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When Pigs Cry: The Raising Of America's Pork

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Pigs are highly intelligent and can adapt to various climates.

In his first book, Tomatoland, Vermont food writer Barry Estabrook took on Big Ag that has destroyed that fruit. Now in Pig Tales: An Omnivore's Quest for Sustainable Meat, he uncovers methods large pork producers are using to raise their pigs, including feeding them animal byproducts, hormones and drugs and keeping them in cramped individual cages.

He espouses more humane methods that would allow them to have room to roam and be fed a diet of pure soybeans and corn.

We speak with Estabrook about his new book and how the pork industry can be improved.

Also on the program, according to laboratory experiments by researchers at McGill University, a concentrated extract of maple syrup makes disease-causing bacteria more susceptible to antibiotics. We hear from Nathalie Tufenkji, an associate professor and the Canada Research Chair in the department of Chemical Engineering at McGill University, about the study.

Broadcast live on Thurs., May 7, 2015 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Ric was a producer for Vermont Edition and host of the VPR Cafe.
Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
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