#dairy farm jobs in sri lanka

[ajosoph]

What do you Want a CANDIDATE or a JOB?

Job or a Candidate? What do you want?  Definitely, this sounds weird. But yes what do u want a candidate or a job? Because we have both. AJEETS provides both. Yes, AJEETS helps by recruiting the best skilled and unskilled workforce to various companies abroad and also guides and helps the candidates in shaping a bright career. 

AJEETS is a manpower recruitment agency in India that recruits skilled and unskilled human resources from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Uganda. AJEETS is in this business for the last 16 years and is one of the most reliable and dependable agencies. AJEETS has its own experts who have a good experience in different industries. Our experts also guide the candidates. 

As the leading manpower recruitment agency in India, we are proud of our knowledge in e-staffing solutions, job placements, employment help, and recruitment. One of the most important parts of any company or business is its human resources, and we handle this for many foreign businesses, particularly those in the Gulf nations.

In order to maintain industry competition, AJEETS, a manpower recruitment agency in India, adheres to the principle that it is our goal to provide meaningful solutions for both individuals and businesses. By bringing together individuals from around the globe, our services will assist firms in succeeding in a setting that is changing quickly. Every year, we guarantee potential candidates a position where they are deserving of it and promise businesses solutions that meet their needs.

After a fruitful 16-year journey, the public today recognizes our manpower recruitment agency in India as a capable, trustworthy, and all-inclusive Indian recruitment firm. Having started with a few industries, we now provide services to a wide range of sectors, including; Construction, Steel, Infrastructure, Oil and Gas, Hospitality, Medicine, railways, Marine, IT, Electrical and Electronics, Dairy Farm, Logistics, Automotive, Chemicals and Pharmacy, and many other industries. Following the selection of a candidate, we have an orientation or introduction program where he is made aware of important topics including the work culture of the respective organization, industrial practices, safety concerns, labor laws, and other pertinent issues. We constantly refresh our database to provide you with the best job opportunities. 

Our commitment to going above and beyond to provide the best solutions to our clients has been the cornerstone of our long-standing reputation. The standards set by our applicants and clients have always been met by AJEETS. We assist applicants with their migration from one country to another in addition to simply recruiting them. When they migrate, we assist them in obtaining their visas and other necessities. Without a doubt, AJEETS succeeds in being the best manpower recruitment agency in India. 

We take a unique approach to staffing as an all-inclusive manpower recruitment agency in India. With this process, we stand out because we guarantee success for both job seekers and companies. We make an effort to comprehend the businesses' lists of both temporary and long-term requirements before attempting to match them up with our list of available applicants' skill sets. Our process achieves exceptional results while serving as a link between the two parties. 

As a committed personnel agency in India, AJEETS believes in maximizing human potential to pave the way for successful careers. We help applicants find jobs at the greatest organizations on the globe as a manpower company by supporting their goals and dreams. At the same time, we observe that multinational corporations' temporary and permanent openings attract applicants who can advance their companies' operations. Our services are offered all over the world with an emphasis on countries like Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman in the Middle East; and Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Maldives, South Korea, Indonesia, and China in the Far East Countries and the UK, Germany, Poland, Romania, Serbia in the Europe Continent. Make us your long-term recruitment partner with a presence in India today!

[sampeterson613]

The future of agriculture in the shrinking suburbs

Agriculture land for sale is land designated specifically for the cultivation of crops and the raising of animals for food, fibre, and other products. This type of land is used for a variety of purposes, including:

·      Crop Production: Growing crops like grains (wheat, corn, rice), vegetables, fruits, and legumes. For example, coconut land for sale in Sri Lanka.

·      Livestock Farming: Raising animals such as cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens for meat, milk, eggs, and other products. For example, Farms or farming land for sale.

·      Dairy Farming: Specialising in the production of milk and dairy products.

·      Poultry Farming: Focusing on the production of eggs and meat from chickens, turkeys, and other birds.

·      Horticulture: Cultivating plants for fruits, vegetables, and ornamental purposes.

·      Aquaculture: Farming fish and other aquatic organisms.

·      Forestry: Managing forests for timber, paper, and other products.

·      Agricultural land is crucial for food security, economic stability, and maintaining rural communities. It often requires careful management to ensure sustainability and productivity.

The shrinking suburbs and the future of agricultural land in these areas

The future of agricultural land and the shrinking of suburbs are influenced by several factors:

Shrinking Suburbs:

·      Economic Factors: Economic downturns can lead to reduced demand for housing and less investment in suburban areas. High costs of maintaining infrastructure can also contribute to shrinkage. For example, maintaining commercial property for sale in these areas can be quite expensive, and businesses would not be able to invest in such properties due to this.

·      Population Trends: In some regions, younger generations are gravitating toward urban centres for better job opportunities, amenities, and lifestyles, reducing the demand for suburban living.

·      Changing Preferences: Preferences for more walkable neighbourhoods, public transit, and proximity to cultural and social hubs can drive people away from the suburbs.

·      Housing Market Shifts: Overbuilding in suburban areas can lead to an oversupply of homes, which can cause property values to decline and make these areas less attractive.

Future of Agricultural Land:

·      Urban Expansion: As cities grow and spread outward, agricultural land is often converted into residential or commercial developments. This can reduce the amount of land available for farming.

·      Zoning Changes: Local governments may change zoning laws to allow for more residential or commercial development, which can encroach on agricultural areas.

·      Sustainability Practices: There is a growing trend towards sustainable agriculture, which may encourage better use of available land and promote agricultural activities even in more developed areas.

·      Smart Growth: Some regions are adopting smart growth principles to balance development with the preservation of agricultural land. This includes planning and zoning strategies that aim to limit urban sprawl and protect farmland.

·      Technological Advancements: Advances in farming technology and methods can make agricultural practices more efficient and potentially allow for farming in less traditional areas.

The future of agricultural land in shrinking suburban areas will depend on a complex interplay of economic, social, and political factors, as well as efforts to balance development with the need for food production and environmental sustainability.

How can countries mitigate the risks of shrinking suburbs to make room for agricultural development?

Countries can take several measures to mitigate the risks associated with shrinking suburbs and make room for agricultural development:

1.    Smart Land Use Planning

·      Zoning Regulations: Implement and enforce zoning laws that prioritise the protection of agricultural land. This can involve creating agricultural zones that are shielded from urban development.

·      Urban Growth Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries to limit the expansion of urban areas and focus development within existing urbanised zones.

2.    Revitalising Suburban Areas

·      Redevelopment Projects: Invest in the redevelopment of underutilised or abandoned suburban properties. This can help repurpose existing infrastructure for new uses without encroaching on agricultural land.

