Organic, With Pesticides (Extended)

The word "wholesome" doesn't exactly spring to mind when describing Chinese exports these days. But for years now, Chinese farmers have fed soaring global demand for organic foods. China's organic exports totaled $350 million in 2005 (the most recent data available)—up from $150 million the previous year—according to China's largest organic food certification agency.

A growing movement toward green food

Green. Green. Green. It’s the color of the year, maybe even of the century. And rest assured we are not talking about painting your walls or buying a new T-shirt or pair of shoes.

Buying imported food may actually be more energy-efficient

FOR the conscientious, food shopping now poses yet another ethical dilemma: is it really better to buy locally rather than shipping meat, fruit and vegetables around the globe?

A conference of experts yesterday heard that importing food from the other side of the world can actually be more energy-efficient than buying British produce and helps developing countries tackle poverty.

China Quietly Muscles In on the Organic Food Market

Consumers turning to organic food in the wake of warnings about antifreeze-laden toothpaste, poisoned pet food, and antibiotic-laced fish may be in for a surprise. The same country blamed for those scares, China, is quietly muscling in on the organic market.

Vintages that won't cost the earth

Wine can be a tricky subject. The number of wine-producing regions in the world is growing by the year (keep an eye out for Brazil and China, by the way) and the proliferation of the latest flavour-of-the-month grape varieties and blends that they send out into the world is bewildering.

Children's meals from Save the Bacon

After much hard work and having built great business partnerships, Save the Bacon in the UK is offering Juniorganic children’s organic ready meals.

Each dish provides a complete meal and contains sufficient vegetables to count towards the “5 a day” recommended by experts. All meals are suitable for children from one year upwards. Meat is cooked from fresh, sourced from selected British farms and fish is fresh Scottish Salmon. Vegetables are British and purchased locally where possible.

Our meals are blast frozen for increased shelf life – up to 12 months. Meals are simple to prepare in a microwave or conventional oven.

Efforts to curb climate change may hurt African farms

A bid to slow global warming by reducing the tonnes of food air freighted around the world ran up on Tuesday against the worries of poor African growers who fear it will hurt their business.

Organic farming is historically more common than it is now

It is an argument that has been used by large food corporations for so long now that most people come to regard it as fact. The corporations say: Organic farming is great and all, but it just can’t feed the world and its growing population.

Yet recent studies from the University of Michigan and Iowa State University show that organic farming can produce a yield as high of, if not higher for certain crops, as conventional farming. It is time that we see that organic can feed the world, and that it is not a type of food only for the wealthy.

Buy Organic Without Breaking the Bank

ORGANIC FOODS MAY be healthier for you, but they can have a sickening effect on your wallet.

Produced without pesticides and other chemicals, organic produce, meat and dairy products can cost 50% to 100% more than their conventional counterparts, says Urvashi Rangan, a senior scientist and policy analyst with Consumer Reports' Greener Choices. Despite those mark-ups, studies touting the health and environmental benefits of organic foods have made them more popular than ever before. More than 70% of consumers have at least one organic product on their shopping list, according to market research firm Hartman Group.

There is no demand for ecologically safe produce in Lviv region

Only 2-3 farms in Lviv region grow ecologically safe produce. The situation is a little bit better throughout Ukraine - around one hundred farms grow plants without the application of toxic chemicals. But still, even chemical-free fruits and vegetables do not possess an international quality certificate now. This information was discussed on July 13th during the press-conference "Realities and perspectives of ecologically safe produce growing in Lviv region" held in Lviv Reform Press-Club.

GM push vilifies organics

Recent attacks on the organic food industry are about discrediting it to soften up the public to accept genetically modified (GM) crops, Dr Maggie Lilith of the Conservation Council of WA and the Say No to GMO campaign told Green Left Weekly.

Cocktails get a 'health' makeover

On Monday around 9 p.m., three young Brooklynites stopped into Counter, a vegetarian restaurant in the East Village. Laughing and chatting, they sampled organic raspberries, poached pears, fresh pineapple and strawberries.

That this bounty was found not tableside but at the bar, where the restaurant's menu of organic cocktails has been steadily expanding, only heightened the appeal.

Public backs call for better labels

DEMAND for locally grown produce is on the rise as customers want to know more about where their food comes.

Farmers and traders at the show were questioned closely by visitors to the North's premier agricultural event in Harrogate as hundreds signed petitions backing Yorkshire Post campaigns calling for better labelling of British food and protection for Wensleydale cheese.

Demand grows for organic wine

Have you ever had an organic wine?

Chances are you've had a bottle or two and didn't even know it because they don't always put the word "organic" on the label, but that's starting to change.

Organic Products Worth Price Tag?

In an age in which Americans are becoming more environmentally aware than ever, organic products are everywhere. Consumers can purchase not only organic foods but also organic mattresses and cosmetics. It seems that everything available in grocery stores has its own organic counterpart. But it begs the question: What makes organic "organic"?

Chocolate is latest U.S. organic heavy-hitter

Organic chocolate sales are booming as more U.S. consumers seeking untreated natural ingredients are choosing the sweet treat to satisfy their cravings, and mainstream companies are entering what was once considered a high-end market.

Save the Bacon - for you UK carnivores

Save the Bacon has just announced a huge promotion for organic cooked meats and much more. Here's what they're offering:

PIES
Classic Chicken Pie
Moroccan Lamb Pie
Pork Pie
Steak & Kidney Pie
Steak & Red Wine Pie
Salmon Fish Pie

ORGANIC SOUPS
Carrot & Courgett e Soup
Chicken & mushroom Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup
Cream of Tomato Soup
Leek & Potato Soup
Lentil & Vegetable Soup

ORGANIC MEALS
Beef Provencal
Beef Stroganoff
Meatballs in Tomato & Herb Sauce
Lasagne
Chicken Nuggets
Chicken Mango
Coq Au Vin
Thai Chicken
Lamb Tagini
Shepherd's Pie

ORGANIC VEGETARIAN MEALS
Cheese & Tomato Pizza
Mushroom Stroganoff
Spinach & Ricotta Lasagne
Vegetable Shepherd's Pie

ORGANIC PUDDINGS AND CAKES
Baked Almond & Apple Pudding
Bread & Butter Pudding
Chocolate Bread & Butter Pud
Luxury Rice Pudding
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Custard Sauce
Gingerbread
Chocolate Brownies
Traditional Flapjack

The top organic and Fairtrade coffees - and how to taste them

John Weaver, coffee buyer for Cafédirect, knows his Palenque from his Kilimanjaro and his Machu Picchu. The rest of us are not so sure.

