How Fairtrade really works

With the launch of Fairtrade Fortnight on Monday drawing attention to how our food is produced, poor farmers are urging more consumers in Britain to switch to Fairtrade to help them build better lives for themselves.

Organic food purchases are on the rise

Organically grown foods continue to increase in popularity. In 2002 the retail sales of organic foods totaled $9 billion. In the local area organic food products are available in most of the local grocery stores and can also be purchased directly from the farmer. While the demand and availability of organic foods is on the rise, confusion remains over what makes a food "organic."

Virtuous Vino

You've mastered the which-are-the-good-and-bad vintages, learned the difference between a Cabernet and a Merlot and can finally pronounce Gewürztraminer. But now the casual wine drinker has a new label to grapple with: biodynamic.

UK: Why going organic could cost the earth

Organic food could actually be worse for the environment than produce grown using pesticides and fertilisers, say scientists.

A government report claims that, despite its eco-friendly image, some organic farming creates greater pollution and contributes more to global warming.

Organicize Me

I've made more failed New Year's resolutions than Charlie Sheen and Courtney Love combined. Lose a dozen pounds, quit smoking, slow down, speed up, get organized, drink less, exercise more—all abandoned within hours of the drunken promise. But this year, my editors at Seattle Weekly came to me with an offer I couldn't refuse: Go the opposite of Super Size Me and eat only organic food 24/7 for the month of January—and be paid handsomely for it. No Doritos, Big Macs, Starburnt coffee, brewskies, Red Bull, or Frankenfoods of any kind. And, if by going organic, I help save the planet, all the better.

Keep it real: Stores jump on organic bandwagon

When Fox Farm Whole Foods started selling organic foods more than 10 years ago, it was considered a fringe market.

Now, retailers such as Wal-Mart and Food-4-Less have opened up their aisles to products made without pesticides, hormones or synthetics.

Natural/Organic Meats Rise Among Trends Identified In Survey

The steady rise of natural and organic meats and the continuing dominance of the conventional supermarket when it comes to meat purchases are just a couple of trends uncovered in a study released by the American Meat Institute and the Food Marketing Institute this morning at the 2007 Annual Meat Conference.

Organic growth

FASHION HAS its trends and, apparently, so does produce. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, buying organic is the latest craze among health-conscious individuals. According to the Massachusetts-based Organic Trade Organization, North America has nearly 3.7 million acres of farmland under organic management.

Since 1997, U.S. organic food sales have grown between 17 and 21 percent and represent about 2 percent of total food sales.

Imports crowding organic food market, conference told

Organic farmers and retailers say the market is filled with imported products, as few Canadian farmers are willing to convert their crops because of high costs and modest consumer demand.

Valentine's Vintages: Organic, Biodynamic and LIVE wines

Drinking wine is a sensuous experience, and paired with the right food, a fine red or white will light up with the subtle flavors of the earth that birthed its grapes while enhancing the tastes of your dishes. But like the well-prepared meals it accompanies, fine wine is about more than eating—it's to be savored during dinnertime conversation with our loved ones on Valentine's Day or any other. And in the dark of winter, fine wines will taste of the summer rain on the grapes, the sunlight that fell on the vines and the warm minerals in the soil. Scott Pactor, owner of Appellation Wines, a Manhattan store specializing in organic and biodynamic varietals, advises wine bibbers to seek out "products with a sense of place that use minimal or no inputs and let the vineyards speak for themselves." Biodynamic and organic vintages are particularly adept at bringing out this sense of place. Below are labels to look for.

Organic-food Opportunities Expand Fast, Nuremberg Fair Says

Opportunities to sell organic foods in Germany are expanding fast, with imports picking up practically all of the growth, according to organizers of the Biofach organic-food fair Wednesday in Nuremberg.

Bulgaria – Organic food for thought

The village of Aheloy on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria is perhaps best known for its fertile soils, healthy climate and flourishing pastures, orchards and vineyards. Tasty red and white wines are locally produced and farms grow organic fruit and vegetables.

Study: Organic not necessarily better option

Organic became the nation's fastest growing food segment largely on claims it's safer and healthier than conventional fare, but such conclusions are premature, according to a new report.

Going organic or even home-grown is easier than you may think

STEP into any major supermarket and you cannot fail to notice the marketing frenzy surrounding organic, fair-trade and eco-friendly products.

It's now big business, with environmental and health issues at the forefront of political and news agendas.

Organic may not be healthier

Organic became the nation's fastest growing food segment largely on claims that it's safer and healthier than conventional fare, but according to a new report such conclusions are premature.