·      Infill Development: Encourage higher-density development within existing urban areas to reduce the need for outward expansion.

3.    Agricultural Incentives

·      Subsidies and Support: Provide financial incentives and support programs for farmers to maintain and improve agricultural productivity.

·      Tax Benefits: Offer tax benefits or deductions for landowners who preserve their land for agricultural use rather than selling it for development.

4.    Sustainable Practices

·      Conservation Easements: Implement conservation easements that protect agricultural land from being developed while allowing landowners to retain ownership and benefit financially.

·      Sustainable Agriculture: Promote practices that enhance the efficiency and productivity of agricultural land, reducing the need to expand into new areas.

5.    Community Engagement and Education

·      Public Awareness: Educate the public and policymakers about the importance of preserving agricultural land and the benefits of sustainable land use.

·      Community Involvement: Engage communities in planning processes to ensure that local needs and priorities are balanced with agricultural preservation.

6.    Integrated Land Use Strategies

·      Mixed-Use Development: Encourage mixed-use developments that integrate residential, commercial, and agricultural spaces to create vibrant, multi-functional areas.

·      Agrihoods: Promote the development of "agrihoods" where agricultural activities are integrated into residential communities, offering both housing and fresh food production.

7.    Policy and Legislation

·      Land Conservation Policies: Implement and enforce policies that prioritise land conservation and agriculture in regional and national planning frameworks.

·      Regional Planning: Develop regional plans that coordinate land use across municipalities to protect agricultural areas and manage urban growth effectively.

By taking a comprehensive and coordinated approach, countries can balance the needs of urban development with the preservation of valuable agricultural land, ensuring long-term sustainability and food security.

How to find good agricultural land in the shrinking suburbs

Finding good agricultural land in shrinking suburbs involves several strategic steps to ensure you select land that is suitable for farming and likely to remain viable for agricultural use. Here is a guide on how to identify and assess such land:

1.     Research and Data Collection

·      Local Zoning Laws: Check zoning regulations to identify areas where agriculture is still permitted or encouraged. Look for areas with agricultural zoning or policies protecting farmland.

·      Land Use Trends: Analyse local land use trends and planning documents to understand how the area is evolving and what future developments are planned.

2.    Consult Local Experts

·      Real Estate Agents: Work with real estate agents who specialise in agricultural properties. They can provide insights into available land and market conditions.

·      Agricultural Extension Services: Reach out to local agricultural extension services or organisations for advice on suitable land and best practices for farming in the area.

3.    Evaluate Soil Quality

·      Soil Testing: Conduct soil tests to assess the quality of the land for farming. Look for good soil fertility, proper drainage, and minimal contamination.

·      Topography: Consider the land’s topography and drainage patterns, as flat, well-drained land is generally more suitable for agriculture.

4.    Assess Infrastructure and Access

·      Water Resources: Ensure the land has access to adequate water resources for irrigation, either through natural sources or established irrigation systems.

·      Accessibility: Check the accessibility of the land, including proximity to roads, markets, and supply centres. Good access can enhance the efficiency of farming operations and distribution.

5.    Consider Future Development

·      Development Pressure: Evaluate the likelihood of future urban development in the area. Look for signs of upcoming infrastructure projects or urban expansion that could impact agricultural viability.

·      Preservation Measures: Identify areas with strong land preservation measures or policies to mitigate the risk of future development encroaching on agricultural land.

6.    Review Historical Land Use

·      Previous Use: Investigate the history of the land to understand its previous use. Land previously used for agriculture may be better suited for farming.

·      Environmental History: Check for any environmental issues, such as contamination or land degradation, that could affect agricultural productivity.

7.    Engage with Local Communities

·      Community Input: Engage with local communities to understand their perspectives on land use and potential development. Community input can provide valuable insights into the long-term viability of agricultural land.

·      Local Agricultural Networks: Join local agricultural networks or associations to gain insights from other farmers and landowners in the area.

8.    Legal and Financial Considerations

·      Ownership and Title: Verify the ownership and legal title of the land to avoid potential disputes or issues.

·      Financial Viability: Assess the financial aspects, including land cost, potential return on investment, and any subsidies or grants available for agricultural operations.

Careful consideration of these factors and conducting thorough research, you can find agricultural land in shrinking suburbs that is both suitable for farming and resilient to future urban pressures.

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Minneapolis in flames (Foreign Policy) Police were forced to retreat as the Minneapolis Police Third Precinct building was set alight in the third night of protests following the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, by a local police officer. Similar protests have now taken place in Louisville and Denver. President Trump called the demonstrators “thugs” on Twitter and threatened to send in National Guard troops to silence public anger. “When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” Trump wrote.

State government shortfalls (Bloomberg) New Jersey may have to cut half the state’s 400,000 public employees if the federal government doesn’t help make up a $10.1 billion revenue shortage through June 2021, Governor Phil Murphy said. “I don’t think there’s any amount of cuts or any amount of taxes that begins to fill the hole,” Murphy told Bloomberg Television. Without federal help, he said, state and local governments will have to dismiss firefighters, police, emergency-medical personnel and others.

Trump says U.S. to withdraw from World Health Organization and announces new broadsides against Beijing (Washington Post) President Trump on Friday leveled an extraordinary broadside at the Chinese government, accusing it of a comprehensive “pattern of misconduct” and ordered U.S. officials to begin the process of revoking Hong Kong’s special status under U.S. law. That will eventually mean that the U.S. would no longer treat Hong Kong and China as separate entities for the purposes of extradition, customs, trade and visa issues, he said. In Rose Garden remarks, Trump alleged that the Chinese government covered up the coronavirus outbreak and said it instigated "a global pandemic that has cost more than 100,000 American lives and over 1 million lives worldwide.” The president also attacked the World Health Organization, which he said was effectively controlled by Beijing. “We will today be terminating our relationship” with the WHO, the president said, adding that the organization’s more than $400 million annual U.S. contribution would be diverted to other health groups.

Amid virus lockdown, radio lessons return in Latin America (AP) At a small farmhouse outside Colombia’s capital city, Marlene Beltran picks up a ruler and crayons. She turns on the radio, sits down at a creaky wooden table and helps her 5-year-old brother with a lesson on how to make paper cubes and decorate them with drawings that tell a story. The Beltrans work on dairy farms and have no internet connection at home. So an hour-long radio lesson developed by the municipal government keeps the children busy—to a degree—while schools are closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Broadcasting was once used widely in Latin America to teach basic math and literacy skills to those in rural areas. Now radio and TV lessons are making a comeback during the virus lockdown, especially with the region’s spotty internet connectivity.

