in Hanoi on April 29, 2020.
Manan Vatsyayana | AFP | Getty Images
Vietnam, once praised for its success in containing the coronavirus outbreak, is now battling a resurgence in cases and has warned that the disease could spread wider across the country.
The Southeast Asian country — which shares a border with China, where the virus first emerged — had not recorded any locally transmitted cases for more than three months before a 57-year-old resident of the central city of coastal Danang was tested positive for the coronavirus disease on Saturday, said the Vietnamese government.
The patient had no travel history domestically or internationally over the past month, the government said. But Reuters reported that tens of thousands of domestic tourists have been on vacation in the coastal city.
Authorities are preparing to evacuate the roughly 80,000 tourists in Danang. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc warned on Wednesday that every province and city in the country is at risk of more infections, reported Reuters, citing state broadcaster Vietnam Television.
To be clear, the 450 total confirmed cases reported in Vietnam as of Wednesday remain relatively small for a nation with a population of around 97 million. The country also has not recorded any deaths relating to the coronavirus.
But the renewed outbreak in Vietnam underscores the difficulties governments face in containing the fast-spreading disease. That's the case even for a country that was internationally hailed as a potential model for other developing countries in managing the coronavirus outbreak.
The Vietnamese government's online newspaper VGP said on Monday that preliminary epidemiological investigations showed some of the new cases detected in Danang were linked to three hospitals in the city. Genome analysis also revealed that "this is a new type of Covid-19, which is more infectious," said Acting Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long.
Authorities have tightened containment measures in Danang, such as stepping up contact tracing, limiting crowd sizes and halting non-essential services. Flights to and from the city have also been temporarily suspended.
On Wednesday, Vietnam reported new cases in its two biggest cities — Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City — which were attributed to people who visited Danang in the last few weeks.
Reuters, citing city authorities, reported that around 18,000 people who visited Danang returned to Ho Chi Minh City and another 21,000 went home to Hanoi.
Vietnam is not the only Asian country or territory facing a fresh jump in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases.
Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam, on Wednesday warned that the city is on the cusp of a large-scale outbreak that may overload its health-care facilities and cost lives. Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory, had earlier managed to contain its outbreak — which allowed it to avoid a lockdown.
But the Hong Kong government imposed stricter measures this week.
Taiwan, also seen as success story in containing the virus, said on Tuesday that it was investigating its first possible local transmitted case in more than a month, reported Reuters. A Thai migrant worker — who arrived on the island in January — tested positive for the disease just days after returning to Thailand, according to the report.
— CNBC's Abigail Ng contributed to this report
A lawsuit has been filed against a bagged salad brand after the FDA and CDC linked its product to hundreds of parasite infections in the United States, leading the product to be recalled in June.
Tainted salad mix from Fresh Express, which was sold at ALDI, Hy-Vee, Walmart and Jewel-Osco stores, caused an outbreak of cyclospora across the Midwest, according to an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"Six-hundred and forty-one people with laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infections and who reported eating bagged salad mix before getting sick have been reported from 11 states -- Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin," the CDC announced in a press release on July 24.
The parasite, which can be ingested via contaminated food, can cause an intestinal infection known as cyclosporiasis, according to the FDA. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis may include diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss and cramping, among others, the FDA says.
Thirty-seven people were hospitalized with the illness between May 11 and July 5, the FDA and CDC reported.
Illinois is the epicenter of the outbreak, with 198 confirmed cases.
The FDA has asked all consumers who have symptoms of cyclosporiasis to contact a health care provider to report the symptoms and receive treatment.
On Tuesday, the food safety law firm of Ron Simon & Associates and Chicago attorneys Meyers & Flowers filed a lawsuit against Fresh Express that stemmed from the contaminated products, according to a press release.
The lawsuit was filed against Fresh Express and Berkot's Super Foods in Cook County, Illinois, on behalf of John Silbersdorf.
The June 27 product recall included products containing iceberg lettuce, red cabbage and carrots produced at the company's Streamwood, Illinois, facility.
Recalled products can be identified by the product code in the upper right-hand corner of the front of the package, which will start with the letter "Z" and be followed by the number "178" or lower.
