Wineries delve deeper into Earth-friendly practices

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

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

Cost vs. Quality: Is Organic Food Really Better?

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

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

It’s Easy Being Green: Wine Goes Organic

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

Forging a Hot Link to the Farmer Who Grows the Food

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

Organic fruit & veg may help prevent cancer

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

Here's where to buy your spring and Easter bouquets

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

Categories of organic products

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

Organic foods vs. conventional foods

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

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

Tips for managing weeds in organic fruit orchards

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

Produce and pesticides: The dirty dozen and the clean 15

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

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

On the trail of fair trade coffee

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

No compromise in 0rganic standards despite recession says Soil Association

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

Corporate social responsibility is vital for business survival

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

European Union-World organic farming.

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

Kenyan fresh produce exporters say tougher US import rules a boon

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

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

Scottish organic beef production rises

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

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

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

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

Lately, though, she is not so sure.

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

E.U. Official: Organic Farming Fights Climate Change

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

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

Concerns grow over pesticides in produce

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

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

Checkout Line: Organic chemistry

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

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

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

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

LGUs push for organic farming

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

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

China's new organic industry

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

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

Organics and world hunger - Organic Matters, February 19

New Names

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

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

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

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

Not so healthy after all


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

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

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

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

Organic tea coins gain favour in Europe, Southeast Asia

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

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

Stemming Food Losses from Farm to Kitchen and beyond

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

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

Study shows organic produce holding its own

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

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

Dark Chocolate and Ginger

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

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

California Senate reviews organic fertilizers

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

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

Earthbound Farms responds to non-organic fertilizer news

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to have a green valentine’s day

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

Forces Of Universe Improve Wines: Biodynamics Catching On

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

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

Old Appetites Die Hard

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

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

Organic and other Wines Going Green

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

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

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

Introduction

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

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

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

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

Organic eggs

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feeding an appetite for organic food

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

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

In the Green at the Grocery

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

Organic growers call for more fertilizer oversight

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

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

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

Fair is fair...or is it?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is fair fair?

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

Questioning The Truth About Fair Trade Coffee:

by: George Moore

Some Interesting Facts and questions about Fair trade gourmet coffee:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About The Author

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

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Eat eco-friendly chocolate with a clear conscience

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

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

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

Keeping healthy with organic foods

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

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

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

Economic blues put green consumers to the test

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

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

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

UAE embraces growing trend for organic foods

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

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

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

New report predicts organic boom in dairy

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

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

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

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

Organic Acreage Grows in 2008

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

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

Save the Cocoa Tree! Buy Sustainable Chocolate

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

How could this be?

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

An argument for vegetarianism

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

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

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

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

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

Is your resolution on this list?

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

A little (organic) food for thought

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

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

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

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

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

Tough year ahead for organic farmers

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

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

Wine.com sales

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

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Save $15 on your order of $200 or more. Enter code JANFIFTEEN at checkout. Expires 1-31-09.


Save $10 on your order of $100 or more. Enter code JANTEN at checkout. Expires 1-31-09.


Save $5 on your order of $75 or more. Enter code JANFIVE at checkout. Expires 1-31-09.

Harry and David post-holiday specials

Not all going to be organic, but see what you like. Save up to 70% and Free Standard Delivery on select holiday favorites with coupon SHIPFREE, through January 30.

Fertilizing the oceans

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

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

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

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

Organic produce presents challenges for farmers

ON a farm in Songjiang District, not a single machine sound can be heard instead you can hear buffalo, goats and chickens.

The chickens hang around among figs and goats chewing vegetable leaves in the sheepfold. It could be a traditional farm, except that the orderly lined vinyl houses tell a different story. This is a modern organic farm in suburban Shanghai.

Organic produce has become widely embraced as an increasing number of people care more about the quality, rather than the quantity, of food they eat. The organic trend has already swept Europe and it is now making inroads in China.

Mexico’s organic program continues to flourish

So far, organic production continues to thrive in West Mexico, with more growers getting into the category or expanding existing organic acreage every year.

No one knows whether that growth will continue in light of the gloomy economic picture, but most Nogales distributors remain optimistic.

10 ways to help your earth dog go green

1. Eat Healthy-Let your dog chow down on food made with organic, all natural, human grade ingredients free of animal by-products, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, artificial preservatives & ingredients or genetically engineered ingredients. Anything that you would normally not eat yourself. Treats such as Polka Dog Bakery and more use all natural, organic, human grade ingredients that is even good enough for you to eat.

Let us bend the rules, say organic farmers

Organic farmers have asked the Government for permission to take a “holiday” from strict organic standards in an attempt to survive the recession.