Europe and its tourists (Washington Post) According to Thierry Breton, the European Union’s internal market commissioner, some 27 million jobs across the EU are directly or indirectly linked to tourism, accounting for 12% of employment. Some 3 million businesses benefit from Europe’s normally wide-open borders, helping make the continent the world’s top tourism destination with half of all global arrivals. Industry representatives are now pressing European governments to reopen borders in time for the summer vacation season. As talks among European officials drag on, some countries are already vying for sun-starved travelers. Portugal says travelers arriving by plane won’t be quarantined, though there will be “minimal health controls” at airports. Greece, where 20% of the economy is based on tourism, plans to start welcoming foreign visitors again starting June 15. The country says there will not be a required self-quarantine period, only random sample tests. Cyprus is pledging to cover all costs for anyone testing positive for the coronavirus while on holiday in the east Mediterranean island nation. Still, it’s unclear if travelers will take the bait. Many may spend their summer vacation within their own country.

Sri Lanka’s debt (Foreign Policy) Reuters has a report this week on Sri Lanka’s fragile finances. Nearly 70 percent of government revenue is currently being spent on debt interest payments—let alone the principal. Sri Lanka’s central bank has called speculation about a default “baseless,” but it seems increasingly likely Colombo may have to approach the International Monetary Fund or other global lenders for assistance. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Argentina and Lebanon have already defaulted on their debt. According to the World Bank, nearly 28 percent of Sri Lanka’s export-related income comes from international tourism—a sector that has been almost entirely shut down for three months.

Beijing Hardens Resolve to Defy U.S., Even While Calling for Cooperation (NYT) Ignoring threats from Washington, China stripped another layer of autonomy from Hong Kong on Thursday, plowing ahead with a plan that would ban any form of dissent deemed subversive in the territory reclaimed from Britain more than two decades ago. But even as the plan was approved by China’s top legislative body, and Chinese officials taunted the United States as an imperious meddler, Premier Li Keqiang struck a conciliatory tone. While offering no concessions to American demands, he called for close trade relations between the two countries. The clash over Hong Kong and other issues points to the quandary facing China as it grows in power and contends with an increasingly aggressive Trump administration. The Chinese leadership does not want to incinerate the relationship with the United States, given the enormous economic benefits. Nor is it willing to back down, reflecting divisions in Beijing between hawks and more moderating forces.

China vows to ‘smash’ any Taiwan independence move (Washington Post) China on Friday threatened military action to “resolutely smash” any attempt by Taiwan to become fully independent, ratcheting up regional tensions after pressing ahead with a contentious new security law that would dismantle much of Hong Kong’s autonomy. Marking the 15th anniversary of China’s Anti-Secession Law, which states that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of it, Li Zuocheng, the chief of the Joint Staff Department and a member of the Central Military Commission, vowed to use force if necessary against the island. The Anti-Secession Law, passed in 2005, states that China can use “non-peaceful means” if Taiwan declares independence or takes steps to do so. The ruling Communist Party in Beijing views the self-governed island as a breakaway province that should be under its rule. Taiwan, however, has never been part of the People’s Republic of China.

New Zealand near eradication of coronavirus (AP) New Zealand on Friday had all but eradicated the coronavirus from its shores with just one person in the nation of 5 million known to be still infected, but developments elsewhere were generally grim, with India reporting another record increase in cases and Pakistan a record number of deaths. India registered another record daily increase of 7,466 cases just before its two-month lockdown ends Sunday. Pakistan on Friday reported 57 deaths, its highest single-day increase since the outbreak began. That increased the overall death toll to more than 1,300 and the number of cases to over 64,000. In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte decided to ease a lockdown in the capital to a more relaxed quarantine on Monday after more than two months of strictures enforced by the police and military.

U.N. warns Yemen fund running out (Foreign Policy) United Nations relief agencies working on the ground in Yemen are almost broke, according to United Nations humanitarian aid chief Mark Lowcock. Lowcock has launched a campaign to raise $2.4 billion to support the 80 percent of Yemen’s population now reliant on aid. He said the U.N. received $3.2 billion in aid for Yemen last year, but so far in 2020 that figure was only $474 million. “There’s no way to describe this situation other than alarming,” he said. “Is the world ready simply to watch Yemen fall off the cliff?”

[bitchymagazinepainter]

agriculture jobs

[darius-sabrina]

Die Arbeit ruft – Perth und Lake Jasper (Australien)

Nach längerer Abstinenz gibt es heute – an unserem halbjährigen Reisejubiläum – mal wieder einen neuen Blogeintrag von uns. Mittlerweile sind wir nun schon seit fast drei Monaten in Australien, aber der Reihe nach.

Anfang November befanden wir uns vor einer relativ großen Umstellung: Das unbeschwerte Reisen durch Tropenparadiese wie Sansibar, Sri Lanka und Bali war vorbei. Wir freuten uns, nach über vier Jahren endlich wieder nach Australien zu kommen, obwohl nun vor allem Arbeit auf dem Plan stand, um unsere mittlerweile ausgedünnte Reisekasse wieder auffüllen zu können. Nach der Ankunft in Perth lautete unsere To-Do-Liste daher grob zusammengefasst: „1. Auto kaufen, 2. Job finden“.

Wir wohnten die ersten Wochen in Perth und versuchten vergeblich, einen geräumigen und einigermaßen zuverlässigen Van aufzutreiben. Die Suche gestaltete sich jedoch als durchaus schwierig, da die wenigen Vans im von Geländewagen dominierten Automarkt völlig untergingen und uns stets ein Käufer zuvorkam. Zudem schreckte uns das unerwartet hohe Preisniveau ab. In diesen Tagen der Ungewissheit war der „Run for Palestine“ eine schöne Abwechslung: Darius und über 100 weitere Läufer nahmen an einem Neun-Kilometer-Lauf durch Perth teil. Ziel der Aktion war es, auf die Unterdrückung der Palästinenser durch die israelische Besatzungsmacht aufmerksam zu machen. Zudem kam der Verkaufserlös der „Run-for-Palestinian-Human-Rights“-Tshirts der australischen NGO „Olive Kids“ zugute, die sich für Kinder in Palästina engagiert. Eine super Sache!

Nach einigem Überlegen entschieden wir uns dann an Darius‘ Geburtstag für den Kauf eines Mitsubishi Challenger, Baujahr 1999. Wir verzichteten also auf die Geräumigkeit eines Vans, profitierten dafür aber von den Vorteilen eines Geländewagens, was uns speziell im von Schotterpisten geprägten Western Australia als sinnvoll erschien.

