TV chefs use Benriners; I can’t imagine cooking without one. When I wrote about commercial strawberries, (“Strawberry Fields Forever,” June 19) all my research said the toxic chemical used to sterilize strawberry fields, methyl bromide — carcinogenic to humans and with ozone depleting properties 20 times greater than freon — had finally been eliminated in 2005, after a lot of foot-dragging by industrial farmers with the help of government deregulation.

Unfortunately, the chemicals replacing it were almost as bad. A month later, I found a report containing both good and bad news. The bad news was that methyl bromide is still in use in the U.S. (it was banned in other countries much earlier than 2005). The good news was that a company, Farm Fuel Incorporated, has come up with a non-toxic alternative: ground mustard seeds.

In “Buying prime,” Aug. 28, when I wrote about buying dry-aged, prime beef, I didn’t realize that Stan Schutte, owner of Triple S farms (www.familyfarmersmeats.com, 217- 895-3652) dry-ages all his beef for two weeks before selling it. I should have known: I get most all my meat from Schutte, and it has exceptional flavor, in addition to being sustainably and humanely raised. He’s at the Wednesday farmer’s market in summer, and makes monthly Springfield deliveries in cold months to his “buying club.” Contact him for more information.