Helicopters Blow Warm Air on Cold Florida Crops

By Robin Wheeler Thu., Dec. 16 2010 at 7:00 AM

Categories: The Morning Brew

For a second year in a row, cold threatens Florida's winter crops. NPR reports that farmers are hiring helicopters to hover low over the crops to push warm air downward. It's a desperate measure that costs around $2500 an hour, and last week three helicopters crashed on crop-warming missions. But if it means we get sweet corn in the dead of winter, isn't it worth it?

Jamie Lee Curtis was wrong - Activia yogurt won't solve all your gut problems, and now Dannon will be paying $21 million for using unfounded information in their ads. According to the Associated Press, the Federal Trade Commission said there's not enough evidence to support the health claims in advertising for Activia and DanActive yogurt products. The attorneys general in 39 states settled with the company over marketing claims. It's the largest multi-state consumer protection settlement ever reached by a food company.

McDonald's is also going to court. The Los Angeles Times
says that the Center for Science in the Public Interest has filed suit against the fast food giant over Happy Meals, saying that the toys entice kids to eat junk food. The suit was filed in San Francisco, which banned toys in meals that don't meet certain nutritional criteria.

Out of oregano? Try marijuana! The Chicago Sun-Times' "food detective" culls the online world of ganja gourmets to learn about the savory uses of the herb in Indian and Greek cuisines, and infused into butter.