USDA report aimed at smaller organic producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Institute for Rural Studies have collaborated on a report aimed at helping smaller California growers of organic fruits and vegetables.

Avoid These 7 Foods and You're Off To A Healthier New Year

1. Canned Tomatoes

The expert: Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A

The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Acidity -- a prominent characteristic of tomatoes -- causes BPA to leach into your food.

USA - Organic food bubble about to burst

Meat and poultry companies still hoping to cash in on the growing market for organic products may want to think again. New research from the Connecticut-based TABS Group suggests the market is, if not static, then not growing in terms of numbers of shoppers.

"In the mass market, organic is not growing," TABS founder and president Dr. Kurt Jetta told MEATPOULTRY.com. "Every year we measure the popularity of several categories of so-called, good-for-you products, and organic consistently has the lowest appeal."

Natural and Organic Agriculture Policy Being Planned

Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries' Agro-Investment Corporation, Dr. David Lowe, has said that there is scope for the development and growth of natural and organic agriculture in Jamaica, through a national policy framework for the sector.

Shoppers going green despite struggling economy

Despite the worst U.S. recession in decades, sales of organic and sustainable products have continued to grow, experts say, with shoppers willing to spend a few more dollars in a bid to become more green.

U.S. supermarket sales of environmentally sustainable or "ethical" products -- from energy-efficient light bulbs to organic produce -- will rise about 8.7 percent in 2009 to nearly $38 billion, according to a recent study by Packaged Facts, a market research provider.

Organic citrus on track despite obstacles

The organic citrus category may have hit a speed bump recently, but Scott Mabs, director of marketing for Homegrown Organic Farms, Porterville, Calif., isn’t sure the sagging economy deserves all the blame.

Sure, some consumers may be cutting corners and switching back to conventional produce, but Mabs believes the bigger challenge to the category is increased competition as more growers and suppliers climb aboard.

Organic vegetable shortage for Canada

Only five of the main producers in California are adhering to new Canadian regulations, prompting shortage concerns

Organic produce in Canada is anticipated to become more expensive this winter with some vegetable categories even appearing empty now the Canadian border is closed to organic vegetables containing sodium nitrate, according to a report by Canada.com.

Organic wine, EU starts addressing legislation

As early as next week the EU draft legislation on organic wine will be formally reviewed by experts from 27 member states to be hence presented by the European Commission in January, as previously planned.

Survey suggests 86% will buy organic or free range at Christmas

Nearly 90% of consumers claim that they will be eating a free range or organic turkey this Christmas, according to a new survey.

Goldenriverfarms.co.uk conducted a survey of 1791 people across the UK asking them what food they are planning to tuck into this Christmas and 86% said that they are buying free range or organic meat for their Christmas meal.

In the US, organics still a niche market

In the United States, organic foods haven't hit the mainstream and are still niche products despite their greater availability and growing awareness about their alleged health and environmental benefits, according to a new survey by marketing research and consulting firm TABS Group.

Organic farming sprouts in region

Consumers in the UAE and the wider region are gradually developing an appetite for organically raised products, and farmers and retailers are seeing greater opportunities to make a profit from supplying goods grown according to a natural philosophy.

Fresh Trends shows produce remains a favorite

And now for some good news.

Yes, 2009 was filled with a lot of bad news. In The Packer’s upcoming Year in Produce special report, the top three stories were not bursting with happiness and laughter. And there weren’t even any hurricanes or major food safety outbreaks this year.

I'm not sure what this is but it sounds like fun

Free Moose Munch - that's a chocolate goodie - with select Harry and David products. They'll have this available till December 31.

Green gifts: hard to argue with this one

New green wines at wine.com

Exclusively at Wine.com. The Eco Wine Trio includes three premium red wines from the Boisset Family Estates – the first available in PET bottles in the U.S. (What are PET bottles? They are BPA-free plastic bottles that weigh 90% less and have a 50% lower carbon footprint than glass bottles and feature a unique oxygen-barrier that ensures wine quality and taste.) They are presented in a gift box produced of 100% recycled packaging and it retails for $29.99 – an incredible value. With each Eco Wine Trio sale, Wine.com will direct 10% of the retail price to the EarthEra Renewable Energy Trust, which funds construction of new, renewable energy projects in the U.S. In addition, EarthEra carbon balances the shipments of the Eco Wine Trio from the winery to you.

Vegan vino? Sure, but it comes with a few catches

Wines made from organically grown grapes used to suffer from a reputation for inadequacy. These were the murky beverages that were sold in health food co-ops and poured in vegetarian cafes that served sprouts and tofu. They were not to be taken seriously.

Today, the tide has turned. Consumers have come to expect their wines to come from sustainably grown fruit. And for grocery store shoppers, "organic" has become a term denoting quality rather than mediocrity.

But now there's a new word in the wine lexicon: vegan.

More wineries focus on going green

Rodney Strong Wine Estates announced last month that it is now "carbon neutral." The Sonoma County winery joins several in California, South America and New Zealand that, through conservation and investment in clean energy (by buying carbon credits), have reduced their carbon emissions enough to essentially zero out their contribution to greenhouse gases.

Wineries today tout their environmentalist credentials almost as much as their scores from influential wine critics. Their news releases gloat about certifications for sustainable or organic farming or glittering new solar power arrays more often than about the latest vintage release. Napa County police recently nabbed a ring of thieves who were sneaking onto winery grounds at night to pilfer valuable solar panels.

Organic wines gaining popularity worldwide

DRIVEN BY CONSUMER demand for more healthy consumption and an unspoiled environment, farmers and wine growers in the West have been turning to organic or alternative farming, that is, farming without chemical pesticides or fertilizers, as in the days before World War II.

There’s reason wine-grape growers are attracted to organic farming. With wine already under attack from adversaries of alcoholic beverages, growers have no wish to rile still another group, the foes of chemicals in farming.

However, organic wines are not just for fired-up eco activists. Today, even the most snobbish oenophiles match their discriminating taste buds with their environmental beliefs. The New York Times reported that organic wines have been a trend in the past two years. It’s not just because these wines supposedly prevent the throbbing head syndrome after a night of indulgence.

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Receive Free Standard Shipping on the following stemware lines: Fusion Classic and Fusion Infinity, including personalized items; Allure; and Break-Free PolyCarb. Standard Shipping rates will apply to all other products in your order. Offer not valid on 1-Day or 2-Day Delivery. Applies only on shipments to the contiguous 48 United States and is not valid for international addresses. Not combinable with any other offers and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer expires 12:00 P.M. ET on 11/2/09.