Going Organic

When Kim Ripper's mother died seven years ago, it was a life changing experience for herself and her business.

Living through her mom's bout with environmental cancer taught Ripper to respect her health and body.

More Iowans go organic

Jule Dirksen has tunnel vision in the supermarket.

She doesn't see products in the "conventional'' food aisles.

When she shops at a Hy-Vee Food Store, Dirksen sees only what is on the shelves in the HealthMarket area.

Organic farming policy for Arunachal

Arunachal Pradesh will soon have a state policy on organic farming.

The decision to formulate the policy was taken at a cabinet meeting held recently. It was chaired by chief minister Gegong Apang and attended by officers from agriculture, horticulture and the forest department, water resources development minister Tako Dabi said yesterday.

Egon Ronay says consumers conned over organic food

ONE of the country's most respected food critics has called on the government to provide clearer information about organic food.

Egon Ronay said shops and producers were profiting from public confusion about the issues surrounding organic produce.

New-Age consumers striving to wear organic

Organic is the buzzword for the new age. From organic vegetables, meat and eggs to wheat, cotton, tea, coffee, cosmetics and more. It’s not back to the future but ahead into the past, as more and more agri products go for the no-pesticide, no chemical fertiliser approach. With New-Age consumers striving to wear organic, eat organic and, logically, drink organic, more and more companies are jumping onto the bandwagon.

End organic confusion, says Ronay

Restaurant critic Egon Ronay has called on the government to provide clearer information about organic food.

Shops and producers were profiting from public confusion about the issues, he told the BBC.

Catholics called to build a better world, one cup of coffee at a time

Catholics can build a better, more just world one cup of coffee at a time through helping ensure farmers earn a fair price for the labor, according to the U.S. Catholic Church’s official international relief and development agency.

£5 cost of going organic

Swapping a basket of supermarket own-brand groceries for organic adds around £5 to the cost, researchers found. It rises by nearly £10 when supermarket economy items are upgraded to pesticide free, according to Which? magazine.

Specials, specials, and more specials

My select group of tasters and I covered two categories for you: wine and chocolate. Not a bad way to to business, I'm thinking...The chocolate was Trader Joe's organic. We tried both dark and milk chocolate varieties. Have to say both were unimpressive, with little flavor. Have to find something better there.We had better luck with the wine, a shiraz called Natural Blonde. This is from Fetzer in Mendocino County. You might notice the screw top before anything else. (Not up on screw-top news? Here's an article to start with; you will probably be seeing more and more of them.) A downside of screw tops is they can result in a rotten-egg smell when you open them, which can be cured by decanting. No such problem with this wine, the nose was fine, and the wine was pleasant, kind of a lighter weight wine. This one I'd have again.

In Australia, check out Definitely Chocolate. They have several selections of gift packages of organic chocolate, in a range of prices.

Actually, if I were buying for someone in Australia, I'd look at Rainbow Designs. Sure they have chocolate, but they also have gift packages including stuffed animals, bubble bath, all kinds of things that last longer than flowers.

In the U.S., try Mission Orchards or Hickory Farms for fruits and nuts, if your Valentine isn't a choc-aholic. Hickory Farms is offering 15% off your entire purchase through February 28 - just use promotion code 15OFF.

Of course, whatever your heart desires, so to speak, Amazon.com is always a good place to look. If there's nothing you like in the storefront itself, follow the Search option or the Go to Amazon link on the top right to access everything Amazon has. Try Belgian chocolate truffles ($22) or a truffle assortment from Sjaak's Organic Truffles ($7.93.) I even found a dark chocolate heart filled with vegan chocolates!

Coffee drinkers: CoffeeAM has introduced two new coffees, Organic Fair Trade Bolivia and Organic Fair Trade Guatemala to their lineups. Both are lighter roasts. With every CoffeeAM order, you currently get a free half-pound of chocolate mint coffee too.

Meat eaters: In the UK, Save the Bacon is so confident that you'll like what they send you that they'll waive shipping charges on all orders placed by 9am next Monday, 5 February.

And in the US, Lindauer Farms will send $20 of tenderloin tips as a gift when you purchase any steak pack.

Accessories: International Wine Accessories is offering free shipping on any of their glasses or decanters, as well as 20% off their new Schott Zwiesel Tritan Diva line of glasses.

Wine Enthusiast is offering 75% off decanters and decanting accessories. Why decant? Decanting mature wines removes bitter sediments, while decanting young wines softens tannins and develops aromas. Hurry on this one - it's only till February 5. They have a lot of other items on big sale too.

KegWorks is offering $10 off its Deluxe Portable Bar Set and much more, through February 28. Check this one out if you're having a party - they have all the high-end bar items plus the little party goods.