Auch bei der Jobsuche hatten wir kurz darauf Glück: Ein Milchbauer reagierte auf unsere Jobanzeige und zwei Tage später fanden wir uns etwa 300 Kilometer südlich von Perth, mitten im Nirgendwo wieder. 60 Kilometer trennten die Milchkuhfarm von der nächstgrößeren Stadt, einem Supermarkt, Tankstelle etc. Was uns auf dieser dairy farm aber tatsächlich blühen sollte, offenbarte sich erst am nächsten Tag: Die Frühschicht (besser Nachtschicht genannt?) begann um 3.45 Uhr und endete ca. sieben Stunden später. Hatte man dann das Glück, am selben Tag auch noch in der Spätschicht arbeiten zu dürfen, musste man für ca. sechs Stunden ab 14.45 Uhr ran. Nein, die Arbeitszeiten waren bei dieser Arbeit definitiv nicht das Schlimmste: Das vorletzte Bild zeigt Sabrina in der Abfertigungshalle vor dem sogenannten Melkkarussell. Hier wurden pro Schicht über 900 Kühe von nur zwei Melkern gemolken. Ein äußerst unappetitliches Unterfangen.

Ein weiterer deutlich problematischerer Aspekt war aus unserer Sicht die nicht artgerechte (sofern das bei industrieller Milchproduktion überhaupt möglich ist) Haltung der Kühe und Kälber. Hinzukam die schlechte Kommunikation mit den Chefs, sodass uns nach zwei Wochen auch die gute Bezahlung nicht mehr dort halten konnte.

Mit der Aussicht auf einen Job bei einer Apfelfarm verließen wir Mitte Dezember die Einöde Richtung Manjimup …

06. Februar 2019

Perth

Lake Jasper

[juliangbc-blog]

GBC Blog 1 - Week 1.

Having initially been born in Zambia, I grew up on my parent’s dairy farm in a small village called Upper Minety in Wiltshire, a stone’s throw from Stonehenge and the heart of the Cotswolds.

In Africa, my father had been a financial comptroller working with Meridian BIAO Bank who were helping to finance the transition of the country from Northern Rhodesia into its present day Zambia.  My mother, was in essence, a hostess and a mother.  However,  this was in no way disparaging of her culinary achievements.  She had studied with Le Cordon Bleu and had also worked for several years as an au-pair in France when younger.

From an early age, she instilled a love of cooking in me as she felt it was important that, yes even men, should be able to cook. Much to the horror and disgust of my Grandfather - a rather staunch Georgian patriarch.  My Grandfather actually walked out when visiting one Sunday for our roast beef dinner upon discovering that I had helped make some of the dishes - as he left, he muttered none too quietly - “that’s a woman’s job, cooking is not for a man to do!”

As I was rather a precocious child, this merely instilled in me the interest in the culinary field - as long as it did not interfere with my rather large collection of snakes, lizards, insects and other creepy-crawlies that I kept housed in various crates and jars in my “zoo”. 

Upon moving to Canada in 1982, I became more interested in food and would often help with making items from cakes to meringues as well as a variety of savoury items.  I even tried my hand at cheese making and could turn out a respectable unpasterised Cheddar.

Later in life, now aged 17, I attended Carleton University in Ottawa to complete my degree in Microbiology - I only lasted until year two as my heart was not in it.  My Father told me that if I was not in school, then I had to find a job to support myself.  I moved to Toronto and became a flight attendant. That showed him...

For me it was great, I got to travel around the world for free and had the rare opportunity to sample all these new and interesting cuisines. From the amazing and redolent curries of India later in my own travels later in life, to the spicy concoctions in Sri Lanka, I loved it all.  France was an eye opener and I fell in love with bread and cheese and Normandy butter.  It was a good thing I was young as being a fat flight attendant was frowned up.

Whilst working at the airline, I met the boyfriend of someone who would become a very good friend to me, Charles P. MacPherson - author of “the Butler Speaks” & “the Pocket Butler”.  Two books he published after opening his own Butlering School in Toronto and later in New York City.  Charles had worked as the Major Domo to the Eaton Family for years, until its dissolution, he then went his own way.

At around summer of1995, my parents had moved back to the UK and lived in central UK, Leicestershire.  One Sunday afternoon, my Mother called me asked me when I was going to get a real job?  As she rather bluntly put it, you are not 20 any longer… She then, proceeded to tell me that she thought I should follow a career in food.  She said that I had always liked cooking and it had far better prospects in her opinion than layovers in Spain or Portugal.

After having mulled the idea over for a while, I contacted the owner of this Chef School in Glasgow that my Mother had told me about.  The owner was a very young ex Merchant Navy Navigation Officer, who said very early on that his attempts at cooking initially were disastrous… how soon things changed for him.  He trained with the likes of Marco Pierre White and Alastair Little. Shortly after opening his restaurant in the Trossachs Mountains just north of Glasgow, he became the youngest Scottish Chef to win 1 Michelin Star.  On the tails of this success, he had decided to open a Chef School and now has two of them, both in Scotland and remains my mentor, as well as a culinary hero of mine. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/tv-chef-nick-nairn-how-7364539 I called Mr Nairn and said that I was interested in coming and taking his classes.  After his initial sort of amazement as to the logistics as to how I would do so, I informed him I would simply move back in with my parents and commute. 

A few weeks later and it was chocks away and I was on my way to my new career, as well as having the opportunity to train in a Michel Starred Restaurant.

Upon completion, and whilst gaining industry experience in the now flourishing food world of the UK, I moved back to Toronto and soon found a position working as the Executive Sous Chef at Movenpick Palavrion on Front Street. I kept in touch with Charles and he was over for dinner on several occasions.  After working for Movenpick for a while, I was appointed to the position of Private Chef for Hilary Weston when she was our 26th Lieutenant Governor, at Weston’s Family home on Dunvegan in Forest Hill. It was interesting, to say the least, however, I did get the opportunity to work with Galen Weston Sr’s Corporate Chef at the Weston Centre on St Clair and attended several new product development session with Ted Reader who was heading up President’s Choice at that time.

Upon leaving the Weston job, I ended up in large scale Corporate Catering.  We mainly did Corporate Luncheons, Lawyer’s Office parties and dinners as well as weddings and the usual slew of Bar and Bat Mitzvahs as well as catering on most of the Harbourfront booze-cruises - some were elegant and some were just an outright nightmare. The start of one’s Honeymoon is never going well when the groom has to be fished out of Lake Ontario after passing out drunk and toppling over the rail.