Brazil launches program to regulate organic products in 2010

Starting next year, all Brazilian organic products (except those sold directly by farmers) must have the Seal of the Brazilian System of Organic Conformity Assessment (Sisorg) -which identifies organic products.

The seal is an essential guide to consumers, helping to identify whether a food is truly organic and what to look for when buying such products.

Small organic farms shun the downturn

Large-scale organic farms in Spain have been affected by a drop in sales, also due to the fact that supermarkets over the past year have reduced the shelf space dedicated to organic produce. But many smaller farmers could avoid the consequences of organic consumption drop, as they are not dependent on large corporate customers, such as supermarkets.

MEXICO: Fair Trade Will Become Major Trend, Say Growers

Thanks to fair trade, Jorge Cetz - a lemon and mango grower from the southeastern Mexican state of Campeche - has gained access to markets and organised his cooperative better. But in order to enhance results under this form of sustainable production and alternative marketing, more support is needed, he said.

New standard for organic and biodynamic foods

The introduction of a new Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce on Friday by Standards Australia has been welcomed by some as the final resolution of organic regulation.

This is despite the fact that the standard still remains voluntary, similar to existing standards in Australia.

New seizure in Italy of fake fresh organic fruit

460 tonnes of apples and pears from conventional farming were seized in Padua during a blitz in a company registered in the list of organic food processors. Agricultural minister Zaia: "Controls are becoming more effective."

Organic meat – now benefit free!

Following news that organic food has been shown to be nutritionally the same as conventionally produced food (which I discussed here) comes another report that undermines the organic industry’s sense of superiority.

A recent report by Kansas State University researchers has found that natural, organic and conventional cattle production systems are similar in terms of prevalence rates of bacteria and their susceptibility to antibiotics.

Organic crop fraud targeted

A bill meant to deter fraud in California's nation-leading organic farming industry is headed to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk.

Assembly Bill 856, authored by Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, targets problems in the organic fertilizer sector, the subject of several Bee articles beginning in December.

The bill increases penalties for violations of organic fertilizer standards, expands state regulators' inspection authority and raises as much as $416,000 annually for enforcement through new fees on fertilizer makers.

Exim Bank to fund branding of Indian organic tea

State-run Export-Import (Exim) Bank will finance planters up to 50 percent for branding Indian organic tea in overseas markets, a top bank official said here.

“We will lend planters by way of grant up to 50 percent to promote organic teas as Indian brands in international markets by getting geographical indication (GI) certification,” Exim Bank chairman and managing director T.C. Venkat Subramanian told IANS in an interview.

Sweden must be better than organic

As the first in Europe, the Swedish will put climate requirements on organic produce. Swedish organic farmers must, from 2012, adhere to strict regulations to obtain the EKO-label. A list of requirements, such as chemicals for growing, tractors running on green energy, limit nitrogen gases when spreading compost and dramatically reduce energy use per product. Before 2012 the farmers must have a plan on how they will get all the energy used on the farm from renewable sources before 2015. The Swedish certification organisation KRAV have recently made the legislation known.

French study says 'oui' to organic benefits

A new study from France concludes that in many important ways, organic foods are more nutritious and safer to eat than their conventional counterparts.

This flies in the face of a United Kingdom study published last month that concluded there was no significant nutritional difference between organic and other food.

The study is yet another salvo in the ongoing debate over the nutritional benefits of organic food compared with food raised using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides

UK organic market can grow by £1 billion, experts say

Great expectations for the UK's organic market: according to the Organic Trade Board, which has presented its expansions plan to industry stakeholders, the sector can grow by £1 billion over the next five years in spite of the economic downturn.

Is biodynamic the new organic?

Organic food has had a terrible recession. Before the crunch, the organic sector had been growing steadily year on year – but sales came to a crashing halt when cost-conscious customers began to look for cheaper alternatives.

Last week, sales of organic vegetables were revealed to be down by a fifth, while demand for organic wine and bread sales has halved in 12 months. On top of the dip in sales, the Food Standards Agency's Organic Food Report this summer concluded that the nutritional benefits of organic food were negligible.

So you might think that now is no time to get into biodynamic food, a spin-off of the organic revolution.

Biodynamics embraces a holistic view of nature: it is by definition organic but it also involves biodiversity and – strangest of all – astronomy. Food is grown, harvested and sometimes even consumed in accordance with lunar cycles.

Bad Argument Against Organic Produce Is Taking Shape In The UK

After a recent bout of anti-organic propaganda in the UK's mainstream media - which was led by elements from within the UK's government and associated agencies - a picture is emerging of the exact nature of this particular beast. What seems to be going on here is an attempt by multi-national chemical companies to get looser laws governing the use of their pesticides within the UK, and when considering who is saying what, this is more than likely supported by the big food industry giants too. A worrying sign is the lack of government or opposition support for the organic/anti-pesticide side, from whom we only hear the usual voices, and their opinions are not being published quite as often as those who would prefer us to totally forget about organic produce.

10 Ways Growing an Organic Garden Can Help Your Health and Budget

Get the nutrition you need & enjoy tastier food

Many studies have shown that organically grown food has more minerals and nutrients than food grown with synthetic pesticides. And there’s a good reason why many chefs use organic foods in their recipes -- they taste better.

Save money

Growing your own food can help cut the cost of your grocery bill.

Are Organic Foods Healthier?

In the ongoing debate about the health value of organic food, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has submitted the most recent rebuttal – organic food has no nutritional benefits over ordinary food. However, the manner in which the study was performed raises questions and the manner in which the report is being relayed in the media has been highly inaccurate.

60 percent of 'organic' food in stores not genuine: foundation

Some 60 percent of the food sold in Taiwan's retail shops or supermarkets as organic is not genuine, the non-profit Consumers' Foundation reported Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference, Consumers' Foundation Chairman Hsieh Tian-jen said although regulations were introduced Aug. 1 to fine suppliers of organic farm produce NT$60,000 (US$1,829) to NT$300,000 for inadequate labeling, a random investigation by the foundation found the problem still exists.

Sur la Table sales

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Porcelain - 20% off
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Summer sale at Pfaelzer Brothers

15% Off Your Order at Pfaelzer Brothers. Use code GRILL at checkout. This offer is valid through September 30, 2009.

Pesticides in your peaches: Tribune and USDA studies find pesticides, some in excess of EPA rules, in the fragrant fruit

As we munch into the fragrant core of peach season, shoppers face an array of choices for the same fuzzy fruit but little guidance on which type to pick. Expensive organic? Pricey farmers market? Cheap peaches from the grocery store?

Cost is certainly important. But there are essential numbers that go beyond the price tag of a peach, or any other item from the produce aisle.

Which contain the highest levels of pesticides?

