Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter
Extension Service is common in nearly all states
This web site should answer all of your questions.
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Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - University of Florida
The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information accessible. While extending into every community of the state, UF/IFAS has developed an international reputation for its accomplishments in teaching, research and extension. Because of this mission and the diversity of Florida’s climate and agricultural commodities, IFAS has facilities located throughout Florida.
IFAS provides research and development for Florida’s agricultural, natural resources and related food industries, which in 2010 made value-added contributions of $108.7 billion to the gross domestic product of the state economy. |
Thanks, that hit the spot; it helps to explain a lot. It seems the main goal is to promote agricultural products. I was a little confused because sometimes it seemed as though health was the purpose or goal, when, actually, promoting agricultural products trumps health.
A recent column in the Daily Sun, by the Sumter Extension Service, may serve as an example: In this column of 09-20-13, it was stated that "Apples are a wholesome snack...", and it gave various reasons why apples are healthy. In the next paragraph, it mentioned that apples are great in such items as "muffins, cookies, ice cream, cakes, cobblers and pies", among other things.
All of the above items usually contain a lot of highly refined white flour and sugar. These are the items that
promote weight gain, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, constipation, and many other health issues. But, having said that, white flour and sugar are agricultural products. So it all makes sense now.
The way I see it, they are trying to have it both ways. They want to appear to be interested in promoting health, but promoting agricultural products is their main purpose. You might say they have a built in bias.