Wherever you are, you always have a good source of organic tips and tricks in Ideal Bite. Check out their Web site for a sample tip and give their newsletter a try - it doesn't cost anything, and you just might like it!

Cows and ethanol

I've been reading a lot lately about the pending corn shortage. Corn has been used for centuries to feed both humans and livestock. But recently the demand for it has grown as a biofuel, using it to make the gasoline substitute E85 (an ethanol blend). George Bush's call to reduce the use of gasoline in the US just fueled (so to speak) the fervor over ethanol as a substitute, as will the report on global warming coming out this week.

But the supply of corn isn't unlimited. Peasants in Mexico are uprising over a sharp increase in the price of tortillas, a dietary staple, the result of a shortage of their primary ingredient: corn.

I doubt that anyone is going to suggest we curb the use of biofuels. Nor are we likely to give up corn (in all its forms, including the ubiquitous corn syrup) as people food. So what's the obvious change? Livestock.

Cattle didn't always eat grain. Their stomachs are made to digest grass, and some theorize that it's the bacteria spawned by their unnatural diets that both force farmers to feed them antibiotics and create the E.coli that can cause so much havoc in humans. Switching cattle to a grass diet - how many problems might that solve?

Sexy farmers and the end of organic?

Michael Ableman dreams of a world that has abandoned Doritos, Twinkies and individually wrapped Kraft Singles.

The farmer, author and photographer sees a system in which everybody buys vegetables from a local farmer – a profession he hopes will be elevated to that of a rock star as a global food crisis creeps closer.

I'm food -- don't fly me

Just as organic food was losing its exclusivity image, it's having to grapple with the detrimental effect on the environment of importing it in the quantities we now desire.

Airfreighting organic food faces UK ban

UK processors may forced to source organic foods closer to home after a certification body proposed an outright ban on airfreighting such products.

A ban is just one of the measures the Soil Association may introduce to respond to the increasing criticism of the environmental damage caused by transporting foods great distances.

Local groceries adhere to organic regulations as Wal-Mart faces suit

Calcium propionate. Disodium EDTA. Potassium metabisulfite. More so than fat and calories, preservatives and pesticides are the new bad guys in grocery store aisles.

But critics say that as the industry grows, quality may be suffering.

ORGANIC RUSH

Organic farmers used to find it an easy enough task to paint themselves as participants in a David-and-Goliath struggle against conventional agribusiness.

These days, said Claire Hope Cummings, things aren't so simple.

Will the term organic still mean anything when it's adopted whole hog by behemoths such as Wal-Mart?

Marin Sun Farms, in Point Reyes, is a collection of ranches on more than 2,000 acres of rolling, certified organic pasture. All year long, cattle and chickens speckle the hills, free to roam and graze at their leisure.

'Fair trade' and 'organic' goods must meet criteria

What does it mean when something claims to be "fair trade" or "organic," or when products are said to be made under conditions that protect workers and the environment?

And how can you be certain that the claims are true?

Even foes of proposed plant see potential in organic meat

While proponents and critics of the Powell meat plant project have debated the merits of the proposed site, management team and public funding, many on both sides of the issue are in agreement on the potential of the organic and natural market.

THE RISE OF ORGANIC MEAT

Every day, Ben Pate herds his chickens to new pastureland on his poultry farm.

While Pate goes through the trouble of moving his bottomless chicken coops each day, his customers go to the trouble of driving out to his Gulf City Road farm to buy the chickens because they believe naturally fed chickens taste better and are better for you.

You are what you eat, eats

Trying to wrap your brain around this title? Let me explain. The meat of animals that you may consume can be either very healthy for you or very much not so, depending on what that animal was fed, or allowed to eat.

Organic advocates accuse Wal-Mart of fraud

Wal-Mart stores continue to label non-organic food as organic, according to a Wisconsin-based coalition representing the organic food industry.

When staff at The Cornucopia Institute of Cornucopia, Wis., surveyed Wal-Mart stores around the country last September, analyzing the giant retailer's decision to sell a wider variety of organic food, they said they discovered widespread problems misleading signage.

Convenience and health make organic food a big sell in Seattle

It's lunchtime on a weekday afternoon in downtown Seattle and a growing line of men and women in business attire is snaking inside the lobby of an Organic To Go deli in the One Union Square Building.

As potential customers walk by in the bustling corridor, a woman in an apron hands them organic soup samples to draw them inside to the soup bar where there are seven choices.