Challenges to study finding organics no better than conventional produce

The recent British study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, concluding that organic produce has no nutritional benefits over conventional, misses the main point that organic fruits and vegetables are free of herbicides, pesticides and fungicides. But the study has many other limitations.

The Organic Center, whose mission is to generate peer reviewed scientific research on the benefits of organic farming, has challenged the findings of the British study on several points

Organics industry hits back at dietary findings

The organics industry is hitting back and rejecting claims made in a report by Britain’s Food Standard Agency (FSA) that found organic produce has no health or nutritional benefit over conventionally produced food. The groups are labeling the report's results incomplete.

With regard to the findings of the FSA report, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) said the study totally avoided the issue of pesticides and took a very narrow view of 'health'.

Organic debate gets dirty

A BRITISH agency which produced a report claiming there was no real health benefit to eating organic food has been accused of being biased against the organic sector.

The organic movement is furious the report claimed organic food offered limited nutritional advantages to conventional food, but failed to take in to account the effect chemical residues had on consumers of conventional food, or other reasons consumers chose organic, such as taste, animal welfare and sustainability issues.

Organic 'has no health benefits'

Organic food is no healthier than ordinary food, a large independent review has concluded.

There is little difference in nutritional value and no evidence of any extra health benefits from eating organic produce, UK researchers found.

The Food Standards Agency, which commissioned the report, said the findings would help people make an "informed choice".

But the Soil Association criticised the study and called for better research.

Organic claims beefed up

BUTCHERS often mince their words when it comes to answering questions about organic meat, an investigation by the nation’s leading consumer group has found.

A Choice survey of 29 butchers in Melbourne and Sydney found only 11 were able to answer a question about which body certifies their organic beef. Seven butchers did not know or couldn’t reply directly, but referred customers to brochures or posters with the information.

AFRICA: Organic Farming Could be Answer to Food Insecurity

Commercial farmers sometimes fail at organic farming because they switch over too quickly, ditching all chemicals, which is as traumatic for the soil as "a drug addict going cold turkey".

This is how Cornelius Oosthuizen, the head of the South African Biofarm Institute’s management team, explains why there are relatively few organic farming success stories in South Africa. The South African Biofarm Institute promotes sustainable and profitable biological and organic farming.

Organic produce farmers fear the rising costs of newest government food safety legislation

Organic farming worldwide is partly a product of the 1990s boom times when that market grew rapidly. But now, because of the USA's deep recession, according to the July 17th, 2009 Reuters article, "Embattled organic sector worries about regulation," some farmers are worried and/or angry about the future of organic farming due to new food safety rules emanating from Washington.

Is organic food more nutritious?

I was buying salad greens a few days ago when I overheard a woman say to her partner: "Honey, grab an organic red pepper instead. It has more vitamins." Despite being in the middle of researching this very topic, and confident that I was going to get a message to mind my own business, I refrained from launching into a debate. The truth is, the belief that organic produce is nutritionally superior to conventionally farmed is only mildly supported by scientific evidence.

Green tips for buying organic produce and bulk

Organic produce and bulk items are definitely the way to go these days. The use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers is at such a high, it is hard to fully appreciate the impact they will make on the earth and our future generations. So buying organic is not only good for you, it is good for your family and for the earth.

Organic meat is winner

FOR Shane and Ann Blundy, making the decision to switch to organic farming 16 years ago was easy. "When I was farming conventionally, the animals kept getting sick," Shane says. "The only person making any money was the vet."

Now, with 3000 lambs and 1000 cattle on their 485ha south Gippsland property, Cherry Tree Organics, the Blundys' biggest problem is how to keep up with demand.

10 top tips for organic food on a budget

As hard discounts shops continue to hammer suppliers, and organic sales flatten out does this spell the end of the organic revolution? Not at all says the Soil Association who have come out with a simple and easy to manage top ten tips for organic living without first having to have run the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Organic vs. natural a source of confusion in food labeling

At first it may seem only right for Dean Foods, the nation's largest organic dairy producer, to roll out a line of yogurts and milk marketed as "natural."

But Dean's announcement last week alarmed advocates of organic food, who say the burgeoning market for less expensive "natural" foods reaps billions from consumers while guaranteeing little or nothing in exchange.

Organic Trade Association defends organic standards

The Organic Trade Association is refuting a Washington Post article that claims the U.S. Department of Agriculture's organic standards have been relaxed, saying the article is based on "old news and urban legends."

According to the July 3 Post article, the USDA inspector general's office is investigating the USDA's oversight of private certifiers who decide what products can carry the organic label, and whether those products meet the federal organic standards.

EU report reveals pesticides in organic food

An annual monitoring report found traces of pesticides in organic food products for the first time, challenging public perceptions that organic products are free of synthetic plant protection products.

Organic growers have difficulty meeting demand, USDA reports

Demand for organic food has been outpacing the ability of U.S. farms to supply it, according to USDA economists.

Forty-four percent of organic handlers reported short supplies of ingredients in 2004, the economists said in a report on the state of the industry.

Thirteen percent of the organic companies said they couldn't meet demand for at least one of their products.

Organic means costly

You'll just set some crops and let nature take its course, right?

Oh, so wrong.

“People really don't know what goes into this,” said Anthony Owens, who grows 96 acres of apples and 41 acres of vegetables and melons in Henderson County — all organically. “My famous quote is, ‘I've learned to become part farmer, part scientist.' People don't realize that organic growing requires so much more hands-on knowledge and research.”

Organic food faces new rules

The Canadian organic industry is preparing for the long-awaited National Organic Regulations.

The organic market has long been crowded with private standards, voluntary national standards and international certifications, including the United States Department of Agriculture's certifications and the European organic certifications.

How to buy the best organic foods

Americans spent close to $28 billion in 2008 on organic edibles, up from $1 billion in 1990, according to The Organic Trade Association. And organic foods remain an area of growth even with the rising cost of grocery items and tougher economic times.

If you're fueling these double-digit sales, you likely already have your reasons for buying organic. Even so, recent changes to America's food buying habits -- the rise of the local-food movement, increased awareness about foods' carbon footprint (the amount of greenhouse gasses released when producing and transporting goods) -- may leave you wondering where organic foods fit into a better-for-the-environment equation.

10 reasons to choose organic

When you step into a shop it’s easy to feel bewildered by the sheer number of ethical, healthy, green and animal friendly options available. The great thing about organic is – it ticks every box. Simple. When you consider all the different benefits organic offers, it all adds up to genuine good value. So, why choose organic?

The Ugly Truth Behind Organic Food

Is it time for a strawberry to make a political statement, again?