The 90′s were good to me professionally. However, I became a bit burnt out from the excessive long working hours - at one point I was up to 90 hours per week.  This really does not allow much of a life or the chance of getting to the cottage etc… So in 1999-2000 I switched careers and went back to school, this time taking a film and television digital graphic design diploma as well as a diploma in web programming and design.  The internet was in full swing and business seemed to be booming.  Upon graduation, I was offered a position teaching at Ryerson University in their Internet Technology Studies division.  I taught there for 8 years, however, even a few years in - if I needed some more hours, I would always pick them up working in a restaurant.  Something about the smell that a professional kitchen has always felt almost like a home away from home to me.

Leaving Ryerson, I went on to teach at U of T in their Business & Professional Studies Department, teaching Web Marketing and Visual Design. 

In 2008, following the death of my Father, I took a sabbatical for a year and you guessed, returned to the world of food. This time I worked for a year at Whole Foods Market in Vancouver assisting the Manager of the Cheese Counter.  Have I mentioned how much I love cheese?  It was actually extremely interesting learning about cheeses from around the globe, as well as being able to sample them all and attend cheese training courses.

In 2010 I returned to Ottawa to assist with Estate matters and took a job as Sous-Chef at Big Easy’s Seafood and Steakhouse - primarily a Cajun/Creole restaurant- with some more French style specials thrown in - the Chef at the time was a recent graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa. He would later become my nemesis - ah the dramas one can find in kitchens all over the world.   My friend, Dot Janz, who was overseeing the day-to-day operations, whilst still  continuing to run her own restaurant, the Black Dog Bistro in Manotick - recently named “Best Restaurant in Ottawa”-  and I decided that one of us would have to go as there was no apparent way to resolve the animosity he felt towards me - either that or she smelled a potential lawsuit.  I ultimately returned to Toronto to pick up again at U of T.  I did, however, get the opportunity to assist in executing a dinner for Chef Michael Smith - who was in town for his new book launch.  What a lovely individual - and so tall, I am 6′2″ and he towered over me, much like Julia Child would have at one of Charles’s book launches at the Cookery Book Store in Yorkville - but alas it was not meant to be, Ms Child had to cancel due to illness and shortly after passed on.

In 2014 I was hospitalised with a variant of Multiple Sclerosis, a  hereditary neuromuscular disorder which left me bed-ridden for nearly 3 months and with a permanent disability.  Not one to be discouraged, I did not go the dark route that quite often people do go down - seeing no hope at having any semblance of normal life again, but not one to be discouraged, I worked my physiotherapy and hundreds of visits to Drs and specialists and neurologists - it’s really fun spending 50% of your time in hospitals and Dr’s offices for nearly 2 years. 

In 2016 I decided I was well enough to return to work - however U of T had summarily dismissed me - they are not as inclusive as they make out to be.  Never one to back down from a challenge, I enrolled for my accelerated paralegal diploma and am graduating May 17th, 2017. After I earned my diploma, I thought long and hard if that was a route that I wished to go down. - did I have the passion and drive to a field, that to be truthful, is more often than not filled with rather less than desirable people.  Don’t get me wrong, the hospitality industry has it’s fair share of prize individuals as well - the drunk sous-chefs, the pastry chef who steals all your mise-en-place and feels that she can get away with it because she is screwing the chef! 

After deliberating for a few days, I decided that the answer was a very resounding no - I like having the legal knowledge and did most of my specialisation work in the field of disability law and human rights.  My heart wanted to go back to cooking and food.  

George Brown was the logical fit as I wished to take the H119 Program Nutrition, however, this does not start until September, and as you might realise by now - patience is not really one of my virtues when it comes to getting things done in the present. I am not a fan of waiting for opportunity - I feel one has to ultimately do what is best for you - having overcome some not so insignificant hurdles in the past, I met with Chef Alvares and we discussed starting in May, since most of the core classes are the same in H100 and H119, he assured me that come September it will be easy to simply to a transfer into the H119 program. My intent is to focus on the nutrition for the lower income/disabled communities as well as product development and marketing.

So that, in a nutshell, is my first blog for Chef Centeno at George Brown College who is teaching us our Theory of Food I class. Whilst, not a novel - maybe let us call it a novella!

Life, lemons… I think there might be something to the time old adage about lemonade!!!  Until next time… 

Oh and in conclusion - I am not a fan of blogs - I rarely find other people’s experiences are as interesting as they think they are -  mine included,  nor are they usually particularly well written.  If I were to associate whom I feel might have actually been worth following as a blogger - then that would have to be the great man himself.  The man who told the world to  “tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are!”  That of course was the brilliant gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/18327/the-physiology-of-taste-by-jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/9780307390370/

Respectfully submitted May, 9th 2017 for Professor Centeno George Brown College.

[dairynewsin-blog]

New Post has been published on Dairy News India

New Post has been published on http://dairynews.in/national-dairy-research-institute-in-bhandara/? utm_source=Tumblr

National Dairy Research Institute in Bhandara

VED urges Radha Mohan Singh to set up National Dairy Research Institute in Bhandara

Nagpur: Nana Patole, Member of Parliament from Bhandara, Nanabhau Yerawar and VED delegates, Rahul Upganlawar, Secretary General, met Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister for Agriculture and apprised him of the dairy scene in this region and pursued the proposal VED has been consistently making for the establishing of a National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in Bhandara. Union Minister said he would consider this proposal.

The National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) as the country’s premier Dairy Research institution has developed considerable expertise over the last five decades in different areas of dairy production, processing, management and human resource development and their services have contributed to the growth of the dairy Industry and the well-being of millions of milk producers and consumers of milk and milk products. The Institute is continuously working to develop its R&D and HRD programmes to better serve the nation in terms of food security, employment generation, poverty alleviation and economic prosperity, informed Devendra Parekh, President, Vidarbha Economic Development council (VED).

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Rahul Upganlawar, Secretary General – VED, informed that VED had already apprised Nana Patole of the need of a National Dairy Research Institute Vidarbha, the best place being Bhandara district which has good dairy business. Establishing of the National Dairy Research Institute in Bhandara would train the local people in the know-how and updated technologies of dairy-farming which would encourage the local entrepreneurs to go into the dairy business thus increasing the milk output and also creating employment opportunities and help to supplement the income of the farmers.

Such an institute exists now in Karnal – the original institute – covering the north and another in Bangalore taking care of the south, and one in Kolkata to cover the east and north-east, and Anand is Gujarat also has similar institutes, but there are none to take care of entire central India. Like these NDRIs, one in Bhandara too would work in different areas of Dairy Production, Processing, Management and Human Resource Development.