The drastic move by organisations including the Soil Association follows a dip in sales of organic produce and fears for the future of Britain's 5,000 organic farmers.

Feed costs forcing organic producers to reconsider

ORGANIC farmers in Wales and the UK have asked the Government for permission to take a “holiday” from strict organic standards in a desperate bid to survive the recession.

The radical move by organisations including the Soil Association, which is headed by Patrick Holden, who farms near Lampeter, follows a dip in sales of organic produce and fears for the future of hundreds of Wales’ organic farmers.

Organic farms unknowingly used a synthetic fertilizer

For up to seven years, California Liquid Fertilizer sold what seemed to be an organic farmer's dream, brewed from fish and chicken feathers.

The company's fertilizer was effective, inexpensive and approved by organic regulators. By 2006, it held as much as a third of the market in California.

But a state investigation caught the Salinas-area company spiking its product with ammonium sulfate, a synthetic fertilizer banned from organic farms.

Some end of year specials

Wine Enthusiast: free shipping on select Eurocave cellars, till January 5
Sur La Table, big winter sale and clearance till February 2

A bunch of coupons from wine.com

They often have a good selection of organic wines, so check them out. Shipping in the US, though as always with wine your state may or may not be in on the deal.

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Groups Clash Over Organic Standards for Fish, Milk

A USDA panel has approved the first ever standards for organic fish, but environmentalists and consumer activists are not happy with the results.

The problem with fish is that many of them, such as salmon, eat other fish. Even if they’re organically raised in every other way but eat wild fish, there’s no guarantee that the fish they eat are free of mercury and PCBs.

Organics experts differ on economic crisis

The economic crisis may be affecting most Americans, but experts in the organics sector are mixed about its potential effect.

Some say the crisis hasn’t had an impact yet, while others say it has and they are bracing for what they expect to be a sharp downturn in revenue on the horizon.

Organic beverages go mainstream

Consumer demand for organic alcohol undoubtedly is fueling the "drink green" trend.

What started as a practice for some breweries is now becoming a way of life for many. Organic beverages are going mainstream, finding their way onto store shelves and liquor menus across the country.

(Note from Debbie: Those of you in the UK can find a variety of organic spirits at drinkon.com.

Why did the tofu cross the road?

Newsletter - October 28, 2008

Specials and Recommendations

Answer to that burning question below. But first....

Just in time for the holidays, we welcome several new sponsors to Organic Food and Drink.com Check these out:

Chocolate Herbals - I just had to list this first. Imagine healthy herbs in a base of organic chocolate - that's Chocolate Herbals. So far I've stayed away from the whole nutritional supplement arena, but this is chocolate!

Roger's Gourmet Coffee & Tea Market - This one has gotten a bunch of attention already. A variety of coffees (and teas), including a good selection of organic under the Organic Coffee Co. brand. Visit them for 15% off your order of $90 or more, 10% off $60 or more, and free shipping over $30.

Not to be outdone, Mystic Monk Coffee is serious about the "monk" part. Each bag of coffee is roasted and prepared for you in a hidden, cloistered monastery where each roast is the work of perfection and a labor of love.

La Cense Beef isn't fully organic, but they explain on their web site that they come awfully close.with their grass-fed, hormone-free beef. Worth a look if you're in the market. Free shipping on orders over $45 and $25 off your first order.


A few current specials:
wine.com continues with a couple, till the end of the month. Save 15% off any 12-month wine club membership. Enter Promo Code FALLCLUB at checkout. Or, Save 5% on your order of $50 or more. Enter Promo Code FALL50 at checkout.

Wine Enthusiast has an array of wine-related products - a good idea to get that holiday shopping going:
Fun Halloween specials - till 1 November
Their "Gift of the Year" - a EuroCave SoWine Home Wine Bar, for $100 off and free shipping
Fusion stemware - break-resistant glassware with a 10 year guarantee
A whole variety of "Pink Products", in support of breast cancer awareness

Amazon.com is running specials on a number of organic and natural products, but as far as I know this is only for October so don't wait too long.

All of these and much more - with every part of the world I can find to include- are always being updated on the web site.
Organic wine
Organic coffee
Organic meat
Organic produce
Organic chocolate

So, why did the tofu cross the road? To prove he wasn't chicken!

Demand for organic bananas

THE Far North is poised to tap into the growing demand for organic produce with Dole Australia gearing up to increase production of organic banana.

The international company, which is growing plots of organic banana in Walkamin on the Tableland and in the Daintree, said demand was outstripping production.

