food

National

Fast-Food Chains Back Away From Limits On Whom They Hire

6:44pm July 12, 2018

by Yuki Noguchi

Seven fast-food franchises, facing potential prosecution from the state of Washington, abandoned a practice critics say hurt workers' chances of earning more and moving up the ladder.

A foal nurses from a mare at the Lindenhof Stud in Brandenburg, Germany. While mare's milk remains a niche product, its reputation as a health elixir is causing trouble for European producers in a more regulated age.

Mare's Milk For Health? Europeans Look To Horses For Ancient Remedy

8:02am July 12, 2018

by Susanna Forrest

Chekhov and Tolstoy swore by its curative powers. While mare's milk remains a niche product, its reputation as a health elixir is causing trouble for European producers in a more regulated age.

As cities and companies — including Starbucks — move to oust straws in a bid to reduce pollution, people with disabilities say they're losing access to a necessary, lifesaving tool.

Why People With Disabilities Want Bans On Plastic Straws To Be More Flexible

6:26pm July 11, 2018

As cities and companies — including Starbucks — move to oust straws in a bid to reduce pollution, people with disabilities say they're losing access to a necessary, lifesaving tool.

Ten states and the District of Columbia are investigating Wendy's and other fast-food chains over the use of "no poach" agreements that limit the ability of workers to switch jobs.

Economy

Regulators Investigate Fast-Food Chains' Limits On Whom They Hire

3:25pm July 11, 2018

by Yuki Noguchi

Ten states and the District of Columbia are asking fast-food chains about the use of what are known as "no poach" agreements that limit the ability of workers to switch jobs.

Queue Listen Now

A laborer arranges sacks of rice at a market in Jakarta.

Health & Safety

How Postcards Solved The Problem Of Disappearing Rice

12:42pm July 10, 2018

by Jason Beaubien

Indonesia had a program to provide subsidized rice to the poor. But thousands of kilos didn't make it to the recipients.

The herbs for Sanctuary Herbs of Providence's teas are grown by first-generation immigrants.

Politics Planted The Seed For A Business In Herbs And Teas

8:02am July 10, 2018

by Jodi Helmer

The 2016 U.S. presidential election led two women to create a business steeped in changing how immigrants are viewed by celebrating their contributions to agriculture.

The alkali bee is slightly smaller than a honey bee, with opalescent stripes that shimmer between yellow, green, red and blue.

Native Bees And Alfalfa Farmers — A Seedy Love Story

2:42pm July 09, 2018

by Aaron Scott

Northwest farmers produce a quarter of the country's alfalfa seeds, but they get help from millions of alkali bees, thanks to one of the most unique agricultural partnerships in the country.

People walk by a Starbucks store in Chicago on May 29. Starbucks announced that it plans to remove plastic straws from its 28,000 stores worldwide by 2020.

National

Starbucks: Goodbye, Plastic Straws

12:07pm July 09, 2018

by Jennifer Liberto

Starbucks announced on Monday that it plans to get rid of plastic straws in its 28,000 stores worldwide by 2020. Instead, the company said it plans to use recyclable plastic lids that allow sipping.

Southeast Oregon rancher Rancher Wayne Evans says he'll make it through this short water year, but it could cost him as much as $100,000 in lost hay, lost weight on his calves and equipment for hauling water to his livestock.

National

Deepening Drought In Western U.S. Costs Ranchers Money And Heartache

8:44am July 08, 2018

by Anna King

Because his profits are tied to rain and snow, one Oregon rancher will have to pay thousands to haul water and grass to his cattle in the mountains. And the land just continues to become more parched.

Economy

Tariffs And The Soybean Business

8:07am July 07, 2018

John Heisdorffer, president of the American Soybean Association, tells NPR's Linda Wertheimer he and his fellow farmers are concerned about the tariff war.