Realizing the challenging need of a global Dairy Trade, the Institute would work continuously to develop its R&D and HRD programmes in terms of food security, employment generation, poverty alleviation and economic prosperity.

While the main institute is in Karnal in the north with its extensions in Kalyani, near Kolkata, in the east and Bangalore in the south, catering to central India is omitted, so the establishing of an extension in central India is necessary to cater to the people of this region.

The dairy business could be very useful per se or even as a supplementary income to the rural people in this region especially with farming being weather-dependent and proving, in recent times, to be quite disastrous. VED has in mind Bhandara for this purpose as the dairy industry is somewhat good there which will be conducive to the establishing of the entire infrastructure of such an institute.

Currently, Vidarbha has to import Rs. 1800-2900 crores worth of milk annually from neighbouring States like Chhattisgarh, MP, Telangana, parts of Gujarat and even western Maharashtra. With a good institute like NDRI, the dairy industry would start flourishing in Vidarbha. Realising this need, Nana Patole had assured to establish the NDRI in Bhandara.

The National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) as the country’s premier Dairy Research institution has developed considerable expertise over the last five decades in different areas of dairy production, processing, management and human resource development and their services have contributed to the growth of the dairy Industry and the well-being of millions of milk producers and consumers of milk and milk products. The Institute is continuously working to develop its R&D and HRD programmes to better serve the nation in terms of food security, employment generation, poverty alleviation and economic prosperity.

The NDRI is a Deemed University with the first formal Dairy Technology course having started in India at NDRI in 1957. Over the past five decades, the Institute has produced more than 2,000 Dairy Diploma holders, 1,174 dairy graduates, 1,903 post-graduates at Masters level and 873 at Doctorate level in different disciplines of Dairying. Deemed University status was conferred on the Institute in 1989, for further strengthening its academic programmes. NDRI Deemed University provides high quality education in the field of dairying, which has no parallel in Asia. The programmes of NDRI Deemed University are constantly reviewed and updated to impart requisite knowledge levels to the graduates to make them academically proficient in meeting the emerging global challenges.

Supplementary to the classroom teaching, one-year in-plant training in an industrial environment providing an opportunity to the NDRI students to manage dairy processing jobs in a commercial milieu, is an outstanding feature of the B. Tech (Dairy Technology) programme. A Placement Cell of the Institute provides career guidance, training and placement services for the students. NDRI post-graduate students provide the core faculty for the State Agricultural Universities in Dairy and allied disciplines and also serve the ICAR, CSIR and other National Laboratories as scientists. Alumni of this Institute occupy responsible positions in dairy industry and in R&D institutions and universities, both in India and abroad.

The Institute offers well-structured comprehensive courses and the students are in high demand also in non-dairying Organisations such as medical institutions, pharmaceutical industry, finance sector, etc. Many of our graduates have established themselves as leading entrepreneurs, who have set up their own dairy enterprises dealing with dairy equipment design and fabrication, dairy products manufacture and IT industry. The Institute has also been recognized as Centre of Advanced Studies in the disciplines of Animal Genetics & Breeding and Dairy Technology to further strengthen its HRD activities.

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The Institute continues to attract international students from a host of countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Holland, Egypt and many other countries for training and education in Dairying. Advanced training imparted to the faculty members under various collaborative programmes has immensely helped in improving the quality of research, teaching and consultancy.

NDRI with such offers in all aspects of dairy education is necessary in central India to cater to the students of this vast region. VED has been trying to promote the dairy industry wherein it held three workshops which were attended largely by people from all the districts even the far-flung ones of Vidarbha. Since then, people have taken up dairy-farming, some entrepreneurs have initiated them while others have improved their existing businesses. The response is very encouraging as people still visit VED to ask for help in the sector.

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[ajosoph]

A helping hand for the talents of Sri Lanka

Definitely, Sri Lanka is in a huge crisis. The economy has fallen, food, petrol, and every basic need of human beings are at stake right now. Students, youngsters, and many professionals have lost the chance to shape their careers. Sri Lanka is going through its worst phase. People have lost their jobs. Due to Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948, the majority of its petrol stations are now empty.

The Sri lankans are migrating to different countries for jobs to sustain their livelihood. Being so knowledgeable it is difficult for the candidates to get a job and earn well. AJEETS has now extended its services to candidates who are looking for job opportunities abroad. AJEETS is the best manpower agency in Sri Lanka working tirelessly day and night to provide the best jobs. We are in this business for the last 16 years and our whole team is well aware of the process. 

Our team of experts selects the best candidates and recruits them from the best companies.  A team of effective workers at AJEETS exclusively serves our clients and potential customers. In several countries, including the Middle East, the Far East, and Europe, we have a wide network. AJEETS is the most reputable employment agency in Sri Lanka.

This year has seen a significant shift in the human resources sector as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, the economic downturn, and expanding technological innovations. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and software-as-a-service, businesses are now more productive and competitive. Additionally, it is challenging to find work right now. However, AJEETS, the best manpower agency in Sri Lanka, has done everything possible to provide its services. These days, it can be challenging to obtain acceptable employment because of competition and a shortage of openings. We hire manpower for industries like Construction, Steel, Infrastructure, Oil and Gas, Hospitality, Medicine, railways, Marine, IT, hotel and catering, dairy farms, chemicals and pharmacy, and many more industries. Good employees are difficult to find and keep. The lengthy and difficult hiring process begins with the advertising of a company's numerous job openings and ends with the selection, evaluation, and employment of a qualified applicant. Our experts work day and night to make this happen. Our experts handle all necessary steps, including screening applicants, setting up interviews, and training interviewers. As the best manpower agency in Sri Lanka, along with hiring candidates, we also help them with their international migration. We help them when they migrate by getting them their visas and other essentials. Businesses may use specific frameworks to assist new hires in getting to know one another and feeling like they are a part of a caring team. All businesses should use an employee on boarding process to make sure newly hired staff members are not only comfortable with their tasks but also happy and productive while carrying them out. AJEETS team recruits skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled manpower to countries like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman in the Middle East; Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, the Maldives, and China in the Far East; and the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Romania, and Serbia in Europe.

[ajosoph]

AJEETS helps you boost your production on your Dairy Farm.

When was the last time you ate something made from milk? Was it milk with your cereal for breakfast? What's the deal with the cheese on your cheeseburger? Is your dinner roll slathered in butter? For dessert, how about mint chocolate chip ice cream? Dairy is a tremendously profitable industry and one of the primary food divisions. The dairy farm industry is reaching its heights nowadays. The food items like milk, curd, butter, and cheese are now in great demand. 