I'm standing on a farm south of San Francisco that is unremarkable in that it, like all of the other farms in the area, is a golden canvas of brilliant yellow flowers with the occasional patchwork of verdant greens, early signs of this year's season sprouting up.

Obama pledges $50m for organic farming

President Obama is offering US farmers a $50 million incentive to go organic.

The US leader, who has already dug up part of the White House lawn to grow organic vegetables, has made the funds available to support organic farmers as well as non-organic farmers who are learning about organic farming methods

Beyond Fairtrade: Mars turns on to sustainable cocoa

Howard-Yana Shapiro is global director of plant science and external research for Mars, the secretive food/confectionary empire. He sports a mesmerizing long white beard, which dates back beyond a decade of corporate life to when he founded a radical organic food company, Seeds of Change. Twelve years after Seeds of Change was sold to Mars — amid cries of betrayal from some customers — Shapiro recently announced that the world’s biggest chocolate company is committing itself to sustainable sourcing of the whole of its annual cocoa bean supply, worth more than US$1 billion. The policy starts with the Galaxy bar and by 2020 will encompass not just Galaxy and Mars but also Snickers, Twix and M&Ms. The new strategy also covers environmental issues and labor, dwarfing Cadbury’s pledge that all Dairy Milk chocolate will be Fairtrade later this year.

Why organic food may be worth the extra money

Do organic products warrant the higher price tag? Scientists have finally found out that they do – because they are probably better for you.

Researchers have discovered that organically-grown Golden Delicious apples have a 15 per cent higher level of health-giving antioxidants and phytochemicals than conventionally-grown varieties.

Fake organic produce concern

MANY products sold in Australia as "organic" may soon not qualify to go under that label.

And the finger has been pointed at supermarkets for failing to properly verify whether products they sell are truly organic.

Discussions are almost complete on a national organic standard, but negotiations have split the industry as opposing groups argue over whether products from animals fed synthetic foodstuff should be labeled organic.

Organic or not?

Chances are that "naturally grown" apple you're about to eat may look organic and taste organic, but it's probably not.

Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) produce is similar to the USDA's definition of organic. Perhaps the biggest difference between the two are their labels. Both organizations prohibit synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, for example, and require farmers to pay fees, but there are significant differences in their certification.

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Wineries delve deeper into Earth-friendly practices

As the green movement gains momentum, more wine drinkers are seeking out wines that are made from producers that are using Earth-friendly farming practices. The topic is very intricate, so in the spirit of Earth Day, which falls on Wednesday, here's a basic overview of important farming practices in the wine industry.

If a wine is made from certified organic grapes, the label will read "organically grown," "organically farmed," or "made with organically grown grapes." The fundamental idea behind organic farming is to harvest grapes that have been grown without pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers or any other synthetic chemicals.

Cost vs. Quality: Is Organic Food Really Better?

It seems all the nation is abuzz with organic fever. The number of farmers markets has increased dramatically in the past several years, sales of organic products have more than doubled and even the new First Family has jumped on the organic bandwagon.

But in uncertain economic times, some people are asking if the higher cost of organic foods is worth the benefit. And when it comes down to it, what benefit are we really talking about anyway?
When discussing organic food, most people are referring to food that complies with and has been accepted as “Certified Organic” by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA’s Organic Standards were set in 2002, twelve years after the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.
In order for a food to become Certified Organic, the grower of the food must be inspected for compliance with the USDA’s “Organic Standards” by an accredited state or private agency.

It’s Easy Being Green: Wine Goes Organic

It’s becoming easier for environmentally conscious wine lovers to enjoy their favorite libation. Just ask the Obamas: A few weeks ago at their first official White House dinner, they served organic wine to visiting state governors. But you don’t have to be the First Family to indulge in these new wines. An increasing number of merchants, bars, and restaurants offer a range of choices in planet-friendly wines that are made from organically farmed grapes and sustainable agricultural methods that emphasize water and soil conservation.

Forging a Hot Link to the Farmer Who Grows the Food

The maker of Stone-Buhr flour, a popular brand in the western United States, is encouraging its customers to reconnect with their lost agrarian past, from the comfort of their computer screens. Its Find the Farmer Web site and special labels on the packages let buyers learn about and even contact the farmers who produced the wheat that went into their bag of flour.

Organic fruit & veg may help prevent cancer

Organic fruit and vegetables may help prevent cancer and heart disease just in the same way as taking a low dose of aspirin every day, according to a recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet. The key element of this properties seem to be salicylates, which are contained in high levels in fruit and vegetables and are also the active anti-inflammatory ingredient of aspirin.

Here's where to buy your spring and Easter bouquets

Organic Bouquet offers a free vase with every bouquet. Even better, some come with free chocolates.

Categories of organic products

# Fully organic: Products are fully certified by accredited organic agency. No chemicals used since a long time.
# Organic in Conversion: The products are from farms in process of conversion to get organic certification. No chemicals used.
# Registered to organics: Certification process not yet started. Products are from farms growing product naturally without any history of chemical use.

Organic foods vs. conventional foods

Picture yourself in a grocery store with an apple in each hand; both feel the same, look alike, and provide the same nutritional value. The only differences are, one is certified organic and a bit more expensive and the other is conventionally grown and slightly less expensive. So which is the better choice?

Choosing to buy organic as a healthier alternative has been a long and heavily researched debate. Many would argue that organic is the better choice because farmers are under stricter standards of purity, however skeptics say there is no scientific research that proves organic is healthier or safer.

Tips for managing weeds in organic fruit orchards

Producing organic tree fruit profitably requires growing quality fruit while at the same time managing input costs—including controlling weeds. University of California Cooperative Extension pomology farm advisor Chuck Ingels notes that organic production often requires more labor, bulkier fertilizers and amendments, as well as increased monitoring, compared to conventional methods.

Produce and pesticides: The dirty dozen and the clean 15

Consumer group Environmental Working Group has released its annual Shopper's Guide to Pesticides.

The guide, which is based on government test data, lists the produce most likely to have pesticide residue. This list can be a big help if you're cutting back on organic produce to stretch your food dollars.

On the trail of fair trade coffee

You get up in the morning and brew or buy your coffee, feeling good because it's certified fair trade and organic; so growers are guaranteed a fair price in healthy working conditions. But there's that nagging uncertainty: What is life like for fair trade farmers, and how do we know how fair it really is?

No compromise in 0rganic standards despite recession says Soil Association

The recession is proving a tough time for organic livestock farmers, particularly those in transition from input heavy techniques to organic. The hardest hit have been livestock farmers as the price for organic animal feed, the single largest cost for farmers, has risen in price until it is now twice the price of non-organic feed.

