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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

New Yorkers: “Picnic for the Planet” on Earth Day

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Friday, April 22, 2011   

NEW YORK – Today (Friday) is Earth Day, and New Yorkers have an easy way to get involved by getting outdoors and having a "Picnic for the Planet."

Bill Ulfelder, New York state director for the Nature Conservancy, says these picnics celebrate New Yorkers' deepest connection to the planet, which is through our food. By filling a picnic basket with care and selecting locally-grown products, he says, you will also be helping planet Earth.

"New York is famous, for example, for its apples; also seafood, shellfish. You know, wild-caught fish often tastes fresher - so, it's tastier, but it's also good for the environment because you consume less energy."

In addition to helping the planet, Ulfelder says you will also be helping yourself – studies show that getting outdoors helps keep people fit, increases attention span and even helps kids do better in school.

Not just on Earth Day, but each time you head to the market, there are important labels to look for on products that will help keep you healthy and also help the planet, says Ulfelder.

"What we suggest people look for, are things like organic foods, which are not made with synthetic pesticides or fertilizers; things that are fair-trade, which means that the producers of these foods are getting a fair wage."

When buying seafood, he suggests looking for Marine Stewardship Council certification. That shows the fish was wild-caught, and at harvesting levels that are keeping fish stocks sustainable. He recommends spending a few moments online before heading to the market, to make a list of smart choices before you buy.

"Making food choices can be tricky, so we're providing what we call a 'food decoder,' because when you go to the marketplace or the supermarket, sometimes it's hard to figure out, 'What should I be purchasing for myself, for my family?'"

You can have your own "Picnic for the Planet," or join the Nature Conservancy at various locations across the state. The food decoder and the statewide picnic locations are online at www.Nature.org.



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