5@5: Price hike in quinoa imminent as Peru eyes China | Tree-planting found most effective against climate crisis

Health food staple quinoa may get pricier as Peru eyes China

Officials from China and Peru have signed a customs agreement allowing imports of quinoa from Peru for the first time ever, and a former Peruvian minister of production expects that Asia will soon become the biggest market for the grain. However, large-scale production of the grain on Peru’s coast has been hindered by “delays to new irrigation products and uncertainty about the future of a special labor and tax regime for agribusiness that expires in 2021." Read more at Bloomberg …

Tree-planting ‘has mind-blowing potential’ to tackle climate crisis

Scientists have concluded that forest restoration is “overwhelmingly” the top solution to reverse climate change as compared with other methods. Planting trees also doesn’t require government prior to taking action, so individuals can “make a tangible impact by growing trees themselves, donating to forest restoration organizations and avoiding irresponsible companies." Read more at The Guardian …

Lucky’s Market cements Florida growth with new distribution center

Lucky’s Market is opening a 120,000-square-foot central distribution center in Orlando, Florida, in order to support the company’s growing presence in the state. The facility will primarily house produce and bulk foods. Read more at The Tampa Bay Times …

Inside the conflict at Walmart that’s threatening its high-stakes race with Amazon

Walmart is projecting losses of over $1 billion for its U.S. e-commerce division this year. Should Walmart fail to close the gap between itself and Amazon soon, the latter could easily become the de facto online marketplace with little to no legitimate competition. Walmart, however, could help fight this hegemonic fate by building out its warehouse infrastructure—but not all executives are on board. Read more at Vox …

Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods and the plant-based burger of the summer. Here are the diet facts you need to know

Because of the ascendance of processed CPG vegan and vegetarian food products, some plant-based dieters are facing the same health concerns historically attributed to meat eaters. The “health halo” of plant-based meats masquerading as a better-for-you is particularly troubling to dieticians, but is still a good introduction for consumers making the shift toward a healthier, more plant-centric diet. Read more at CNBC …