Sales of organic red meat are growing in Great Britain

The sales of organic red meat increased by 12 per cent in the year to 5th November, a report of the analyst Julie Fisher at the Meat and Livestock Commission showed. But Mrs. Fisher also pointed out that the organic market still remained small in relation to total meat sales, with a volume of less than 5,000 tonnes per year, representing less than 1 per cent of the total. The value over the same period was £36 million.

When buying organic makes sense and when it doesn't

Grocery-store shelves are increasingly crowded with pricey organic versions of everything from milk and eggs to hot dogs and beer. But some of the options pitched as healthier may not always be worth their higher price tags.

Sales of organic products have increased sharply, and experts predict the trend will continue

Dramatic increases in the sale of organic goods could make it difficult for supermarkets to keep the green goods on their shelves, industry insiders forecast.

Organic food items in particular are being ripped from store shelves. Keeping fresh stocks available will require increased production and even importing more organic foodstuffs.

Retailing trends and innovations in 2007

Despite comments made earlier this month by UK Environment minister David Milliband that organic foods are not superior to cheaper more conventionally produced foods, the organic sector is expected to maintain its steady growth.

Fishing for Answers About 'Organic' Fish

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

In the United States, the term "organic" has a legal meaning set by the Department of Agriculture. The department has an official label to mark products that have met the requirements of its National Organic Program.

Organic labelling better late than never

When I go shopping at my local health food store, I make sure I have money in the bank. The cost of organic produce is high. I often pay twice as much for organic raisins as I do for regular ones at the local supermarket. But I make the decision to spend the extra cash because I am told that organic produce is better for me. It's produced with fewer herbicides and pesticides than non-organic. Up until now, I simply took the wording on the label as true.

Miliband accused of back-pedalling in organic foods clash

THE Environment Secretary has admitted he eats organic food, despite having declared it a "lifestyle choice" without any proven health benefits.

David Miliband angered organic farmers with his comments earlier this month, which were seen by some as a rebuke to those who criticise conventional farming practices.

New edition of the newsletter!

In the U.K. Save the Bacon stocks up big for the holidays...and now they're willing to share their leftovers. Organic duck, turkey, venison...check it out.

If your holiday gatherings found you a little short on party supplies, now's the time to stock up. Wine Enthusiast is currently running a sale of up to 70% off on holiday accessories and up to 75% on selected glassware.

Beyond wine, if you're looking for some really classy kitchen goods, Sur la Table is also running specials on all kinds of things.

Need to fill those glasses? In the US, Jeriko Estate is offering cases of their 2002 Merlot at 40% off, at $186 plus tax. Contact me if you'd like the tasting notes.

Feature Article: Organic Chocolate

Chocolate. Just the word gets the imagination running and the mouth watering. How fortunate that something so pleasant comes with health benefits in the form of bioflavonoids and antioxidants. But of course this pleasure is double-edged - the fat and sugar prevents us from enjoying this treat as often as we'd like (or it should, in any case!)

Given its downside, it makes sense to choose as wisely as possible when you choose to enjoy chocolate. Make it even more special. Why should organic chocolate be your choice?

The amount of certified organic ingredients in organic chocolate must equal at least 95% of all those used in the production process. As with all organic products, there must be no chemical substances like pesticides, insecticides, or herbicides used on plants and no growth hormones or irradiation in animals. Since chocolate contains both plant- and animal-based ingredients, and additives used on those ingredients ultimately end up in your body, both of these matter. They would also end up in soil, waterways, and even air, so the effects multiply. When you buy certified organic cocoa you can be sure that beans aren't fumigated with methyl bromide, which depletes the ozone layer and is dangerous when inhaled.

Organic farming means also no use of genetically modified ingredients. In the case of cocoa, the beans are cut open and in most cases removed by hand from the open pods, some 400 of which are required for a pound of chocolate. No chemical substances are used during further fermentation and production process. Fine organic chocolate also contains no cocoa-butter vegetable fats or cocoa butter enhancers.

As always, the choice to buy organic affects more than your own body. The producers of organic chocolate care for the environment, encouraging biodiversity of rainforests that are not only the perfect places for raising cocoa plants but also serve as shelter for migratory birds, butterflies and other species.

Much organic chocolate is also fair trade. The world's best regions for growing cocoa, cane sugar and vanilla are Central and South America and Africa. Consider that in Ghana, for example, a cocoa farmer receives about a penny for his contribution to a candy bar that sells for 60 cents. Fair trade chocolate not only creates a market for small farmers in such economically disadvantaged regions. It guarantees both a fair price to the farmers and the assurance that no child or slave labor is used.

Producers of organic chocolate give you more than just that delightful feeling of chocolate melting in your mouth - when you buy it, you do something good for the environment and hard-working Third World farmers.