(Note from me: This is a good article about vocabulary - what is organic, what is fair trade, that sort of thing. But are these the best? You decide- you have plenty of choices!)

McDonalds' milk goes organic

Organic dairy farmers could benefit from increased demand for their milk after McDonalds has announced it is switching to organic milk for its coffee and hot chocolate drinks.

The move could account for 5% of the UK’s organic milk supplies.

Organic tomato boosted at UCD

In another tantalizing suggestion that organic produce may be more nutritious, UC Davis researchers have found that tomatoes grown organically in a campus test field packed an extra punch.

The organic tomatoes were richer in two types a flavonoids, compounds believed partly responsible for lower rates of cardiovascular disease and some cancers in people who eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

technorati tags: organic, organic food, health food, natural food, organic vegetables, organic produce

Organic food under threat

A path leads around Bwlchwernen Fawr farm, through the fields and past a wood that is home to kites, buzzards and tawny owls. The trail twists at a stream feeding the river Aeron before bubbling underground beside a badger sett which local schoolchildren are encouraged to visit.

To outside eyes, Bwlchwernen, in West Wales, appears to be an idyll of peace and tranquillity. From the inside, however, it is anything but.

Fourth of July Wine Tasting

First, happy Fourth of July to all of us who consider it a good thing. Slightly belated Happy Canada Daty to our neighbors to the north.

Today is my dad's birthday, so I wanted to find some higher-quality organic wines for our tasting. I went to my local Bev-Mo thinking I'd have a better selection. Well, maybe, but it was like the proverbial needle in the haystack. They have lots to choose from, but without reading the fine print associated with every bottle it was hard to figure out what was organic. I settled on two:

Bonterra Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. This was a silver medalist in Monterey. Very smooth and not too tannic. Very nice with the tri-tip.
Naked (from Snoqualomie Vineyards) 2006 Riesling. Definitely sweet and more of a dessert wine, but smoothly sweet, not cloying. Rated 90 points.

Both of these are from organically grown grapes, rather than being fully organic wines.

technorati tags: organic, natural, organic wine, natural wine, organic red wine, organic+white+wine

Specials today

Wine lovers: Wine Enthusiast is giving free shipping on its racking kits.
All kinds of food lovers: check out the summer sale at Sur la Table.
One of my own favorites, CoffeeAM, is currently offering chocolate raspberry coffee as its bonus. They have a good selection of organic and fair trade coffees.

What is Organic Coffee?

This is the process of growing crops without the use of fertilizers and other substances. This means farmers will work in the fields, let the water give the plants its nutrients and then watch it grow with the help of the sun.

Pesticides In The Body - Don’t Look, Don’t Find

When the government tests for chemicals people carry around in their bodies, it doesn’t check for the pesticides most commonly found on fruits and vegetables sold in grocery stores.

Trace amounts of agricultural chemicals — so-called “pesticide residue” — show up on many fruits and vegetables grown with conventional farming techniques. Some of the most contaminated produce includes seasonal favorites like peaches, apples, nectarines and strawberries.

UK ENERGY SAVING SHOCKED AT EU DECISION TO ALLOW GM CONTENT IN ORGANIC PRODUCTS

UK Energy Saving was shocked to learn of the EU’s decision to allow up to 0.9% of organic products to be genetically modified (GM) whilst still being labelled as GM free. Organic food in particular, along with other organic products, is becoming more popular as consumers realise the potential health and environmental benefits, and UK Energy Saving dedicates a section of their website, www.uk-energy-saving.com, to organic products.

ACCC secures $270,000 boost to organic food

Moves to develop a national Australian standard for organic and biodynamic produce has been given a financial boost following an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission action against a fraudulent company.

Washington Organic Acreage Output Continues Growth

Noting there may be some inconsistencies in reporting numbers, Washington State University researchers believe the state's certified organic acreage may have increased by 70% since 2002.

More specials!

Seems like a lot of current specials are taking advantage of barbecue season!

In the UK, Save the Bacon has a long list of specials on meats as diverse as wild boar, pheasant, and venison.

In the US, check Niman Ranch for its range of specials, including sausages, steaks, and more. Lindauer Farms is also offering $20 of tenderloin tips free with the purchase of any steak pack.

For everything else you need for that fine outdoor mean (or an indoor one, for that matter) CyberCucina is still offering 10% off all grilling and barbecue items, through the end of June.

If you're in the mood to grow your own organic garden, don't miss this ebook for excellent tips.

More good stuff: igourmet, with all its specialty foods, is offering 5% off any purchase with code KGB5, all the way till the end of July. They also have a whole section of specials, including buy one, get one free.

Wine: I've found specials on a Chilean cabernet, among others, at wine.com. They currently have a nice selection of organic wines.

What a "Muscle-Head" Bodybuilder Says About Organic Food (part 1)

This is a long enough article that I'm breaking it up in the newsletter, but here it is in its entirety.

What a "Muscle-Head" Bodybuilder Says About Organic Food
by: Tom Venuto

Last week I was talking about nutrition with one of my workout buddies and when I mentioned grass fed beef and "organic food” he asked, "Do you mean like what you get at Whole Foods Market?"

I said, "Yes, exactly... that's a natural food and organic supermarket." He said, "Yeah well, that place costs so much, I call it Whole Paycheck!"