For a full list of the recalled product information from the FDA, click here.
The US has crossed the threshold of 150,000 confirmed deaths from Covid-19, just six months after the first cases were diagnosed in China and with the outbreak far from under control.
The American death toll is the highest in the world by a significant margin and reached 150,034 on Wednesday, according to the Johns Hopkins University world coronavirus tracker.
More than 4.3 million people have been infected with Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus Sars-CoV-2. As the summer has worn on, outbreaks have spread across America’s sun belt, the region from Florida to southern California, and look increasingly likely to spread into central states. Meanwhile, some early centers of the pandemic, such as New York City, have brought the virus under significantly more control.
The pandemic has rewritten nearly every aspect of daily life in the United States. Economic activity depressed by public health restrictions and virus outbreaks brought the jobless rate above 11% in June. Restaurant, museum and cinema closures are rolling as states try to reopen, see outbreaks, and again restrict activities.
Schools, once thought certain to reopen in the fall, are grappling with how to make buildings safe for teachers and students. This week, the nation’s second-largest teachers union authorized local strikes as a “last resort” bargaining chip when districts fail to put coronavirus safety measures in place.
Meanwhile, many of the measures most fundamental to bringing the virus under control have continued to be challenges thanks to a fumbling and anemic federal response, led by the Trump administration.
Widespread outbreaks and week-long delays in test results have undermined contact tracing. Those fundamental failures have had knock-on effects, as outbreaks have reached nursing homes and continued to fill intensive care units with the most vulnerable, ill and resource-intensive patients.
As the coronavirus spread accelerated in March, and without federal leadership, state governors and hospitals began scrambling for ventilators and personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and gowns for frontline medical workers, who were in many places short of supplies and who themselves began dying from Covid-19.
Politics has taken a central role in how the pandemic has been tackled. The president initially downplayed the virus and predicted it would disappear – then, despite the US becoming the world’s pandemic hotspot, he urged businesses and now schools to reopen before the sustained decline in cases that federal health experts recommend.
Some mitigation methods, such as widespread use of face coverings in public, have been undermined by the president, who only recently supported their use.
The president’s controversial shunning of mask-wearing and promotion of dubious treatments for the virus has also publicly set him against his own health specialists, including Dr Anthony Fauci, who has been the nation’s top infectious disease expert to six presidents.
Trump has touted the restrictions he placed on travel to the US from China and then parts of Europe as evidence his administration has handled the outbreak well, despite the limited effect those measures have had as the virus spread.
The surge of infections followed a rush to reopen for business in many states, without accompanying mandates or even official recommendations to wear face masks and practice social distancing.
States such as Florida have kept their economies open despite full hospitals, but there are signs the strategy will not be enough to bring the economy back to the record highs of pre-pandemic days. Last week, for the first time in months, there was an increase in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits.
Public health experts are also concerned about the levels of infection in states such as Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky, while the surge in Florida along with Texas, Arizona and California in June and July has strained many hospitals.
Coronavirus has had a hugely disproportionate impact on Black, Latino and Native Americans, significantly exacerbated by racial disparities in chronic health conditions, access to affordable and quality doctors and hospitals, and disparities in income, housing and risk of exposure in the workplace.
A global push is on to develop a vaccine and the US has some promising trials under way, even as public health officials anticipate any plan to equitably distribute a potential vaccine will face blowback.
In the meantime, the most senior federal health officials, such as Fauci and the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Robert Redfield, have warned the outbreak in the US is far from under control, has a “disturbing” trajectory and has brought America “to its knees”.
All of this has put pressure on Congress to pass another coronavirus aid package, one that includes funding for schools, unemployment benefits and hunger relief. But as of now, there is still a gulf between the parties, with Republicans proposing to cut expanded unemployment aid to $200 per week. Meanwhile, with a gap in aid, observers are predicting a wave of evictions could come to pass.
The Link Lonkfresh.indah.link Potato organizations are urging the U.S. to maintain a “trust but verify” stance ensuring fresh potatoes can be importe...
