Wilson, NC not Anti-Agriculture, Just Wants More Information
Earlier this week, it became known that the City Council of Wilson, NC had allocated $1 million dollars in what was originally reported, to fight the location of a chicken processing plant in neighboring Nash County, yet only 2.2 miles from the city limits of Wilson. Since the proposed facility is in a separate county, it would appear that City of Wilson doesn’t really have a dog in this fight, but City Manager for City of Wilson, Grant Goings explains that they’ve recently learned that the City of Wilson really does have cause for concern:
“Our biggest concern is that we’re in the dark. And we’re being told by Nash County that we have nothing to worry about. But, we have learned that the plant, the processing plant is located close to the Nash County city of Rocky Mount watershed, and so they’re pumping the waste water seven miles; they’re proposing to build a seven mile pipe line to take the waste water further away from the Nash County/ Rocky Mount watershed and actually spray it into the Wilson watershed, instead.”
Pic Billingsley, Director of Development and Engineering for Sanderson Farms says they’re not accustomed to running into these types of problems:
“We’ve run into some stuff up here, that quite frankly we’re not used to. When you’re talking about creating jobs, and spending this kind of capital, especially in an area with this high unemployment, and this many people out of work, the rest of country is trying to attract this kind of company very hard, and we’ve run into some stuff here that we’re having to deal with and answer.”
About 20 years ago, the City of Wilson made sure that they were protected in times of drought, so they built the Buckhorn Reservoir without federal or state assistance, so needless to say, the city council is very protective of the watershed feeding the reservoir.
Whole Foods Develops 'Humane' Meat Rating System
Whole Foods - the nation’s largest retailer of natural and organic foods - has developed a new “humane” meat rating system. The grocer will use a six-step, color-coded labeling system for meat based on animal comfort and health and so-called “pasture time”. Animals that remain on one farm for their entire lives - even through slaughter - will receive a higher rating.
Whole Foods co-CEO Walter Robb says the system will help address growing consumer concerns over the way animals are raised for food...
“I think the issue here really is transparency. I think this customer today increasingly wants to know where their food’s coming from, and who’s growing their food, how the food’s been grown, with respect to animals, and how they’re being treated.”
Participating suppliers must go through an audit to meet the meat rating system requirements.
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