cookiesinheaven

California pistachio growers are finding themselves the unexpected beneficiaries of U.S. trade sanctions against Iran. A U.S. ban on Iranian pistachios went into effect on Wednesday, as the Obama administration ratchets up economic pressure on Iran to open its nuclear facilities to international inspection. President Obama signed the ban on July 1. It's good news for American pistachio farmers, who have long vied with Iran for dominance in the U.S.'s $700-million domestic market, as well as overseas. And it's particularly welcome for Golden State farmers, who are in the midst of harvest season. - LatteTimes

Labels: California, California Agriculture, farmers, obama, pistachios, Santa Barbara

President Barack Obama commemorated Hawaii’s 50th Statehood anniversary today with a proclamation lauding “the extensive and rich contributions of native Hawaiian culture to our national character.” - Honolulu star bulletin

Labels: Hawai'i, obama, YouTube

Labels: Animals, Bo, obama, Santa Barbara, toys, Ty

The Government on Saturday permanently banned the slaughter of cows too sick or weak to stand on their own, seeking to further minimize the chance that mad cow disease could enter the food supply.

..Obama called the country's food inspection system "a hazard to public health," citing outbreaks of deadly food poisoning in peanuts this year, peppers and possibly tomatoes last year and spinach in 2006.- ap

Labels: food safety, inspection, obama

Labels: obama

Want an example of the change Barack Obama is bringing to the country?

Check out cookie sales at Baby Boomers Cafe in Des Moines.

Ever since word got out of the President-elect and his family's fondness for Baby Boomers' chocolate chunk cookies, the small downtown restaurant can't get them out of the oven fast enough.

...Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, said the Obamas and the campaign staff loved the cookies, and they're fond of Maxfield, too.

"He knew most of us by name, and he cared about how everyone was doing," Vietor said.

Michele Obama would hold meetings in the cafe, and Barack Obama even called Maxfield the day after the caucuses to thank him for helping feed the staff and his family.

"It's just insane. I mean they are the coolest people," said Maxfield. - Chicago Tribune

Labels: Chocolate Chip, Cookies, obama, politics