Thursday, December 27, 2007

Shopping lists 'get more ethical'

Shoppers take it all for granted - fresh produce available all the year round regardless of whether it is in season in the UK.

But does it make any sense?

S.J. farmers find organic certification a challenge

A farmer in the back row rested his eyes as his classmates turned to Page G6.1 of an organic farming "system plan."

Two hours into this lecture in a quiet east Stockton conference room, the teacher - a farmer himself - offered reassurance:

Spread the cheer back to the farm yard this Christmas

Christmas is a time to feast, and in a meat loving nation, the festive spread is almost guaranteed to include a bountiful array of ham, beef, chicken, turkey, lamb and eggs.

But before you launch into your Christmas shopping consider the far-reaching effects of your supermarket choices, says Biological Farmers Australia.

Govt to make Andhra Pradesh organic coffee hub

Government has earmarked Rs 76 crore to promote cultivation and export of organic coffee in Andhra Pradesh, aimed at providing livelihood security in naxal-infested areas of the state.

Consumers Seeking the Green

Despite economic challenges, many consumers of natural products are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products, according to a MamboTrack study by Mambo Sprouts Marketing. In the survey of 1,000 natural products consumers, seven out of 10 said they’d be willing to pay up to 20-percent more for “green” products and services. While price remains the overwhelming factor (60 percent) in deciding where to shop, 56 percent said a selection of healthy organic products and 49 percent cited availability of organic produce as key factors.

Whole Foods recalls chocolate bars over undeclared nuts

A large natural foods grocer is recalling milk chocolate bars distributed and sold in Colorado over the possibility that the bars contain nuts which are not listed in the ingredients.

The Colorado Department of Public Health announced Tuesday that Whole Foods Market is recalling the brand name 365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Milk Chocolate Bars with Rice Crisps, 3-ounce size, with a "best if used by date" of 11/21/07. The date can be found on the back of the wrapper.

Antibiotic-Resistant E. Coli Rises in Chickens

Potentially harmful E. coli bacteria has developed such staunch resistance to human antibiotics in chicken processing facilities that workers may unwittingly spread harmful bacteria in their communities, according to a new Johns Hopkins University study detailed in Newsday.

Quick guide: Sustainable food

The Earth's increasing population means more pressure on finite resources. It is estimated that if all six billion people on Earth lived a European lifestyle, we would need more than two-and-a-half planets' worth of resources to support us.