The dairy industry is now in need of manpower that can help the industry in a large production and supply of dairy products. This industry is not even as typical as the other industries like civil or construction. But yes, the dairy farm industry needs proper skills and management. Dairy farming involves a lot of management and properly caring for the animals. 

The most vital attribute you need is a love of animals, particularly dairy cows; if you don't, you won't be successful in this type of agricultural labor. As a dairy farmer, you will be responsible for the health of your whole herd, though you will need to consult a veterinarian for routine health checks and any major health issues that arise. Your dairy cows will be your primary focus. Cows are necessary for profit, thus they must be adequately cared for and should take up a large portion of your daily work schedule. 

Dairy is a multibillion-dollar business. Yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products require billions of gallons of milk. Take a look at the gallons of milk and mountains of cheese in your local supermarket. This is a massive industry! The amount of milk produced is how dairy farmers generate money. This means that having healthy cows is crucial. The milk production of each cow is recorded to assist decide which animals are cash cows and which are not. 

As the leading dairy farm recruitment agency AJEETS understands the need for manpower in the dairy farm industry and recruits manpower across the globe and helps the candidates to have a bright future in the dairy farm industry. We have a very thorough hiring procedure in place. We extensively vet all applicants from all relevant prospects to ensure their credibility in the industry. Our database of open opportunities in this field is compiled from data collected from firms all over the world. Our experts select candidates who are well skilled and trained and can help you in your business. 

AJEETS experts help the candidates in many ways, we give proper training to the candidates. We make them understand their job role before sending them to different places. Because when you choose to work on a dairy farm, you are committing to a particular way of life. This is more than a job; it's a vocation and an important aspect of your life. It is not a career where you work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with every weekend off. You'll be working shifts, starting early in the morning and ending late at night. This employment takes dedication and a desire to work in a farm environment, and a working day can start as early as 3 a.m., so you should carefully examine whether these working hours are good for you and whether you are committed enough to keep them.

AJEETS connects employees and employers.  As the top dairy farm recruitment agency we have developed relationships with the finest firms in the globe and provide them with the best applicants from all around the world. Our experts recruit for the different job roles like Veterinarian, Plumber, Dairy Farm Manager, Feeder, Milkman, Nutritionist, Accountants, Dairy Technologists, Dairy Engineers, Dairy Scientists, Marketing Personnel, Chief Veterinarian, Agronomist, Asst. farm manager, Fodder Feeder, as per the needs and demands of the company. We hire skilled and unskilled manpower from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Kenya, and Uganda. We practically completely handle almost all of the concerns that arise during the application selection process. Our pros handle everything from lodging to visa clearance to basic training to deployment. As the leading dairy farm recruitment agency, we provide our services across the globe. This is how AJEETS helps you boost your production in your dairy farm industry.

[ajosoph]

What do you Want a CANDIDATE or a JOB?

Job or a Candidate? What do you want?  Definitely, this sounds weird. But yes what do u want a candidate or a job? Because we have both. AJEETS provides both. Yes, AJEETS helps by recruiting the best skilled and unskilled workforce to various companies abroad and also guides and helps the candidates in shaping a bright career. 

AJEETS is a manpower recruitment agency in India that recruits skilled and unskilled human resources from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Uganda. AJEETS is in this business for the last 16 years and is one of the most reliable and dependable agencies. AJEETS has its own experts who have a good experience in different industries. Our experts also guide the candidates. 

As the leading manpower recruitment agency in India, we are proud of our knowledge in e-staffing solutions, job placements, employment help, and recruitment. One of the most important parts of any company or business is its human resources, and we handle this for many foreign businesses, particularly those in the Gulf nations.

In order to maintain industry competition, AJEETS, a manpower recruitment agency in India, adheres to the principle that it is our goal to provide meaningful solutions for both individuals and businesses. By bringing together individuals from around the globe, our services will assist firms in succeeding in a setting that is changing quickly. Every year, we guarantee potential candidates a position where they are deserving of it and promise businesses solutions that meet their needs.

After a fruitful 16-year journey, the public today recognizes our manpower recruitment agency in India as a capable, trustworthy, and all-inclusive Indian recruitment firm. Having started with a few industries, we now provide services to a wide range of sectors, including; Construction, Steel, Infrastructure, Oil and Gas, Hospitality, Medicine, railways, Marine, IT, Electrical and Electronics, Dairy Farm, Logistics, Automotive, Chemicals and Pharmacy, and many other industries. Following the selection of a candidate, we have an orientation or introduction program where he is made aware of important topics including the work culture of the respective organization, industrial practices, safety concerns, labor laws, and other pertinent issues. We constantly refresh our database to provide you with the best job opportunities. 

Our commitment to going above and beyond to provide the best solutions to our clients has been the cornerstone of our long-standing reputation. The standards set by our applicants and clients have always been met by AJEETS. We assist applicants with their migration from one country to another in addition to simply recruiting them. When they migrate, we assist them in obtaining their visas and other necessities. Without a doubt, AJEETS succeeds in being the best manpower recruitment agency in India. 

We take a unique approach to staffing as an all-inclusive manpower recruitment agency in India. With this process, we stand out because we guarantee success for both job seekers and companies. We make an effort to comprehend the businesses' lists of both temporary and long-term requirements before attempting to match them up with our list of available applicants' skill sets. Our process achieves exceptional results while serving as a link between the two parties. 

As a committed personnel agency in India, AJEETS believes in maximizing human potential to pave the way for successful careers. We help applicants find jobs at the greatest organizations on the globe as a manpower company by supporting their goals and dreams. At the same time, we observe that multinational corporations' temporary and permanent openings attract applicants who can advance their companies' operations. Our services are offered all over the world with an emphasis on countries like Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman in the Middle East; and Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Maldives, South Korea, Indonesia, and China in the Far East Countries and the UK, Germany, Poland, Romania, Serbia in the Europe Continent. Make us your long-term recruitment partner with a presence in India today!

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Free rein for authoritarians (Washington Post) The pardon was swift and stunning, overturning the landmark conviction of an army sergeant for massacring civilians during Sri Lanka’s civil war. Human rights groups decried the move, but there were no protests. Nor were there any in-person appeals. Even a legal challenge was impossible: With all of Sri Lanka under a strict nationwide lockdown, the courts, too, were closed. The decision in March by Sri Lanka’s newly elected president is part of a broader, disturbing trend in which governments around the world have punished opponents, rewarded friends and stifled dissent amid the global pandemic. The overwhelming nature of the fight against the disease combined with physical restrictions on citizens has meant that such actions incite less opposition at home and abroad than in the past. In Bolivia, the government has arrested dozens of opponents under a new decree passed earlier in April. In India, authorities have pursued activists and journalists using a sweeping anti-terrorism statute. In Cambodia, at least 30 people—many of them opposition supporters���have been arrested ostensibly for spreading misinformation during the pandemic. Several governments have passed laws whose stated goal is to fight the coronavirus but that opponents say provide tools to crack down on critical voices and the media. While emergency measures may be necessary to combat the spread of the virus, some governments “appear to be using COVID-19 as a cover for human rights violations, further restricting fundamental freedoms and civic space, and undermining the rule of law,” Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said in a statement this week.