Corporate social responsibility is vital for business survival

Over the past decade or so, the concept known as corporate social responsibility (CSR) has developed from a fringe interest associated with companies with particular links to the environment into a mainstream business activity adopted by household names the world over. With much of that world now in recession, the coming years will demonstrate whether CSR really has been embraced by corporations or whether it is – as some say – simply a marketing wheeze designed to put a positive gloss on their operations.

European Union-World organic farming.

The amount of land dedicated to organic produce is growing due to government backing and market forces, opening up opportunities particularly in developing countries, according to a new report. The latest statistics show that worldwide, 32.2m hectares were certified according to organic standards in 2007, which was 1.5m hectares more than the previous year, said the report from the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL).

Kenyan fresh produce exporters say tougher US import rules a boon

Local fresh produce exporters are vying for a bigger slice of the American market share this year even as the world’s only superpower drifts towards protectionism.

Industry players say the decision by the department of agriculture to re-introduce stricter traceability guidelines for fresh produce and meat entering the country comes with a silver lining that they intend exploit in a push to expand exports beyond the traditional 1 per cent level.

Scottish organic beef production rises

Production levels of Scottish finished organic beef increased in the 2008/09 period, but prime lamb remained static, a survey of organic produce has revealed.

Between July 2008 and June 2009, organic producers in Scotland will finish just over 8,000 head of organic cattle, an increase of 17%, and 100,000 prime organic lambs, a reduction of less than 1%.

It’s Organic, but Does That Mean It’s Safer?

MOST of the chicken, fruit and vegetables in Ellen Devlin-Sample’s kitchen are organic. She thinks those foods taste better than their conventional counterparts. And she hopes they are healthier for her children.

Lately, though, she is not so sure.

The national outbreak of salmonella in products with peanuts has been particularly unsettling for shoppers like her who think organic food is safer.

E.U. Official: Organic Farming Fights Climate Change

For many years there has been increasing interest in growing and eating organic produce. Consumers cite its health benefits, more robust taste, and its tendency to come from small-scale producers.

That said, the environmental benefits of organic farming over conventional farming have been a matter of a long, sometimes roiling discussion — and often enough, organic farming has come down on the wrong side of the equation.

Concerns grow over pesticides in produce

Concerns over pesticide residues on nonorganic fruits and vegetables have been growing over the past decade. Organophosphates, a common class of pesticides, are of particular concern, as they were originally developed to kill mammals.

Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate made by Dow Chemical Co., is one of the most common pesticides in use in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) almost banned chlorpyrifos, but Dow won permission for the pesticide’s continued agricultural application by voluntarily removing it from products sold directly to consumers.

Checkout Line: Organic chemistry

Is industrial organic produce -- the stuff from large-scale operations, which some critics say is to small-scale organic as Twinkies is to homemade cupcakes -- just as bad as the conventional stuff when it comes to pesticides? Well, that is a slippery question indeed.

In terms of keeping bad stuff out of your food, the USDA's organic-certification program represents a move in the right direction. But it doesn't guarantee that your food will be grown or raised using what you call the "right kind of farming," if what you mean by that is free of toxins.

Organic Farming is a Relationship with the Land: Interview with Myra Goodman, Part II

This is part two of a three-part interview with Myra Goodman, co-founder, along with her husband Drew, of Earthbound Farm, which is perhaps the most well-known name in organic produce in America. With this article, we kick off an exciting, ongoing "Know the Growers" series, in which we will be interviewing organic farmers around the world.

LGUs push for organic farming

Intensifying its campaign for sustainable agriculture, several Local Government Units (LGUs) signed a declaration Wednesday supporting a government initiative to convert 10% of the country’s rice fields into organic farming sites by 2010.

Go Organic! Philippines, a consortium of non-government organizations and organic farming advocates, pledged its support to the Department of Agriculture’s Organic FIELDS Support Program Phase I (OPFSI) project, an agricultural strategy to convert the country’s farming practices from chemical to organic methods.

China's new organic industry

It’s an unlikely sight in the grungy outskirts of one of the world’s most polluted cities: row upon row of organically farmed buttery Boston lettuce, fresh thyme, and crisp cabbages.

Just drive an hour north of Shanghai’s center, as massive apartment complexes fade into crumbling low-rise concrete buildings, and there it is – City Farm, a pioneer in China's burgeoning organic food industry.

Organics and world hunger - Organic Matters, February 19

New Names

In my last newsletter I talked about how much rain we'd been getting in southern California. You cycling fans (like me) who have been watching the Amgen Tour of California know that it didn't let up very easily, and not just here in the southern part of the state. Today, however, I'm on a business trip in Toronto and watching the snow fall furiously. I don't mind it since I won't have to drive in it, but it sure is cold.

We're welcoming two new sponsors this round. Both of these serve the U.S. market.

Eggology , or as they prefer "Eggology's Eggshilarating Eggstravaganza." 100% pure, pasteurized, organic, fresh, kosher, USDA-approved eggs. Makes me wish I weren't allergic to them!

MixMyGranola, Inc. - now here's one I wouldn't have expected. Choose a base, add your favorite ingredients, and let them mix it up and ship it wherever you like in the U.S. Gift certificates too - wouldn't that be great for the hikers on your gift list? Plus...buy four, get the fifth on the house. How does Winter Berry Bliss sound right about now?

Not so healthy after all


We've been taught since childhood to eat our vegetables. Like them or not, they're good for us. While I'm not about to say that's not true, it may not be quite as true as we think.

I've heard this before, but here's new support for the idea that the nutrition behind conventionally grown fruits and vegetables ain't what it used to be. Horticultural Science recently published a report discussing three recent studies comparing current nutritional values of various foods with historical ones. Surprise...as modern and advanced as we are, our 2009 foods are found lacking.

The "dilution effect" of overfarming appears to be the culprit. Food draws its nutrients from the soil in which it grows. Those nutrients aren't unlimited. Simply, higher yield means lower nutrients. Simplistically, if I grow three broccoli plants on one square yard of soil, I have more nutritious broccoli than if I grew 30. Fertilization means higher yield. Organically grown crops...no fertilizer...lower yield...more nutrients.

What do you think? Does this make sense to you? Does it make you even more likely to look for organic produce?

Organic tea coins gain favour in Europe, Southeast Asia

Organic tea coins made by a tribal community in Assam are becoming popular in Europe and Southeast Asian countries with people preferring them increasingly to conventional tea bags.

'The demand for the organic tea coin is increasing by the day after we were able to penetrate markets in the US, Britain, Canada, China, Thailand, and now in Hong Kong,' Rajesh Singpho, owner of Singpho Agro Products that manufactures the organic tea coins, told IANS.