I was rolling on the floor laughing, but the truth is, organic food really is expensive and so is grass fed beef and free range chicken, so it's a valid question to ask, “Is it worth it?”

After researching the subject and doing some personal experiments with my own diet, let me offer you my take on it from a bodybuilder’s viewpoint. This is a perspective on organics you may not have heard before.

First, look at it this way - if you put the cheapest fuel in your luxury car, how well is it going to run and how many miles are you going to get out of it?

While I'm on car analogies, health and fitness author and educator Paul Chek once wrote about how ridiculous it is to watch how many $75,000 + cars pull up to the Mcdonald's or Burger King drive through window to buy $1.99 hamburgers.

I would say that's a serious case of screwed up priorities, wouldn't you? The driver has no problem shelling out the $1,100 monthly car payment, but it's too much to ask him to put premium fuel into his own "bodily vehicle."

How can you put ANY price tag on your body and your health? You can buy another car, but you've only got one body.

Now, as for the grass fed beef and organic foods question….

For best results in body composition improvement, which I define as burning fat and or building muscle, (and I'll even go as far as to say for optimal health as well), I am a believer in including animal proteins, including lean meats.

I have no wish to take up the vegetarian debate in this article. I respect vegetarians and acknowledge that a healthy and lean body can be developed with a vegetarian diet if it is done properly, although it may be more challenging for strict vegans to gain muscle for various reasons.

However, in recommending animal protein as part of a healthy fat loss and muscle building nutrition program, I do agree that we all need to give some serious thought to what is in our meat (and in the rest of our food).

Some people say that meat is part of our “evolutionary” diet and it’s the way we were intended to eat and I wouldn’t argue with that. But is the meat we’re eating in today’s modern society the same as what was hunted and eaten many thousands of years ago, or has some “toxic stuff” found its way into our beef, poultry and fish that wasn’t there before?

I also think we should consider what is *missing* from our commercially grown food, that is supposed to be in there, that probably used to be there in the past, but may not be today.

A lot of people are not paying any attention to this... even people who should know better. I admit it - I was oblivious to this for a long time myself. Here’s why:

I am not your typical "health and wellness" or "weight loss" expert. I am also competitive bodybuilder. We bodybuilders are well know for eating very clean diets with lots of lean protein and natural carbs, as well as for looking like "the picture of health" with our ripped abs and impressive muscularity.

We eat our oatmeal and egg whites for breakfast, and proudly walk around with our chicken breast, rice and broccoli or our flank steak, yams and asparagus, and boast about how perfect and clean our meals are and how our diets are already “clean” and could not be improved.

But how many bodybuilders or fitness enthusiasts are there - even serious, dedicated and educated ones - who don't give a single thought to the poisonous chemicals that might be lurking in our supposedly "clean" food?

The Food and Drug Administration lists more than 3,000 chemicals that can be added to our food supply. One billion pounds of pesticides and farming chemicals are used on our crops every year.

Depending on what source you quote, the average American consumes as much as 150 pounds of chemicals and food additives per year.

Does ANYBODY out there think that this is good for you?

Didn't think so.

If you had a way to avoid all these chemicals and toxins, would you at least explore it, even if it cost a little more?

Although this topic is controversial and hotly debated, organic food is gaining in popularity and seems to fit this bill.

Food grown on certified organic farms does not contain:

Pesticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Hormones, Antibiotics or Chemical fertilizers

It is also not:

Irradiated or Genetically modified

Beyond the "certified organic" label, grass fed beef and free range chicken (and eggs), have other advantages.

Not only can there be tons of antibiotics, hormones, and other chemicals in our meat, but also commercially raised beef is fed grain or corn and yet that is not what the animals were meant to eat.

The result - aside from sick, drugged animals - is a higher overall fat, higher saturated fat and a screwed up ratio of omega three to omega six fats, which is a very big problem today - even when you think you're eating "clean." Most people accept the idea that “you are what you eat,” but they forget that the animals we eat are what they ate!

Last but not least, proponents of organic food suggest that the vitamin, mineral and phytonutrient content of commercially grown foods can be anywhere from a little bit low to virtually absent.

So... if organic and or grass fed beef and free range chicken can help us avoid some of these problems and dangers, then I'm all for it and the extra investment.

I started eating grass fed beef almost exclusively (except for my occasional restaurant steak), quite a few years ago and started eating more and more organic food. I can't say I eat entirely organic. I eat a lot of it, but not 100%. If I'm eating an apple or some blueberries, and it doesn't happen to be organic, I don’t freak out over it.

When you really study deeply into the subject of food processing, industrial pollution and commercial farming, it can almost scare you half to death, but I don't recommend getting "alarmist" about it.

Sometimes it's the people who live in fear of a disease who are most likely to get it. I for one, am not going to live in a plastic bubble to isolate myself from a "toxic world"… oh, wait... make that a ceramic bubble, plastics are really bad for you.

All joking aside, the fear of toxins can be taken to the point where the fear itself is unhealthy, but the more I study this subject - from a variety of sources and perspectives - the more the organic argument does make sense to me. I’ve built my career in fitness based on being a natural bodybuilder, which means no steroids or performance enhancing drugs, so why would I expose myself to other chemicals if I can avoid them?

Honestly, I can't say I noticed any dramatic change in my physique or in the way I feel – at least not yet. I have always eaten clean and I was a successful bodybuilder for many years before I started eating more organic food and grass fed beef.

However, I feel confident about my decision to spend the extra money on grass fed beef, free range chicken (and eggs), and an increasing amount of organic food, knowing that I am avoiding toxins and getting more of the nutritional value I need to support my training and my health long term.

I'm certain this is the type of nutritional lifestyle change that can accrue benefits over time, even if you don't see an immediate "transformation."

One thing I would suggest before you run out for organic fruits and vegetables or grass fed beef and so on, is to consider what kind of shape your diet and your lifestyle are in right now. If your diet is currently such a total mess that you’re drinking a lot of alcohol, smoking, abusing coffee and stimulants, not even eating ANY fruits and vegetables to begin with...