Here's a sale, but better hurry

Arbico Organics having a 15% Harvest Moon Compost Sale. Use their coupon code MOON15 to get 15% off your composting supplies. Not much time left on this one though - this expires on October 31.

Organic strawberries a hard sell at times

Over the next several weeks, 600 California farmers will plant 31,000 acres of strawberries. That includes 12,000 acres in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties alone.

Just 1,200 to 1,500 acres will be grown without chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Although that's not an insignificant amount, it is fewer than expected as demand for organic produce grows steadily and scientists probe ever further into the environmental and health benefits of organic agriculture.

Is Fair Trade all it's cracked up to be?

The rise of the "ethical" consumer hasn't just created a market for greener products – it's also created a market for new labels meant to show that those products have been vetted on your behalf. But for the average shopper, the labels can get confusing pretty fast.

Research Helps Fuel Revolution in Sustainable Viticulture

Winegrapes are one of California's signature agricultural products, bringing some $52 billion in revenue and 20 million tourists to the state each year. At the same time, grapes are grown on some of the most sensitive acres in the state, in areas of high population growth, high land values and environmental activism.

Since the early 1990s, the California winegrape industry has made an unprecedented effort to promote sustainable practices, those that prioritize environmental protection, economic viability and social equity. Winegrape growers have formed unique partnerships - with UC researchers, government agencies, environmental groups, vineyard neighbors and others - to define best practices and monitor progress along a "sustainability continuum."

Companies line up for organic tea

Competition has started heating up in the organic tea segment. With consumers getting health conscious companies are launching new products in the segment, which is still at a nascent stage and is pegged at Rs 50 crore.

Study Says Organic Food Cuts Risk of Atophy

The reduced incidence of atopic disorders is likely due to a combination of organic food consumption and health education, according to a study released yesterday.

A Bad Summer for Organic Food

The summer of 2008 has not been very good for the organic food industry. Below is a compendium of this summer's news items, followed by my remarks.

June 20. The season starts with news of a Which? report that a panel of 120 taste testers found no differences between organic and conventional strawberries although the former cost two to three times as much. (Which? is the UK equivalent of Consumer Reports.)

Organic farming could work wonders

An organic farm, properly speaking, is not one that uses certain methods and substances and avoids others; it is a farm whose structure is formed in imitation of the structure of a natural system that has the integrity, the independence and the benign dependence of an organism``

Vietnam: Hard times ahead for organic farmers

Rising prices for agro-materials and falling purchasing prices for vegetables are causing headaches for organic produce farmers in HCM City’s suburbs, say local farmers. The biggest buyers of organic vegetables from suburban farming co-operatives have been the city’s supermarkets. Over the last eight months, local growers only managed to sell a kilo of spinach to supermarkets for VND3,000 (20 cents), a loss for most vegetable farmers.

Study aims to boost organic growth in Kerry

Minister for Food and Horticulture Trevor Sargent today announced an organic feasibility study for Kerry.

The main aims of the study are to identify market opportunities for enterprises in the organic sector, to encourage new entrants into organic food production, and to increase the number of organic producers and processors in the county.

Found a new source for meat in the U.S.

If you review their web site you'll see that they follow most, if not all, of the rules without the certification. La Cense Beef, all grass fed with no hormones or pesticides. The way they explain it, about 1% of their calves each year get sick and require antibiotics, and they made the decision that it was healthier for the animal to treat it and forgo the organic certification. Worth a look.

Lots of deals at wine.com

Start with 1 Cent Shipping on purchase of $99 or more! Enter code ONECENT99 at checkout. Valid 10.06.08 - 10.10.08, so hurry on this one.


Didn't make it in time? Here are some more promos for you:
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Save 5% on your order of $50 or more. Enter Promo Code: FALL50 at checkout. Offer valid 9.1.08 - 10.31.08.



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Save $10 on your order of $150 or more. Enter Promo Code: FALL10 at checkout. Offer valid 9.1.08 - 10.31.08.



Save $20 on your order of $250 or more. Enter Promo Code: FALL20 at checkout. Offer valid 9.1.08 - 10.31.08.

Organic Fpod and Drink Newsletter - October 7, 2008

Specials and Recommendations

Welcoming some new sponsors to Organic-Food-and-Drink.com!

Our first link for pet owners! Only the best food and treats for your pet at PawsChoice.com.

For wine drinkers, we have winelegacy.com - superb quality, hand-picked wines from around the world, shipping in the U.S. Now featuring a case of organic wine, three bottles each of Cabernet/Merlot, Chardonnay/Viognier, Chardonnay, and Petit Syrah for $152.00.