Stemming Food Losses from Farm to Kitchen and beyond

Changing the ways in which food is produced, handled and disposed of across the globe - from farm to store and from fridge to landfill - can both feed the world’s rising population and help the environmental services that are the foundation of agricultural productivity in the first place.

Unless more intelligent and creative management is brought to the world’s agricultural systems, the 2008 food crisis - which plunged millions back into hunger - may foreshadow an even bigger crisis in the years to come, says the rapid assessment study.

Study shows organic produce holding its own

While organic foods overall might take a hit because of the ailing economy, organic fresh produce is expected to hold its own.

Packaged Facts, a market data, trends and analysis research company based in New York charts the resilience of the organic industry in its “Food Flavors and Ingredients Outlook 2009” report.

Dark Chocolate and Ginger

We recently had a store called Fresh & Easy open in my neighborhood, complete with much fanfare and many coupons. I had high hopes when I visited a few days ago and have a mixed opinion. The store doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. On the one had it has some good fresh and healthy stuff, which is what I expected. The prepared dishes look good and I'd give them a try for a dinner party. It has a reasonable selection of organic products, On the other hand, the fresh produce selection was limited and it has decidedly unhealthy stuff - like commercial candy. So it has some elements of a Trader Joes-type store, but with some Safeway mixed in, and not large enough to do justice to either.

But...in the interest of research, I saw that they carry their own line of organic chocolate. Wanted to check that out, remembering how unimpressed I'd been with Trader Joes' in-house version. Fresh & Easy has something I hadn't seen before: dark chocolate with ginger. Upon review: They aren't kidding about the ginger. It's not a little powder - you can see the pieces of ginger, and certainly taste it. The chocolate itself I found a little dry and a little bland. All in all not really my cup of tea, but if you're a big fan of ginger you might find this quite a treat.

California Senate reviews organic fertilizers

The tumult in California’s organic produce industry over sales of tainted fertilizer has had its day in the Sacramento spotlight.

Members of the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture spent four hours Feb. 3 hearing from growers, suppliers, certifiers and state officials. While there were some pointed questions from the senators, the emphasis of the hearing was to solicit information, said a spokeswoman for Sen. Abel Maldonado, a member of the committee.

Earthbound Farms responds to non-organic fertilizer news

A few weeks ago, we reported that one of the fertilizer suppliers to Earthbound Organic Farms (among others) wasn't actually using organic ingredients. In fact, they were using ammonium sulfate. So really, even though the farms (and Earthbound Organic) were doing everything they should have to make sure that their food was truly organic, by definition, the food wasn't truly and completely organic.

In response to our article, Earthbound Organic Farms contacted us and offered up their side of the story. Here is an interview with Samantha Cabaluna, Director of Communications for Earthbound Organic Farms. I'll have more with Samantha next week when I ask her some questions surrounding big organic in general.

Hey, Lover – Show Your Valentine You Care with Organic Gifts

Haven’t gotten your sweetie something for Valentine’s Day yet? I’m not saying it’s easy to find gifts that are loving, sexy, decadent – not outrageously priced — and still kind to the planet.

But just because it’s a hard combo doesn’t let you off the hook. This is one holiday where it’s more than the thought that counts.

There’s still time — for sweet stuff your favorite is sure to love – and love you for giving. And always, there’s the gift of the gods, chocolate.

How to have a green valentine’s day

Students can make their Valentine’s Day not only red-hot, but also green. Here’s how to enjoy alternatives to the run-of-the-mill candles, wine, chocolate and roses with the environment in mind.

Forces Of Universe Improve Wines: Biodynamics Catching On

February is the “heartfelt” month. Wine is healthy for the heart, as we know, in moderation. Healthy vines produce even healthier wines — more honest, more balanced, free of additives — and they taste good!

The wave of vineyards worldwide going organic is major, verging on tsunamic. Once we were leery of wines from organic grapes — and, admittedly, early ones seemed a little off-kilter. As top profile winemakers turned to organically grown grapes, however, quality and flavor began to shine. Taste Robert Sinskey Pinot Noir, Bonterra Viognier, Frey Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blancs from Frog’s Leap or Patianna, Coppola’s Rubicon and dozens of others — many exceptional, as their critical ratings and awards confirm.

Old Appetites Die Hard

Paula O'Rourke always keeps peanut butter crackers in the car for her children to snack on. The Bethesda mother of three had just bought a new supply when she heard the product had been recalled because of a risk of salmonella poisoning. She felt obligated to throw away the $2 package, but, she says, "I had this moment where I thought, 'Come on. The chance of these crackers actually being trouble is so slim.' "

There has been a steady drumbeat of high-profile food safety scares in the past several years: spinach, ground beef, tomatoes (later exonerated), jalapeño peppers and now products traced to a Georgia peanut processor. But like O'Rourke, many Americans are not rushing to change the way they eat.

Organic and other Wines Going Green

Wine is a natural produce made from grapes. Considering the fact that the soil, air and water of the place the grapes are grown in, or the terroir as it is called, cast an important shadow under which the juice is fermented to become wine, it is only natural for the wine growers to go green. While going green is natural, Green-washing isn't. For Green washing is a term that refers to a company's overstating an environmental benefit purely for marketing purposes.

With Indians too looking at organic foods with a lot of interest these days (many superstores have even dedicated 'organic foods' section now) can the wines be left behind? To find out the answers I embarked on a research that took good part of a month of my time. In hindsight, I think the effort was worth it.

Options for assisting organic livestock farmers facing financial hardship in the current recession

Introduction

This paper sets out the issue, the case for and against, and a possible mechanism to help Soil Association certified farmers facing financial hardship due to the current economic recession negatively affecting demand for organic livestock products.

The Soil Association has asked Defra for their views on these options. Defra are seeking further clarification before giving their opinion.

We are now seeking views from Soil Association stakeholders. The Soil Association's independent Standards Board will then consider the results of the consultation and make a recommendation for or against taking some action to the Soil Association's elected Council.

In view of some misleading press reports, we want to be completely clear at the outset that whatever is agreed, no meat or dairy products that were produced under non-organic conditions would be sold as organic.

Organic eggs

Found a terrific new source of organic products - this time it's eggs. Professional Chefs, 5-Star Hotels Use Eggology Egg Whites Available Online!

Soil Association 'gives in' to supermarket lobby over air-freighted organic food

The organic food watchdog has denied claims that its decision to let air-freighted food carry the organic label represents a surrender to the supermarket lobby.

The Soil Association launched a consultation into the environmental damage caused by air-freighting organic produce in 2007, in which an outright ban was considered an option.

It argued that transporting fruit and vegetables by air generated 177 times as much greenhouse gas as sending the same produce by sea.