And if your idea of lean protein is the processed lunch meat you get in your foot long sub, then I think it might be a little moot to worry about whether your fruits and veggies are 100% certified organic or whether your beef is grass fed. Just start cleaning up your diet and establishing new healthy habits, one step at a time. Focus on nutrition and lifestyle improvement, not perfection.

There are some very strong opinions on this subject. I am aware of that, and I'm not going to stand up on a pulpit and preach either way. What I have done here is simply share what I have found from my own research and what I decided to do in my own personal health and bodybuilding regimen.

My advice to everyone else is to become as educated as possible about what is really in your food, including how it is raised or grown, and to continuously seek ways to improve your nutrition above the level it is at now. Whether the next step in improving your nutrition is to go organic will be up to you to decide.

Copyright 2006 Tom Venuto

About The Author Tom Venuto is a natural bodybuilder, certified personal trainer and author of the #1 best selling e-book, "Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle,” which teaches you how to burn fat without drugs or supplements using the little-known secrets of the world's best bodybuilders and fitness models. Learn how to get rid of stubborn fat and turbo-charge your metabolism by visiting: http://www.burnthefat.com. To get Tom's free fitness newsletter, visit http://www.tomvenuto.com.

Organic sales break £1 billion mark but farms can't keep up

SALES of organic food have broken through the £1 billion barrier as record numbers of health-conscious Britons choose pesticide-free meals, according to a consumer report.

But as farmers struggle to keep up with demand, growth in the sector is slowing, market analysts warned.

Five Ways to Buy Organic Cheaply

If you think eating organic on a budget means making do with a handful of grapes or rationing portions from a single hormone-free chicken, starve not. With these five shopping tips, you can stock your shelves with no-pesticide, free-range, shade-grown goodies -- and still have money for those coveted hemp shoes.

Is organic food really more nutritious?

The overall body of science does not support the view that organic food is more nutritious than conventionally grown food, says a new review from the British Nutrition Foundation.

U.S. assesses the use of nonorganic ingredients in organic foods

The latest battle in the United States over what can be called organic involves beer and gelatin, food colorings and casings for sausage.

The Department of Agriculture, the final arbiter of all things organic, is poised to approve a list of nonorganic ingredients that can be used in food stamped with its green-and-white organic seal.

Farmers hope 'Canada organic' label will help them tap foreign markets

Organic growers across the country are busy filling out applications for federal certification — a program that could see Canadian-grown organic produce peddled further afield, including in Parisian markets and Tokyo grocery stores.

If it's organic, EU labels will tell it like it is

EU ministers ended 18 months of squabbling on Tuesday over new rules for organic farming and came up with a labeling system that will tell consumers exactly what they are buying on the supermarket shelves.

Farmers who sell produce containing at least 95 percent organic ingredients will use a special EU logo, along with a label to indicate the product's origin. Below that, there will be labeling of the organic ingredients present.

Ministers vote favourably on new EU organic regulation

European agriculture ministers yesterday reached agreement over new organic regulation and labelling that will simplify the sector for farmers and consumers and is expected to help drive further development.

Organic food helps revive fortunes of Europe's farmers

The organic revolution is sweeping across Europe, with the area of land dedicated to environmentally-friendly, pesticide-free food production more than doubling in the last decade.

EU's organic labeling vote upsets Italy

Several Italian constituencies expressed ire at an EU vote allowing producers to label "organic" genetically modified organism-contaminated foods.

The EU Council of Agriculture Ministers voted to set an accidental-contamination threshold of 0.9 percent for organic produce, meaning produce can be labeled and sold as organic as long as its GMO content is below 0.9 percent, the Italian news agency ANSA said. Representatives of Italy, Belgium, Hungary and Greece were against extending this limit to organic food.

Growing a Conscience

A movement to “buy local” has shoppers scouring for food grown close to home.  Are farmers’ markets headed for a revival?

Bio-wine sets down some roots

Production and consumption of organic wine in the Czech Republic is still in its infancy, but observers say the sector is rapidly growing to meet the demand of environmentally conscious consumers.

While foreign wine importers are adding new organic wines to their Czech portfolios, local organic wine producers are enlarging their vineyards hoping to secure sales in more restaurants and major retail chains.

technorati tags: organic wine, natural wine

How organic should you go?

The confusion about organic foods begins, for most people, in the produce department: Is that organic Granny Smith apple from Chile really worth 30 cents more than the one grown in Washington state? Is it healthier for my kids? Will buying it save a struggling family farmer? Will it help the planet?

technorati tags: organic+food, natural+food

Oxygen trick could see organic costs tumble

A simple, cheap treatment using just oxygen could allow growers to store organic produce for longer and go a long way towards reducing the price of organic fruit and vegetables, reports Lisa Richards in Chemistry & Industry, the magazine of the SCI.

technorati tags: organic food, natural food, organic produce, organic fruit, organic vegetables

Wal-Mart Model Comes to Organics

Organic farming is based on the principle that using natural methods and eschewing all artificial inputs such as pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers and genetically modified organisms is better for the land, the farmer and the consumer. The organic movement flowered in the Seventies, a product of the environmental and countercultural movements, and influenced by the Whole Earth Catalog and books such as Silent Spring and Diet for a Small Planet.

technorati tags: organic food, organic farming, natural food

UAE: Organic food producers hit by lack of sales

Stunted sales of organic food in some supermarkets will not deter organic agriculture in the UAE and more home-grown organic produce will be widely available to residents regardless, say officials. While three specialty organic stores are now open in Dubai and Sharjah, some supermarkets with an organic section are reporting decreased sales.

technorati tags: organic food, natural+food, organic produce

Spin Cycle: Label Anxiety

When you consider that the green marketplace, for food at least, has reached $30 billion, it's easy to believe that, as one New York Times columnist put it, living and thinking "green" has hit Main Street. And as the bandwagons, hybrids of course, start rolling through town, it's also easy to believe that their heightened visibility will lead to a little road rage.

technorati tags: organic food, natural food

Organic food still leaves environmental footprint: study

While organic farmers may tout the environmental benefits of food produced without pesticides, the amount of greenhouse gases emitted through shipping is about the same as with non-organic food, University of Alberta researchers suggest.

technorati tags: organic food, organic, produce, organic farming, natural food

Organic shortage holds back high-potential market, analyst

Europe's first Whole Foods Market is set to open in London in two weeks' time, but the vast potential of the organic market is being curtailed by a shortage of organic produce, according to Organic Monitor.

technorati tags: organic food, natural food, organic produce

Long-haul veg may lose organic status

A SOIL Association proposal considering the removal of organic status from food flown into the UK should be seen as a business opportunity for Scottish farmers, according to the director of its Scottish branch.