A shameless plug

This isn't organic, but it's still a good cause! My nine-year-old niece Caitlin has a friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Caitlin wanted to help somehow. She's quite an artist, and she and her mom have made note cards out of some of her drawings. They're selling 10 assorted cards for US$10, and net proceeds go to benefit their local pediatric cancer hospital. Check out Caitlin's web site for more information: http://geocities.com/cardsbycaiti.

Organic alternatives catching on

Organic products are popping up everywhere from the local fruit stand to supermarket shelves. Organic alternatives are available for almost every conventional food product — fruits, vegetables, cereal, coffee, milk, meat, and even pet food.

Organic food IS best, producers tell minister

Cumbria’s organic growers have defended their produce after the Environment Secretary David Miliband said there was no conclusive evidence that it was better than conventional food.

Is organic food worth the bigger price bite?

That slightly shrivelled plum, bruised apple and less-than-perfect tomato in the organic produce section of the supermarket might not look as fetching as their non-organic counterparts -- and they almost always cost more. But an increasing number of shoppers are gravitating toward them, especially when it comes to feeding their children.

Still room for growth in organics

When Jasch Hamilton got into the organic produce business in the 1980s, it was a thinly distributed commodity.

So when the University of California-Santa Cruz philosophy grad started an organic farm in Diamond Hill, Maine, he served the hotel and restaurant trade, but found himself most often purchasing from Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, which generated most of the available organic products at the time.

Britain's agricultural industry split over 'organic' claims

Britain's agricultural industry is split over claims there is no conclusive evidence that organic food is healthier than products grown by conventional methods.

Organic food 'legally guaranteed'

The organic farming community has fought back against claims their produce is no healthier than food grown by other methods.

Is It Worth Buying Organic?

We all know the old saying "You are what you eat." Possibly no group is more aware of what they put into their bodies than athletes. Who are constantly braking down and then rebuilding muscle, powered predominantly by what they eat. Athletes are well aware of the fat, carbohydrates, protein, sodium, and the plethora of other ingredients in their grocery bags. Some athletes even spend 1.5 to 2.5 more on their monthly grocery bill to purchase organic food, but is the extra cost worth it? The demand for organic foods has grown by 20% annually over the last several years. Many cite the health benefits as well as environmental responsibility they perceive in buying organic. This raises the question, what exactly does it mean to buy and eat "organic" and does it make a difference?

Setting organic standards

New Canadian regulations will take the guesswork out of the decision to shell out an extra 20 cents a pound for those organic bananas.

Is it worth the extra cash? What does organic mean, anyway?

UK: no evidence organic food is better for our health, says Minister

Highly-priced organic food is no better for us than conventionally-grown farm produce, a Minister claimed. Environment Secretary David Miliband said consumers who opted for chemical-free, naturally-produced food did so as a 'lifestyle choice' rather than because science had proved it was healthier.

S. Florida farmers see a fresh profit in organics

As the market for organic produce expands from health food stores to mainstream groceries, farmers are taking notice.

While no statewide records are kept on organic production, Florida farms devote an estimated 12,000 acres to organic cultivation of rice, citrus, watercress, blueberries, mangoes and avocados, said Marty Mesh, executive director of the Florida Organic Growers Association. And organic farming is exploding in Southwest Florida, according to Gene McAvoy, a Hendry County-based extension agent.

Cameron: Farming should go green

Growing crops for bio-fuels, promoting the UK's good animal welfare standards, demand for local food and organic produce all present opportunities for farmers in the years to come - the Conservative leader told the Oxford Farming Conference today.

The Food Politics: Change the world just by buying certain foods

HAS the supermarket trolley dethroned the ballot box? Voter turnout in most developed countries has fallen in recent decades, but sales of organic, Fairtrade and local food-each with its own political agenda-are growing fast. Such food allows shoppers to express their political opinions, from concern for the environment to support for poor farmers, every time they buy groceries. And shoppers are jumping at the opportunity, says Marion Nestle, a nutritionist at New York University and the author of "Food Politics" (2002) and "What to Eat" (2006). "What I hear as I talk to people is this phenomenal sense of despair about their inability to do anything about climate change, or the disparity between rich and poor," she says. "But when they go into a grocery store they can do something-they can make decisions about what they are buying and send a very clear message."

Forum urges Jews to think how did this food get to my plate?

David Frank graduated from New York's French Culinary Institute without ever tasting a single morsel.

As a culinary student, he braised, flambeed and sauteed - then stepped back to allow his classmates to taste and judge the food over which he labored.

