BERN, SWITZERLAND – Swiss federal agriculture officials say that the cost of fighting the devastating Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing drosophila) pest could start at CHF3,000 per hectare, and rise, depending on the intensity of the grower’s efforts to deal with it. One hectare can provide a wine producer with anywhere from 700 to 3,000 bottles […]
Swiss news: tourism up, inflation down, record khat haul
Foreign tourist stays up 3.8% BERN, SWITZERLAND – Swiss federal authorities say tourism rose 6 percent in February compared to a year earlier. The latest figures ease some fears about the immediate impact of the higher Swiss franc on the ski season. The month had an additional 176,000 overnight stays, of which foreign demand was […]
Foreigners make up one-third of Vaud residents
Vaud has 4 new cities LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – One-third of the people who live in Canton Vaud are foreigners, the latest statistics show. And the canton has four new cities, according to cantonal population statistics released 7 April. The latest figures, for 2014, also show that for the first time in some years, the percentage […]
Food safety on today’s plate
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – A new WHO report whose initial results will be issued later today will show that 351,000 people died in one year from foodborne illnesses, with 582 million cases on record. The report’s findings are part of the 7 April World Health Day 2015, whose theme is “from farm to plate, make food […]
Before the Easter feast
We always had a light supper on Easter Saturday when I was growing up: it was the end of Lent in my Catholic household, but there was the promise of a big Easter Sunday dinner. It was a time for anticipation rather than celebration, which would come the next day. I always had a new […]