The leading organic campaign group, which also certifies organic producers in Britain and around 30 other countries, will outline five options this week, including an outright ban. The consultation document is in response to a growing demand to reduce the carbon footprint of air-freighted food, which emits high levels of carbon dioxide, a major contributor to climate change

Technorati tags: organic food, organic produce, organic vegetables, natural food

Food scares help China's nascent organic market

Fish could give you cancer, snails meningitis and baby milk may kill your children -- barely a day goes by without some new food horror story in China. This is helping drive sales in another, though still tiny, food sector in China -- organic produce.

But a loose regulatory framework and sometimes just plain confusion about what exactly constitutes organic food has proved a stumbling block, experts say.

Technorati tags: organic food natural food , organic produce organic farming

Organic Foods for Longer Living

People who are serious about their health are aware of all the chemical additives and hormones that are added to foods today. They want to decrease the amount of unhealthy foods they take in and are therefore switching to a totally organic way of life.

Organic food selections are the new trend that has taken the nation by storm. Everywhere you go, you can now see an organic section in stores. Many health food stores are popping up and selling all organic foods. From meat and poultry to eggs and milk, as well as vegetables and fruits, organic foods are making headway in grocery and health food stores across the country.

Technorati tags: organic food natural food

Rules for the organic food industry

THE ORGANICS industry is finally to have a single standard that many hope will protect shoppers from being duped by false labels.

No longer a cottage industry, organics are worth $500million a year in Australia, with consumption growing at 25 per cent to 40 per cent every year.

Technorati tags: organic food natural+food

What does GREEN mean?

When Mount Holly resident Lisa Frame became a mother seven years ago, she struggled to find stores that sold organic and hormone-free baby food for her son. She also had trouble finding stores that sold unbleached tissue and personal care products that wouldn't trigger her allergies.

Not anymore.

Technorati tags: natural food, organic food

Shocking News About Meat

Not long ago, most of our fresh meat was handled by butchers in local supermarkets and meat shops. Beef was dry aged in coolers  for up to four weeks, which made it more tender and flavorful. Aging also allowed water to evaporate, intensifying the flavor and reducing the meat’s weight by up to 20 percent. But skilled butchers were expensive, and the dry aging process required lots of cooler space. So, dry aging is becoming a thing of the past, and that, as well as other cost-cutting aspects of industrial meat production, have brought about major changes in the way beef, pork and chicken are handled before reaching our kitchens.

Technorati tags: organic meat, natural meat, organic food, natural food

A growing appetite for organic produce

There was a time when organic food could only be found in health food stores and farmers' markets -- sold alongside herbal medicine, hemp clothing and biodegradable shampoo.

But with a growing number of people taking an active interest in tracking their food from field to table, the organic business is booming.

Technorati tags: organic food, natural food, organic produce

Bid to boost organic slaughter

A new drive has been launched to increase the number of abattoirs registered to slaughter organic livestock.

Organic certification body, Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G), said it is responding to concerns among its farmer licensees about a lack of capacity for organic slaughter in many areas.

Technorati tags: organic food, organic meat

Things You Don't Know About Organics

It's an organic world out there. After eating a meal of organic fruits, organic vegetables and organic pasta, you can wear organic jeans and roll around on organic carpet. With organic perfume, furniture and even pizza and beer, you might think there would be no surprises left for an entrepreneur hoping to make a statement in the organics industry. But you'd be wrong.

Technorati tags: organic food, natural food

Canadian consumers push up popularity of organic foods, survey finds

Over half of Canadian households bought organically grown food last year, citing use of pesticides and fertilizers as their top concern, according to a Certified Organics Report released Monday.

Studies Indicate GM Crops Are Safer and Healthier

Organic foods are often considered the "gold standard" of safety and healthfulness to which all other foods should aspire. This carefully crafted perception is used by the organic food industry to justify the higher price of organic produce. This industry has also campaigned against genetically-modified crops, using terms like "Frankenfoods" -- claiming that they are unnatural creations of technology, dangerous for human health and bad for the environment.

An increasing number of scientific studies have established that these claims have little merit and that GM foods are actually better.

Tags: organic food, natural food, organic farming, GM food, genetically modified food

Federal court orders first-ever halt to planting of a commercialized genetically-altered crop

A Federal judge today made a final ruling that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) 2005 approval of Monsanto's genetically engineered (GE) "Roundup Ready" alfalfa was illegal. The Judge called on USDA to ban any further planting of the GE seed until it conducts a complete Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the GE crop.

Tags: organic food, natural food, organic farming

Federal court orders first-ever halt to planting of a commercialized genetically-altered crop

A Federal judge today made a final ruling that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) 2005 approval of Monsanto's genetically engineered (GE) "Roundup Ready" alfalfa was illegal. The Judge called on USDA to ban any further planting of the GE seed until it conducts a complete Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the GE crop.

Tags: organic food, natural food, organic farming

OrganicBouquet.com Predicts Green Tipping Point for $6.2 Billion US Floral Market

This Mother's Day, with nearly 75% of U.S. consumers expected to purchase flowers, environmentally-conscious consumers now have a choice. More than 500 million certified stems of sustainable flowers -- including roses, tulips and gerberas -- will be grown in 2007, according to Veriflora, the new eco-certification program for the fresh cut flower trade.