An Orthodox Jew from Forest Hills, NY, Frank is a sales and events manager and consulting chef for a kosher caterer. He always dreamed of becoming a chef, but feared his traditional lifestyle might get in the way.

The buzzwords for 2007 are all synonymous with green

Green hasn't gone away. In fact, green -- as in energy efficient, sustainably harvested, nontoxic, organic -- will be one of the public watchwords of 2007, as "green design" has been with an ever-growing number of designers, architects and builders in 2006. Thanks to a steady media drumbeat and celebrity pushes, such as Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," global warming (what was called the greenhouse effect in the 1980s) has finally moved into the common consciousness. Even those who don't intend to give up their Hummers or stop burning their fireplaces are nodding and agreeing that something must be done.

A new addition

I'll soon be adding a whole new section to Organic Food and Drink. Here's a hint...We tried the Organic Dark Chocolate Truffle bar from trusty source Trader Joe's. Verdict: OK, not great. There are other varieties of both dark and milk chocolate available.

Natural Progression

The market for organic produce has expanded from health food specialty outlets to mainstream groceries, and that same kind of shift has happened to farmers - including ones in Palm Beach County.

"It used to be the organic farmer was an ex-hippie kind of guy who ate tofu burgers," said Gene McAvoy, a Hendry County-based extension agent who is witnessing an explosion of organic farming in Southwest Florida. "The new guys are doing it for profit while they adhere to organic principles."

I found $10 for you...but hurry!

Now through December 31, get a $10 instant rebate off any $49+ order at Amazon Grocery, including both food and household items.  You also get free shipping on any order over $25! Just use the code GROCERY3 when you check out.  Go straight to our organic grocery storefront and stock up for New Year's.


A U.S. promo:  Harry and David is running an after-Christmas clearance sale.  Visit them and browse their selection of organic items and various gifts for whoever is still on your list (hostess gifts, maybe?)  This one goes till January 31.


If you like Hickory Farms better, you'll have to act a little faster.  Until December 31, use code HOLIDAY and get 15% off any order of $50 or more, or use code SNOW06 for free shipping on that $50 order.  Free gifts with purchase too.  Consider a gift certificate if you're not sure what they like.


Making a New Year's resolution to find more ways to go green and organic?  Try a free subscription to Ideal Bites for suggestions and information.  You can even see a sample tip before you subscribe. Not much to lose on this one!

Organic Evolution

Walking slowly down a muddy farm road, Deborah Yashar points to a row of white, sweet-smelling flowers planted next to green shoots of broccoli. The alyssum flower attracts beneficial insects that protect crops from pests, Yashar says. Yashar is the food systems project coordinator for the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA), which provides guidance and subsidized land to small organic farmers.

Demand for organic produce feed growth

Thomas and Sarah Rumery started building their greenhouse-gardening venture in rural western Colorado in 1992 to create a flexible, family-oriented lifestyle for rearing their three daughters.

Today, Osage Gardens west of New Castle is Colorado's largest year-round grower of U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic culinary herbs.

Sales of organic red meat up 12% in year

SALES of organic red meat increased by 12 per cent in the year to 5 November, according to a report published by Julie Fisher, a senior research analyst at the Meat and Livestock Commission.

But Fisher points out that the organic market remains very small in relation to total meat sales.

You'll hear more about eating with a conscience

Looking back over the past year in food and ahead to the coming one, we note that several of the hot trends we observed last year -- dark chocolate, exotic salts -- continue to rank high on foodie forecasters' radar.

But one of our 2006 trends to watch has emerged as the No. 1 issue for 2007.

Bringing Fair Trade Home to the U.S.

Ever wondered why the fair trade label only applies to products from outside the U.S.?

Why are all the fair trade certifies located thousands of miles away from the producers?

How can corporations that are so unfair towards workers, farmers, and consumers in the U.S. get away with selling and promoting themselves as fair trade?

New labelling to take confusion out of what's organic

Are your potatoes organic? Are you sure?

A new labelling system introduced Friday by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is meant to take the worry out of organic buying and stop food producers from claiming organic status for food that is not certified.

Safe foods, quality water at odds

Programs to conserve wildlife habitat and clean up agricultural water runoff may become victims of summer's E. coli outbreak.

Water and soil conservationists and wildlife habitat preservationists have long encouraged farmers and ranchers to follow eco-friendly practices, but these can compromise food safety, in the view of businesses that buy farm products.

Bulgarian funding failing domestic organic producers

A new report has found that funding designed to initiate and promote organic certification amongst Bulgarian food processors and producers is failing smaller domestic enterprises in the country.