But the watchdog has ruled out a ban on air-freighted goods, prompting speculation it has caved in to pressure from supermarket chains.

Feeding an appetite for organic food

Children could be taught the benefits of organic food as part of a healthy-eating programme that will also raise the profile of the country’s organics industry.

Organic food has yet to be widely accepted in the UAE because of the small number of products on supermarket shelves, and their relatively high prices.

In the Green at the Grocery

Consumers in the red shouldn't worry whether they can still afford to buy green. That's because some purchases don't need to be as green as you may think and others aren't green enough to be worth the extra cost. And that cost can be considerable, sometimes doubling the price. "People are looking for more value in all of their purchases," says Urvashi Rangan, a senior scientist with Consumer Reports' "Greener Choices." Rangan says, "Looking at organics critically can save you money."

Organic growers call for more fertilizer oversight

Organic grower Phil McGrath plays by the rules to keep his Ventura County strawberry and vegetable farm certified organic.

So suspicions that at least two fertilizer companies – one of which was recently raided by federal agents – have been peddling synthetic fertilizer as the natural stuff makes him fear they may cheapen the "organic" label he grows under.

"It brings the term and the industry down a couple notches," he said.

Fair is fair...or is it?

I'm looking out my window and happy to see sunshine! Contrary to the "it never rains in southern California" cliche, we had several days of light rain last week, enough to keep things wet and gloomy. I know a lot of you are buried under feet of snow and shivering in single-digit temperatures and will give me no sympathy at all! And others of you are enjoying the summer.

The next food-related holiday is Valentine's Day (no, I'm not counting Super Bowl Sunday!) , and just like everything else, our flowers and chocolate and even gifts can be organic too.

Rather than comb your local stores for what you and your sweetheart would like, why not let it come to you? Visit the web site for a list of providers in different parts of the world that can help you find just what you want. For example, in Australia, try Definitely Chocolate for chocolates and Rainbow Designs for fun gifts

In the US and Canada, check out Chocolate Source. In the US, look to Chocolate Herbals for something different or Organic Bouquet for those flowers.

Something new: I've beefed up the amazon.com storefront so that you have easy access to selections of more than food. I've loaded up on chocolates on the front page, but by searching the categories on the side you can go directly to featured items in Apparel and Accessories, Baby, Beauty, Books, Health and Personal Care, and Magazine Subscriptions. If you don't see what you're looking for, just click on the "Powered by Amazon.com" graphic and you'll go to the site itself.

Here's something new for me - want to know what I find and when I find it? Follow me on Twitter! Look for me as socaldebbie.

Looking for something else in particular? Let me know and I'll see what I can find.

Is fair fair?

While I'm buying organic, I like to look for fair trade items as well. This applies to more than just food, but on all kinds of products produced by the less developed world and sold to the more developed. But I like to present different points of view, and here's one that isn't complimentary to fair trade. It refers to coffee in particular, but it seems the principles would be the same. See what you think. (Note: question to those outside the US. Does the Fair Trade movement advertise where you are? See point #4.)

Questioning The Truth About Fair Trade Coffee:

by: George Moore

Some Interesting Facts and questions about Fair trade gourmet coffee:

1. The targeted gourmet coffee farmer who needs fair trade owns a farm less than 10 acres; his family runs and works the farm, they live in a third world country or remotely up in the mountains of a central America country like Brazil. They get about $.65 cents per pound without fair trade and make less than $10,000 annually. They desperately need fair trade to get out of their poverty.

2. Without phones, newspapers, television, telephones, cell phones, and in most cases running water and electricity - how does this farmer even know about " Fair Trade" in the first place?

3. With no savings; no banks; no loans; and no finances how does this farmer pay the fees to get certified fair trade?

4. How much advertising does Fair Trade do out side the US? Zero! If they did where and which media would they use?

5. Interesting most of the Fair Trade Coffee Companies in foreign lands are owned by Americans or large co-ops partially owned and funded by Americans.

6. Fair Trade doubles the price of coffee the farmer recieves but does nothing to ensure the laborers who work the farm receive any more money. Hence all the large farms owned by Americans but worked by locals help the Americans get much richer but do nothing for the local coffee workers.

7. Fair Trade does not do anything to ensure the coffee is any better or better quality - it only ensures that the price is higher.

8. Fair Trade is not recognized in China or Russia or Japan or any of the coffee countries.

9. Fair Trade has helped many Americans feel much better about themselves.

10. It has done very little to help the farmers who need it the most.

In summary Fair Trade makes us Americans feel good about ourselves; helps us pay higher prices for poorer coffee; helps the big and rich farmers get richer. It does nothing to help the pheasant farmer we dream it is helping. And it gives us a false marketing ploy that Fair Trade is actually a better quality coffee i=when in fact it only means its a more expensive gourmet coffee. And really it gives us a false sense of self worth and that we are helping poor farmers when we are not.It causes us to pay too much for bad coffee and to think Fair Trade has anything to do with "quality" when it doesn't. It doesn't do anything to help the labor pool who work on the coffee farms nor stop children from working on coffee farms. But it has raised up the price of coffee and our awareness. Only if it could be more truthful and helpful.

About The Author

George Moore
Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee was founded by Boake Moore is an IT Sales engineer by trade.The non profit gourmet coffee called Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee - http://www.missiongrounds.com It donates all its profits to helping orphans and impoverished children. THE Costa Rica Coffee and the best gourmet coffee in the world -surely the most satisfying cup of coffee in the world.

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Eat eco-friendly chocolate with a clear conscience

I like good coffee, and I appreciate good wine, but what I really love is a good piece of chocolate.

Unfortunately, conventional cocoa plant growing methods aren’t so wonderful for the planet.

Back in the day, cocoa was grown in the shade. Today, to get higher yields, farmers have switched to new varieties that require sun. This is bad for the animals that rely on cocoa farms for habitat.

Keeping healthy with organic foods

If the old saying that “prevention is the best medicine” is true then organic life style is just what the doctor ordered.

“The benefits of consuming organic food can only be felt after someone consumes it regularly for a long period,” Dr. Angela, a general medical practitioner, said.

She said that the primary benefit of regularly consuming organic foods was a body safe from toxins, adding that the effects were not noticeable right away.

Economic blues put green consumers to the test

The pesticide-free produce at Planet Organic sells briskly, showing no signs of the wilting economy.

Carl Ulrich has already put lettuce, cucumber and tomato into his rapidly filling cart. The recession won't eat into his grocery budget, he says.

"I'll definitely be spending less, probably on eating out and extras, but not on good food," says Ulrich, 72, who believes strongly in the nutritional value of local and organic produce.