Tag: organic flowers

Standards Australia asked to hold off on developing an organic standard

Today the Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) (and subsidiaries Australian Certified Organic & Organic Growers of Australia), called on Standards Australia to postpone the development of an organic standard at the first meeting of the Standards Australia organic technical committee in Sydney.

Tags: organic food, natural food, organic farming

Fair trade coffee for the birds & the planet

We hear mostly bad news about the environment these days. Problems such as global warming can appear to be so challenging, it’s hard to believe individual actions will make a difference.

But they do, and one way you can make a difference is in choosing the type of coffee you drink.

Technorati tags: organic coffee, fair trade coffee

Organic food sales are growing as consumers weigh their options

Go organic or not?

Experts say go with your comfort level. And for many people, that comfort level may have as much to do with their conscience as their health.

The sweet smell of an organic coffee victory

Organic coffee is safe, for now.

In a victory for organic farmers in the developing world and organic coffee drinkers here, the USDA's National Organic Program has backed down and said that there will be no immediate change in the way these farmers are certified.

organic coffee, fair trade coffee

Is the organic label worth the cost?

Organic food is one of the fastest growing categories in the food industry. In most cases, it can cost more than conventional food purchased at a grocery store, but is it worth it?
A farmer must go for four years without applying any pesticides to his land or crops to grow organic foods. Once they do that, they have to undergo an extensive and expensive certification process.

organic food, natural food, organic farming, organic fruit, organic vegetables, organic produce

Organic farms grow naturally

It's the time of year when empty fields across the Eastern Shore get some color. Crops are growing.

Traditional growing methods are still acceptable to most consumers, but more and more farmers are going organic to meet market demands.

organic+food, natural+food, organic+farming

Indonesian church goes organic

Nuns, priests and a seminarian have joined a group of Catholic farmers in southern Java, Indonesia, to promote organic food crops and assist the farmers to commercialise their products.

Technorati tags: organic+food, natural+food, organic+farming

More for Mom

It's May...and that means Mother's Day for most of us, and full spring for those of us north of the equator. So I have some recommendations and sources for both of those.

Specials and Recommendations

First, the springtime stuff. Even those of you south of the equator can take a look at this, especially if you're in a temperate climate. And if you're not, spring will return! If you're in gardening mode and looking to develop your own organic garden, I've found some resources for you. Here's a guide book called "Companion Planting: Complete Guide to Healthy Plants." It's by an Australian woman who goes over things like what plants to grow together, how to attract the beneficial insects, how much to plant for your family, and more.

For more information on living an organic lifestyle year-round, including in gardening season, try "The Ultimate Organic Lifestyle." Not just food, but clothing, furniture...things I wouldn't even thought of.

Both of these ebooks come with guarantees, so be sure to take a look.

Now...on to Mom.
Flowers, gifts and such: In the U.S., take a look at Organic Bouquet. They have all kinds of wonderful Mother's Day ideas, and are even offering a free vase with your Mother's Day flowers.

In Australia, there's my perennial favorite, Rainbow Designs. All kinds of gifts, and free shipping throughout Australia.

Chocolate: In the U.S. and Canada, Chocolate Source is offering 10% off any purchase over $10 - just use coupon code MOM2007. That's good all the way through the end of July. Try Lake Champlain Chocolates if you're looking for kosher.

In Australia, try Definitely Chocolate. They have chocolate that's not only organic but vegan, wheat free, gluten free, even dairy free.

Fruit, etc.: GotFruit is about the easiest and has a good variety of boxes and baskets with fruits, nuts, and other goodies. U.S., free shipping too. There's always Hickory Farms, Mission Orchards, Pfaelzer Brothers, and Almond Plaza as well, and while they may have a wider variety in general, they don't have as much that's organic.

And if you need to browse, there's always amazon.com. If there's nothing interesting on the store front, browse the whole site.

I know I haven't covered everything. Browse the web site...there are pages and pages on wine, meat, produce, chocolate, and coffee, plus sources for wine and kitchen accessories. If you have any favorites or requests, let me know, or post them here.

Technorati tags: organic food, organic chocolate, organic fruit, organic gifts, organic gardening, organic flowers

Update on the USDA certification uproar

On April 26, representatives from Equal Exchange met with the USDA and presented their concerns and their petition about the recent ruling for certification of farm cooperatives. As we expected, this isn't over yet. The USDA assured the Equal Exchange team that they have heard from organic advocates "loud and clear" and that in "two or three days" they would issue a statement that they thought would make us "happy". Watch this space - we haven't lost our coffee yet.

For more details, visit the Equal Exchange site.

Green foods equal green dollars for grocers

Island resident Joe Armentrout remembers a time when eating organic meant growing his own or making the drive to a specialty retailer in Houston.

That was, “until they started doing this,” said Armentrout, 63, gesturing toward Kroger’s newly unveiled Nature Market in Galveston. From apples to zucchini, Armentrout had his pick.

Technorati tags: organic food, natural food, organic coffee

With organic fruit and veg demand soaring why the reluctance to switch?

THE United Kingdom’s organic vegetable market was worth £292million last year. Consumers, it appears, are ‘crying out’ for the products, the vast majority of which can be grown on these shores.

However, the reality is that retailers, wholesalers and even box schemes are increasingly having to look elsewhere to ensure they meet the demand.

Technorati tags: organic food, natural food, organic fruit, organic vegetables, organic produce

'Food miles' poser as animal feed is flown in to meet organic demand

SCOTTISH farmers are being forced to use pesticide-free animal feed from Ukraine and Kazahkstan to keep up with the demand for organic meat, The Scotsman can reveal.

Stocks of wheat are being transported thousands of miles to compensate for a dire shortage of local organic wheat.

Technorati tags: organic food, organic meat, natural food

Uprooting the organic claims

Borough Market in South London is the granddaddy of farmers markets. On a Wednesday lunchtime there is a big queue at the organic salad bar. Next door there's a steady stream of customers at Betty's organic stall stocking up on organic herbs and spices.