Generously subsidised eco-farmers occupy borderland

The neglected Sudeten landscape along the Czech-German border is changing its face being enlivened by freely moving cattle herds, but the idyll costs hundreds of millions of crowns in subsidies that are to further substantially rise next year, weekly Tyden out today writes.

Chocolate with less guilt: Fair-trade brands help cocoa farmers

Chocolate will never be a guilt-free passion, but buying fair- trade chocolate might ease your conscience a little.

It costs more than run-of-the-mill milk chocolate -- it's 71 cents to $1.90 an ounce -- and doesn't come in holiday shapes. But buyers or sweet tooths lucky enough to receive it as a gift can feel better knowing that the cocoa farmers who helped produce it receive a living wage and money to build health clinics, improve schools and provide clean drinking water.

Asia's organic food industry coming of age

Asia's organic food industry has surged in recent years, with a marked increase in both consumption and production in the region, shows a new report.

What 'organic' really means

Most of the time, organic food costs more than produce grown by conventional methods. Do you know what you are paying for? Here's a quiz to test your savvy when it comes to "organic":

Tibet innovates to eradicate poverty

Encouraged by the market opportunities opened up by the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Tibet is starting to adopt a more innovative, market-oriented approach to farming and animal husbandry in order to lift its rural and pastoral population out of abject poverty.

It's the last minute!

Still looking...and no time for shopping? Here's a great place for a gift card - let them choose some good organic coffee!


Coffee for Less

Green farming meet kicks off

Attempts to boost organic trade and market development in the region go a notch higher on Wednesday with the launch of second draft of an East African Organic Standard.

Pesticides need not apply

Considering that elsewhere in the world consumers can do their daily shopping in stores devoted entirely to organic food, should we be talking about Bulgaria’s organic market at all? After all, it is virtually non-existent and the list of organic products on offer in the country can fit onto this page alone. However, things are looking up and today it is possible to shop organic more than you think. Even for chocolate! Here is what you need to know.

Developing organic fruit and vegetables in Poland

There has been a huge increase of land used under organic managment in Poland recently. According to figures of the Ministry of Agriculture, the number of ecological farms exceeded 7000, and the acreage amounts 16.500 hectares. The bad news is that only 5% of the mentioned acreage is used for the production of fruits and berries and less than 2% for vegetables.

Specials for the holidays!

I know I don't have to remind you that the holidays are getting closer. Many of us like doing as much shopping as possible on line and get the best selection without the lines and traffic. But if you're one of them, you'll need to plan ahead. I've been advised of some specials from our Organic Food and Drink partners, so hurry and take advantage!

First, for all your organic shopping, try the one-stop shop at amazon.com. There are a few select products right on the home page, but use the search box to find everything you need.

For wine deals:
How about 1 cent shipping? Spend $99 at wine.com and that's exactly what you'll get! Use promo code LS1CENTDEC and hurry - this one ends December 10. If that's too quick, get 5% off any order of $50 or more with code LSDEC5, $10 off any order of $150 or more with code LSDEC10, and 10% off wine collections with code LSDECCOLL. These are good till December 31, so you've got time for all your holiday wine.

How about chocolate? Chocolate Source is now offering 10% off all orders over $10.00! Be sure to use Coupon Code 95433 at checkout and order by December 10.

In Australia, visit Definitely Chocolate. I challenge you to visit the home page and not want some!

Gift baskets...too may to list them all here, and they all have organic. Gotfruit.com is one of the easiest, and has free shipping. You'll find lots more on the produce page.

Organic meat: Save the Bacon has a huge selection of meats for Christmas. More than that, for just £1.00 you can buy a special package of "Magic Reindeer Food" that will not only delight your kids, but support the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

These are just the ones I'm aware of now. Be sure to visit the Organic Food and Drink web site often for the best places to find your organic foods, around the world.

Organic produce huge trend in Austria

In Austria, the sales turnover of organic products increased with 30 percent during the first six months of 2006. With around 14.000 companies, Bio Austria is the largest organisation of organic farmers in Europe. Although parasites of the conventional food industry try to take advantage of the huge organic success, the organic industry succeeded in obtaining a strong position on the domestic market.

Supply drives organic foods to the masses

Nicole Lewis is on the frontline changing the way America shops. She knows the organic fruit, meat and milk sold in this Whole Foods store costs as much as 80 percent more than food without the organic label. Still she is willing to pay.

Organics a growing trend in Delta

Getting back to basics, learning more about where our food comes from and doing something to benefit the environment.

In South Delta, a growing number of producers are meeting the demand from buyers who want their produce unblemished by pesticides or manipulated by genetics.

