The most compelling story threads we’ve come across recently include a threat to affordable tomatoes, steakhouses thriving amid rising beef costs, and a growing backlash among chefs and owners against in-restaurant photos. We also share reports from an idyllic New England town, where restaurants accuse the local college of unfair competition, and the Andes, where Americans are cornering the market on quinoa.
• Tomato trade war heats up. We could pay $5 a pound for tomatoes if U.S. growers get their way and a 17-year trade agreement with Mexico ends. (Bloomberg)
• No photos, please. Some New York City eateries have decided that enough is enough when it comes to food snapshots, and they’re asking patrons to keep their cameras off. (CBS)
• Town vs. gown. Amherst, MA, restaurant owners are up in arms over an aggressive campaign by UMass to boost its in-house foodservice volume. (Gazettenet.com; registration required)
• Are we too keen on quinoa? Historically a protein staple in the Andean diet, Bolivians and Peruvians are trading the now-expensive seed for cheaper junk food. (Yahoo! News)
• Steakhouses fatten up. Despite rising beef prices, high-end steakhouses continue to open and attract diners in New York City. (Crain's New York Business)