UAE embraces growing trend for organic foods

UAE residents are becoming more health conscious and opting for a less-processed, natural diet, new research has shown.

A report conducted by Research and Markets, a trade-specific data analysis company, says the organic food market has been growing at a rate of 20-24% annually.

The company’s research predicts that the organic industry will generate sales of US $32 billion by the end of this year.

New report predicts organic boom in dairy

Boom times are expected for Australia's organic producers, particularly dairy farmers according to a report by IBISWorld market researchers.

Organic yoghurt is expected to be the number one growth product, with cheeses and chocolate also set to prosper.

CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) has reported the number of operations it's certified has surpassed the 2,000 mark, with 199 new operations

The shift to an organic diet has gained significant momentum in the US and Europe in recent years and the UAE is picking up the pace as residents become more health conscious and opt for a less processed, natural diet.

Organic Acreage Grows in 2008

CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) has reported the number of operations it's certified has surpassed the 2,000 mark, with 199 new operations certified in 2008, contributing to the agency's 11-percent growth. CCOF now certifies farmers, processors, handlers, retailers and private labelers in 35 states and four countries.

Good news for the organic industry included a growth in organic acreage of 14.3 percent, based on an increase from 488,340 acres in 2007 to 558,137 acres in 2008. Along with this trend of converting more and more acres to organic production, there is a growing number of small- to medium-sized growers expanding their operations to include post-harvest activities—storage, packaging and handling—adding value to their organic production. As a result, more than 30 percent of CCOF members handle produce in some manner, representing an increase in the grower/handler category of certification by 33.8 percent.

Save the Cocoa Tree! Buy Sustainable Chocolate

Some scientists predict that chocolate could be as rare (and expensive) as caviar in as little as 20 years.

How could this be?

Farmers have changed the way they grow cacao trees -- the source of the cacao seeds that are used to make chocolate -- to try to keep up with the world's increasing demand for chocolate. Cacao trees naturally grow in the rainforest, but because they grow faster in the sun, farmers now plant cacao trees in large, sunny fields. These trees produce cacao seeds earlier than their rainforest counterparts, but they are threatened by pests and a slew of nasty fungi.

An argument for vegetarianism

This one's a bit off topic, but it's well-written and well thought out, and the angle it takes is pertinent to a lot of us who make organic choices based on the effects on the environment. Here's the beginning:

Full disclosure: I love to eat meat. I was born in Memphis, the barbecue capital of the Milky Way Galaxy. I worship slow-cooked, hickory-smoked pig meat served on a bun with extra sauce and coleslaw spooned on top.

My carnivore’s lust goes beyond the DNA level. It’s in my soul. Even the cruelty of factory farming doesn’t temper my desire, I’ll admit. Like most Americans, I can somehow keep at bay all thoughts of what happened to the meat prior to the plate.

So why in the world am I a dedicated vegetarian? Why is meat, including sumptuous pork, a complete stranger to my fork at home and away? The answer is simple: I have an 11-year-old son whose future—like yours and mine—is rapidly unraveling due to global warming. And what we put on our plates can directly accelerate or decelerate the heating trend.

(Read the entire article from Audubon Magazine, The Low-Carbon Diet, here.)

Is your resolution on this list?

The online storefront at amazon.com has an assortment of organic foods. If you don't see anything you like, use the search box or just click where it says "Powered by Amazon.com" to go to the site itself. Check out their suggestions for the top 10 New Year's Resolutions too. "Go Greener" is one of them!

A little (organic) food for thought

I wrote a blog posting a few days ago after I listed to a podcast from one of my favorite magazines, The Economist. In addition to its usual political and economic focus, a recent issue included a special report on the world's oceans. Much of what it said wouldn't be news to any of us. The oceans are warming, becoming more acidic, and rising. We can blame human activity, sun spots, or whatever we choose for the fact that glaciers are melting fresh water into the sea and rising carbon dioxide levels are changing the pH balance of the water. (Don't think we can blame the sun for overfishing or for the Texas-sized floating patch of plastic, however.)

Sure, I was aware of the effects of dumping pollutants directly into the sea - that's kind of obvious. But something I hadn't really thought about was the effect of runoff from the land. Chemical fertilizers and other toxins find their way into waterways, and ultimately into the oceans. It's not just the effects of chemicals that are themselves detrimental to delicate sea life, but the direct effects of introducing an agent that is designed to make plant life grow (and has to be water-resistant to withstand rainfall, so it's not breaking down.)

This is where the debate over organic vs. conventionally grown food takes on a different life. Many of us are convinced that our organic food an drinks taste better and make us feel better. We can find studies to support the idea that organically grown foods are more nutritious, though we can just as easily find studies that say they're not. But we can't deny the effects that agricultural chemicals have on our planet, and that very often gets left out of the conversation.

Not to comment on Al Gore one way or the other, but the "inconvenient truth" is that our food choice here affects more than just ourselves. Organic food costs a little more, but what's the true cost of the alternative?

If you're interested in reading more, try this report I found. It's dramatic stuff.

Tough year ahead for organic farmers

Organic farmers are facing a troubled year as consumers turn to lower-priced food, with early indications from retailers suggesting the huge annual sales growth enjoyed by organic foods for 15 years is coming to an end.

Sales of organic produce soared by 26 per cent a year on average between 1993 and 2008, but this is set to fall to 7.5 per cent in 2009, according to Mintel, the market researcher. That rate of growth is still more than double that of the general food market, organic proponents are quick to point out.

Wine.com sales

Got a few of them for you. Search on "organic" - they've usually got a selection. This is in the US, and remember not all states allow wine shipments.

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Fertilizing the oceans

I was listening to a podcast from the magazine The Economist today. If you're not familiar with the magazine, you should be. It's a British publication that is stuffed every week with world political and economic news, and it's always a fascinating read.

This issue is a little different. It has a special report on the world's oceans, and the podcast gave a synopsis of it. It covered some items we're probably all familiar with - the effects of warming water temperatures and overfishing, to name two easy ones.

But here's something I hadn't really thought of: the effects of agricultural chemicals on the oceans. It's so simple. Fertiizers go on crops and get into the local waterways. The local stream feeds into a river, which feeds into the ocean, fertilizer and all. Fertilizers are very good at making plant life grow, and animal life die. And they can't just dissolve in water, or they'd get flushed off crops by rainfall. Their effects on ocean life are no different from their effects on land life. Sea plant life explodes. Sea animal life suffers. And we can't see it and counteract it the way we can on land. What will the long term effects of this be?

Reading so many reports and articles on organic food, I see both logical and emotional arguments that organic foods are no more nutritious, and that chemical fertilizers and pesticides are completely safe for human consumption. Let's say that's true. Does our responsibility stop there?