Food labelling plan spells an end to free-range free-for-all

ALL organic food produced for domestic consumption will be subject to a national standard, after the exposure of widespread rorting and misleading claims by growers and manufacturers.

Standards Australia's food standards board yesterday voted to go ahead with the scheme early next year, as the national competition and consumer watchdog indicated it would crack down on misleading food labelling.

White pressures government on organic sector

GREEN Party Deputy Leader and Spokesperson on Food and Agriculture Councillor Mary White has called for the Government to ensure that the Irish organic sector can fulfil its potential by setting ambitious targets and pursuing the appropriate policies to achieve results. “The market for Irish organic food has grown rapidly in recent years due to increased aware-ness of the advantages of locally-produced, organic food, in terms of health, environment and food-quality. This is a huge opportunity for Irish agriculture. However, prospective and existing organic growers and farmers need adequate support,” said Cllr White.

Retailers 'miss out on fairtrade boom'

A HUGE demand for fairtrade goods is not being met by UK retailers who are missing out on billions of pounds of sales, a survey has revealed.

The truth about food fraud

Is that tuna in your sandwich? Or was the fish in the can a different species altogether? Was the corn-fed, free-range egg you ate for breakfast actually battery-farmed? From careless labelling to outright deception, food fraud in Britain has reached epidemic proportions - and most of us have no idea what we're being sold. How can we sort the organic wheat from the GM chaff?

Avoid the 'Dirty Dozen,' buy organic

Food scares in recent months - from E. coli in spinach to toxins in fish - have a growing number of consumers buying organic food.
But are organics - foods free of growth hormones, chemicals, conventional pesticides and genetically modified ingredients - worth their higher cost?

Namibia: Organic Farming the Way to Go - Mulenga

SMALL-SCALE farmers in Zambia's Chongwe District east of Lusaka are being taught by a local agricultural centre how to grow their crops and vegetables organically, as organic produce are healthy, environmentally friendly and worth more in shops.

Organic food demand sparks more imports

Imports of organic food are rising with domestic production unable to keep pace with soaring demand, according to the country's leading organic certification body, the Soil Association.

Natural & Organic Beef; Similar, But Not The Same

While natural and organic beef products are not likely to ever dominate the US market, demand for organic products has been growing at the rate of about 20% annually since the early 1990’s. The market is estimated to be at $25 billion plus in annual sales, with large specialists such as Whole Foods and Wal-Mart supercenters competing for customers. Certified Angus Beef is now offering natural products. Given the growth in this area, there may be opportunities for producers to participate and benefit. The first step in exploring that option is to understand the differences between natural, organic and other marketing claims of these specialized products.

Global Organic Foods Supply Tightens as Sales Soar

Global sales of organic food & drink are soaring with revenues projected to approach US$40 billion this year. New research by Organic Monitor (www.organicmonitor.com) shows that demand is outpacing supply with a number of regions reporting supply shortages.

Growers grapple with getting the good message of organic food out

ALTHOUGH Ireland held its second National Organic Week recently, those involved in this growing sector - pardon the pun - still have a fight on their hands to sell the benefits of buying organic.

Activist group files complaint vs. Wal-Mart over food labels

An activist group representing small farmers has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alleging that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) incorrectly labeled several products as organic, The Washinggton Post reported in its Wednesday editions.

Can you taste organic?

Is the organic wine glass half empty, or is it half full? To some extent, the answer depends on who's looking.

On the one hand, the folks at the Organic Trade Association recently reported, with apparent delight, that U.S. sales of certified organic wines and wines made with organic grapes reached $80 million last year, a 28 percent increase over the previous year and nearly double the sales of organic wines in 2003.

Organic chocolate taking a bite out of U.S. market

U.S. chocolate lovers in growing numbers are discovering how to pander to their addiction and simultaneously help the environment by buying organically certified chocolate.

Organic, fairtrade chocolate hits ethical niche

As confectionery makers jostle for a share in the increasingly popular organic market, UK company Venture Foods has launched two new additions to its niche organic and fairtrade chocolate bars.

Organic food spend set to grow

Results of a study conducted by Bord Bia revealed that over 60% of organic products are purchased in multiple supermarkets, 22% in symbol retail outlets and the remaining 16% through direct organic sellers, such as farmers markets, farm shops, health food stores, box schemes and butchers.

“Organic” a boom market with German consumers

The retail food sector is expanding its product range to include more and more organic produce. Every week a new organic supermarket opens, and retailers captivate the public with their ranges of fresh produce. Organic means quality. What originally began as a food industry niche has today become a growth-intensive section of the market. Raising awareness and consumption of organic produce even further, the 10th Bio Market at the International Green Week 2007 will be a particularly important communication platform.