Virus rhetoric escalates (Reuters) Donald Trump’s attacks on China’s handling of the early days of the pandemic have now escalated to threats of trade measures. The U.S. president said on Thursday his trade deal with China was now of secondary importance and warned of new tariffs. That reflects his growing frustration with Beijing over the pandemic, which has cost tens of thousands of lives in the United States alone, sparked an economic contraction and threatened his chances of re-election in November. China has repeatedly pushed back at what it considers are politically motivated attacks on it.

Managers turn to surveillance software, always-on webcams to ensure employees are (really) working from home (Washington Post) In the weeks since social distancing lockdowns abruptly scattered the American workforce, businesses across the country have scrambled to find ways to keep their employees in line, packing their social calendars and tracking their productivity to ensure they’re telling the truth about working from home. Thousands of companies now use monitoring software to record employees’ Web browsing and active work hours, dispatching the kinds of tools built for corporate offices into workers’ phones, computers and homes. But they have also sought to watch over the workers themselves, mandating always-on webcam rules, scheduling thrice-daily check-ins and inundating workers with not-so-optional company happy hours, game nights and lunchtime chats. Company leaders say the systems are built to boost productivity and make the quiet isolation of remote work more chipper, connected and fun. But some workers said all of this new corporate surveillance has further blurred the lines between their work and personal lives, amping up their stress and exhaustion at a time when few feel they have the standing to push back.

Stymied in Seeking Benefits, Millions of Unemployed Go Uncounted (NYT) With a flood of unemployment claims continuing to overwhelm many state agencies, economists say the job losses may be far worse than government tallies indicate. The Labor Department said Thursday that 3.8 million workers filed for unemployment benefits last week, bringing the six-week total to 30 million. But researchers say that as the economy staggers under the weight of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of others have lost jobs but have yet to see benefits. A study by the Economic Policy Institute found that roughly 50 percent more people than counted as filing claims in a recent four-week period may have qualified for benefits—with the difference representing those who were stymied in applying or didn’t even try because the process was too formidable. “The problem is even bigger than the data suggest,” said Elise Gould, a senior economist with the institute, a left-leaning research group. “We’re undercounting the economic pain.”

As produce rots in the field, one Florida farmer and an army of volunteers combat ‘a feeling of helplessness’��one cucumber at a time (Washington Post) Hank Scott believes the bright green rows of ripening cucumbers are the best yield on his land since his father started the farm in 1963. During any other spring, he’d oversee an army of workers harvesting cucumbers and shipping truckloads to pickling companies along the East Coast. But the coronavirus pandemic has closed or crippled the businesses where his produce would end up. So instead, Scott, 64, invited volunteer pickers with the Society of St. Andrew, a Christian hunger relief organization, to glean as much produce as they could and donate it to nearby food banks. Scott and the volunteer cucumber pickers were trying to bring some sense to what has emerged as one of the most perverse outcomes of the pandemic: farmers forced to destroy fields full of crops while a growing number of families can’t afford enough food. The Florida Department of Agriculture estimates that produce farmers like Scott have lost $522.5 million through mid-April. And they are not the only ones with a perishable product that will reach the end of its shelf life before it even leaves the farm. Dairy farmers and cooperatives across the country have dumped millions of gallons of milk down drains or onto fields as cheese plants and dairy producers contend with an unmovable surplus.

Coronavirus hits European economies but governments help shield workers (Washington Post) The coronavirus pandemic has dealt Europe an economic wallop on par with that in the United States, but Europe has more successfully managed to shield workers, according to data released Thursday. The unemployment rate in Europe crept up only modestly in the first weeks of the coronavirus lockdowns—at a time when millions of Americans filed for jobless benefits. The contrast shows the effect of Europe’s starkly different approach to fighting the economy-busting effects of the pandemic, with many governments intervening to subsidize private-sector salaries.

France boosts bikes (Foreign Policy) While Berlin has moved to increase its number of cycle lanes in anticipation of a ridership shortfall on public transit, France is looking to go one better and give cyclists cash to repair their bikes. Environment Minister Elisabeth Borne announced a $22 million dollar scheme to boost cycling infrastructure, the majority of which will be distributed in 50 euro checks to individuals to get their bikes in working order. “We want this period to be another step toward a cycling culture,” Borne wrote on Twitter.

Russia’s prime minister has coronavirus (Foreign Policy) Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, making him the first high-ranking Russian official with a confirmed infection. Mishustin publicly announced the news in a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “What is happening to you can happen to anyone,” Putin told Mishustin. “When you get to the hospital, call me. I’ll be waiting for your call.” Mishustin has been one of the key figures in Russia’s coronavirus response, as cases in the country have pushed past the 100,000 mark.

Arab League condemns planned annexation (Foreign Policy) The member states of the Arab League issued a joint statement on Thursday calling Israel’s planned annexation of the West Bank a “new war crime” against the Palestinian people. Arab League secretary-general Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Israel was being opportunistic, using the world’s distraction during the coronavirus pandemic to “impose a new reality on the ground.”

Stranded in the United States, with no way home or health insurance: ‘We’re just trapped’ (Washington Post) She was supposed to stay in New York for a month, exploring the city and swapping business cards. Then the pandemic struck, and her country shuttered its airports. Now, Nuong Faalong, a broadcast journalist from Ghana, is trapped on a friend’s pullout couch. “This is a terrible nightmare,” said Faalong, 33, who doesn’t have American health insurance—or any idea when she can leave. Thousands of Africans are thought to be stranded in the United States after borders tightened around the world, thrusting them into coronavirus limbo at the outbreak’s epicenter. There is no database of marooned travelers, but more than 62,000 visitors from the continent entered the United States in March—just as cases began to skyrocket in a nation where a stay in intensive care can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Getting back to an African country is particularly hard when 34 of the continent’s 57 international airports have closed or dramatically cut flights. Panicked people are calling embassies, diplomats say, but national budgets are strained from fighting outbreaks—and repatriation flights are astronomically costly.