For many consumers, there's a belief that eating organic will improve their health. It's one Betty supports.

Technorati tags: organic food, natural food

Area farmers strive to grow chemical-free produce

Pollution and climate change are now drawing worldwide attention, and one result of increasing awareness is a new interest in organic farming techniques and buying from local producers.

Helaine Harris, president of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market, said in the Cape Region, more farmers are producing chemical-free and organic products, and that’s attracting more consumers to local farmers markets. More farmers are using organic and chemical-free practices, and more consumers are demanding their produce.

Technorati tags: organic food, organic meat, natural food

Organic farming gaining popularity

More and more farmers are putting aside pesticides and harmful farming methods and taking up organic farming.

As of last year, 2,367 hectares were farmed organically, up from 131ha in 2001 when organic farming was formally introduced to the country.

B.C. organic producers get $100,000 grant

B.C.'s organic producers are getting help from the provincial government as health-conscious consumers lap up organic food products of all kinds and new agriculture standards are set.

Technorati tags: organic food, natural food

The great backlash against organic

Some of the enthusiastic bloom is being washed from organic produce lately by prominent magazine articles that appear aimed at confusing the issue of organic food and its benefits with the latest buzz word, local — accusing the demand for organic food of aiding and abetting global warming, and trying to steer us back toward conventional (read hormone, pest, herbicide, and synthetic fertilizer-doused) foods including GMOs.

Technorati tags: organic food, natural food

Retailers enter battle for high ground in GM foods

South Africa's three major food retailers are actively courting the organic produce market while, somewhat paradoxically, government agencies are hoping to have the first genetically modified (GM) crops on supermarket shelves soon.

Technorati tags: natural food, organic food, GM food, genetically modified

New logo helps you separate the organic wheat from the chaff

If you're among the growing number of Canadians who buy organic foods, you've probably noticed it's easier to find a wider variety of products - and they're not confined to health-food stores.

With sales increasing at a rate of 20 per cent a year, mainstream grocery stores - even Wal-Mart - are offering organic products.

Technorati tags: organic food, organic produce, natural food

When the Wine Is Green

YOU’VE taken your hybrid car out to run some errands. You’ve stocked up on organic produce and nontoxic cleaning supplies at the supermarket. You’ve stopped at the Home Depot to take advantage of its new Eco Options plan, picking up energy-efficient light bulbs, paint that is low in pollutants and wood harvested according to the principles of sustainable forestry. You’ve dropped off the recycling. One more stop to make, the wine shop.

Why should wine be any different?

Technorati tags: organic food, organic wine, organic winemakers

Give children organic fruit, urges professor

An Ulster professor has urged parents to consider buying organic after new tests revealed potentially cancer-causing chemicals were found on fruit given to millions of children each day.

Technorati tags:organic food

Qualifying organic ... what does it mean?

How do you buy organic?

The answer isn’t simple anymore, because now that large corporations have co-opted the term, “organic” doesn’t mean what it used to.

Technorati tags: organic food

U.S. Low On List of Organic Acres

It's not too often that Liechtenstein can lord it over the United States.

But the Alpian principality of 160 square miles and 34,247 people can claim the world's top spot on the percentage of arable land - 26.4 percent - devoted to organic farming, according "The World of Organic Agriculture," a 2006 report issued by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements in Bonn, Germany.

Technorati tags: organic food, organic farming

Happy Earth Day!

Specials and Recommendations
Yes, it's that time of year again here in the U.S....Earth Day, April 22. Since so much of our decision to buy organic is about what's best for the planet, as well as what's best for ourselves, why not take a look at the Sierra Club this Earth Day? If their mission of protecting air, earth, water, and natural beauty isn't enough, then maybe the nifty free travel bag is. This offer is good through April.

Once Earth Day is past, our next holiday is none other than Mother's Day. If you're not going to be able to visit Mom in person but will send her a gift instead, the Web is the easiest way to do it. Save yourself the trip to the post office and have her gift shipped straight to her door.

So, a few ideas for Mom:

If Mom likes her organic wine, check out the specials at wine.com. Save 15% on gift baskets with promo code LSAPRGB and 10% off any order of $150 or more with promo code LSAPR10. Both of these are valid till the end of April.

And Cellars Wine Club offers 10% off with promo code mom07. They've been a little weak on their organic selection lately, but give it a try.

In the UK, try drinkon.com for an assortment of organic spirits.

If you'd rather send a wine gift than the wine itself, check out the Wine Enthusiast sale page.

If Mom likes other kitchen gifts, Sur la Table has all kinds of stuff on sale.

For fun gifts in Australia, remember Rainbow Designs. They're adding special items just for Mother's Day and have put their Easter leftovers on sale, in case you just didn't get enough. All prices include shipping throughout Australia.

Back to the US for a minute: if you like the traditional flower gifts, remember Organic Bouquet. All their flowers are grown using sustainable practices. They have chocolates and gifts as well.

On a non-holiday topic, for UK meat eaters: Save the Bacon has another competition going. This time, you can enter to win £100 by All you have to do is to selecting in order of importance the reasons why you buy from Save The Bacon. Visit their website to answer.

Ever willing to take one for the team, I found some organic chocolate from Seeds of Change. I tried two varieties: the La Dominicana dark chocolate and the Narragansett dark chocolate with candied pecans, cranberries, and orange oil. Even the La Dominicana had a slightly sweet, almost fruity, flavor to it. The Narrangansett was even more so, of course, with tiny pieces of cranberry and nuts. I'd recommend either one if you like dark chocolate. You can see the chocolate and more Seeds of Change products at amazon.com.

Feature Article: The End of Organic Coffee...and chocolate...and...
When we talk about organic products, there's always the consideration of buying local. Is it better to buy imported organic food, that's been transported thousands of miles, adding the resultant pollution? Or is it better to buy locally, even if the food isn't organic? We could go in circles on that one.

For most of us in the developed world, though, there are products we can't buy from local producers. Coffee, for example. Demand for organic coffee has been growing, like the demand for other organic goods, and Third World coffee producers have been eagerly working on meeting it. Since much organic coffee is also Fair Trade certified, these growers are fairly compensated for their crops, and they receive support for their communities.

Is this about to change? The United States Department of Agriculture issued a ruling that tightens the requirements for organic certification. In a nutshell: Within the U.S., organic certification requires on-site inspection for compliance with organic requirements. Most organic farms in the developing world are actually cooperatives, since the farms themselves are so small. Due to the large number of small farms, however, inspecting every farm every year just isn't practical. So each year the USDA has inspected a representative sample of farms in a co-op, usually 20% of them, and certified all farms in the co-op based on that sample. The remaining farms would be self-policed by the co-op, and they'd all be inspected within a five-year period.

In its recent ruling, however, the National Organic Program has determined that all farms must be inspected annually. This decision wasn't random; it came from the discovery that a Mexican grower group was failing to detect both the use of insecticides and the storage of organic food in fertilizer bags. So in the face of this violation, the USDA has tightened the requirements for all. Unfortunately, this could make organic certification cost-prohibitive for grower groups. This will affect not only coffee, but tea, bananas, cocoa, spices, and more.

For more details, read the full Salon article.

In the meantime, here are some recommendations for organic coffee, while it's still easy to find:
B & D Gourmet Coffee
Coffee AM
Nectar of Life
Coffee for Less
Joffrey's Coffee and Tea Company

Technorati tags: organic food, organic wine, organic chocolate, organic coffee, fair trade, organic meat, organic flowers

Chemicals giving way to organic farming in South Africa

A quiet revolution is taking place in the orchards of the Western Cape. After decades of trying to coax fruit onto the trees with the aid of chemicals, fruit farmers are packing in the pesticides and deciding to grow green.

Organic Standards talks to begin next month, says expert

The inaugural meeting of a new committee to establish guidelines for domestic and imported organic foods in Australia will take place next month, even without full industry representation, says an industry expert.

After Recall, Dog and Cat Owners Seek Out Organic Food

The health-conscious customers at the store in the trendy South End neighborhood want wholesome food: vegetable and fruit chews; high-protein, low-carb nuggets; and organic meals containing cottage cheese.

The nutritious fare, however, is not for them; it is for their dogs and cats.

Biodynamic wines join big league

The biodynamic farming movement, for those who know it exists, would more likely be associated with moon worship than an exclusive Bordeaux wine futures tasting — but this year they are as one.

Is this food organic? New test may tell

A new test could help identify fraudulently labelled organic food, say UK scientists.

It's based on testing the food for signs of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, which are banned in organic farming methods.

Much-in-demand organic meat being held up by shortage of feed

DEMAND for organic food is on a steady upward course, but the supply of organic animal products is being held up by shortages of feed, including grass, says the Soil Association, the umbrella body for the movement.

How beneficial is organic food?

Food products using chemical fertilizers and pesticides or growth hormones and antibiotics appear to be healthy but contain residues of the chemicals used, which are often present in high concentrations and toxic. This rings true if a pesticide is applied before harvesting, or antibiotics and hormones are given intensively.

Australia still number one for organic farming

Australia still has the world's largest land area under organic farming, a report has found.

The report shows that Australia has nearly 11.8 million hectares certified according to organic standards.

Organic Foods: Worth The Extra Cost?

There are literally hundreds of items labeled, "organic," everything from spinach to snack foods.

So, what does it really mean to say something is "organic," and is it worth it to pay the higher prices organic foods command?

What to look for when buying organic

When you pick up a head of lettuce, a tray of tomatoes or a bag of apples in the produce aisle of your local grocery store that claims to be "natural" or "organic," do you know what you're buying? What exactly does it mean when a product claims to be organically grown? If it says natural on the label, doesn't that mean the same thing?

It's not just a fad - organic food is better for you, say scientists

New evidence has emerged showing that organic food does contain nutrients that deliver health benefits, contrary to the view put forward earlier this year by David Miliband, who said it was only a "lifestyle choice".

Organic fruit has more vitamin C, study finds

Further evidence in support of the health benefits of organic fruit and vegetables has been published by an international team of researchers.

They found that organic carrots, apples and peaches contained higher levels of vitamin C and flavonoids, compounds with antioxidant properties said by some scientists to protect against heart attacks and cancer.

Organic wine: Uncorking a purer pleasure

What is the difference between an organic carrot and an organic grape? Both should be grown according to certain well-established principles, without the use of chemical fertilisers and so forth.

With the carrot, pretty much what you see is what you eat. But an organic grape being turned into wine undergoes a range of processes, which, when it comes to the taste, demand an entirely different set of criteria.

Ready for the big dinner?

We're all about deals this round. I've found a few, but you'll need to hurry to take advantage of some of them. But if you're a procrastinator like me, with Passover or Easter preparations still ahead of you, you're just in time!

CoffeeAM is offering a free four-ounce sample of its Tortuga rum cake with any order. They have a good selection of organic coffees, including the unusual Galapagos Island Estate coffee.

Rainbow Designs, "the quirky alternative to flowers," has all kinds of edible and non-edible Easter gifts and goodies. Shipping throughout Australia. Check them out - they have a lot of fun stuff.

Wine.com is offering 15% off any gift basket. Use code LSAPRGB at checkout. Or use code LSAPR10 to get 10% off any purchase of $150 or more. Both of these offers are good till April 30.

Here's a new find: Organic Bouquet. As the name implies, they have flowers as well as gifts and chocolates. They have a nice selection of Easter bouquets. Shipping to the U.S.

And for you U.K. meat-eaters, our friends at Save the Bacon are offering a long list of items in a £49.19 package. Free delivery and 10% off your first order besides.

And last, but as usual not least, there's always our own organic store at amazon.com. Visit our storefront - if you don't see anything you like there, use the link on the right to browse the entire site.