Finally, we go beyond food and drink to find all kinds of green products at buygreen.com. Eco friendly clothing, including bamboo clothing, green home environmental products including natural organic products and solar powered lights, just to name a few.

Those of you in climates still dealing with lawn care will like the 20% off offered by Arbico Organics. Hurry on this one though, they're only good till October 9.

At CyberCucina, October is World Tea Month! Check out their assortment of organic teas.

Organic Bouquet is always a good source of gifts. Check out their autumn specials - the holiday specials won't be far behind.

Harry and David is going bigger and bigger into organic options. For October they're featuring Royal Riviera pears, and if you search on "organic" you'll get the organic version. Contrary to most places, they've actually lowered delivery charges on many items, so take advantage.


On the equipment side, for you gourmets (or gift shoppers!):
Sur la Table is offering 25% off on Wusthof Gourmet Open Stock Knives until November 1, and free shipping on select items through the end of the year.

Also, check out the bar supplies and equipment on sale at Kegworks.

Wine Enthusiast is having a sale on its wine storage, including cellars, refrigerators, and racking kits - get 15% off. Worth a look for all kinds of wine-related gifts, and they're offering free shipping on lots of things.

As always, you can find full lists of links and sponsors shipping to around the world on the web site:
Organic wine
Organic coffee
Organic meat
Organic produce
Organic chocolate

Feature Article: Why Is Organic Farming Bad - If It Is?

Why is organic farming bad, if it is? We have been told that organic farming is good for our health. Proponents have trumpeted the message that organic farming is good for the environment. How could it possibly be bad?

It seems that, increasingly, life is being divided into traditional and alternative. Each side claims their methods to be better than the other's. Each tries to win people to their side. Traditional schooling fights alternative schooling. Conventional medicine fights alternative medicine. Mainstream culture fights alternative subcultures.

Farming, too, is involved in a battle, conventional farming against organic farming. Environmentalists and those concerned with their health assure us that organic farming is preferable in many ways. But others argue that organic farming is bad.

Why is organic farming bad?

Research Results

In 2002, Swiss scientists at the Research Institute for Organic Agriculture published in "Scientist" a highly publicized study. Their study, which covered 21 years, compared four types of farming. Two of those types were organic farming. The other two types were conventional farming.

Reporters quickly stated that the study proved organic farming was more efficient. Organic farming's advocates said the study showed that organic farming uses 50% less energy. The facts?

1. Conventional farming is 20 percent more productive than organic farming.

2. Crop yields were significantly lower in organic farming.

3. The above two facts meant energy savings in organic farming were actually only about 19 percent per unit of crop produced, not 50 percent.

4. The study did not test organic farming against the most current methods of conventional farming. If it had, experts say, the 19 percent advantage of organic farming would disappear.

5. Current conventional farming matches organic farming when it comes to environmental advantages. Both have beneficial insects, produce less pesticide and fertilizer runoff, and reduce soil erosion.

6. Food quality was almost identical in conventional and organic farming. Advocates of organic farming had long claimed their food was far superior.

7. Current conventional farming methods produce the same or greater yields mentioned in number 1 above.

This research does not, of course, conclude that organic farming is bad. On the face of it, the conclusion is more that organic farming is not very different from current conventional farming. There most be other reasons for people believing organic farming is bad.

Organic Farming Can Kill

Many took from the Swiss study a realization that, as Cambridge chemist John Emsley said, "the greatest catastrophe the human race could face this century is not global warming, but a global conversion to 'organic farming'- [where] an estimated 2 billion people would perish."

Organic farming may supply food for small markets, but how can it feed starving nations? Its adversaries claim that current conventional farming is the only hope for these people. If we turn entirely to organic farming, they say, we will doom billions to die of starvation.

Challenging Organic Farming

Alex Avery, Director of Research and Education for the Hudson Institute's Center for Global Food Issues, recently published a new book, "The Truth About Organic Foods." (2006) In this book, Avery offers an unemotional look at the odd origins and unscientific basis for organic farming.

Nobel Peace Prize Winning Agricultural Scientist, Dr. Norman Borlaug, says about this book, "The Truth About Organic Foods gives consumers a thorough and straight-forward explanation of why organic foods offer no real health or safety benefits. More importantly, Avery communicates why organic farming's lower yields and reliance on scarce organic fertilizers represents a potential threat to the world's forests, wetlands and grasslands. The book offers scientifically sound evidence that more-affordable conventional foods are healthy for families and also good stewardship of nature."

Skimming Mr. Avery's book, one finds statements that indicate:

1. Organic farming started in the 1920s when a German mystic advised use of only animal manure because synthetic fertilizers had no cosmic energy.

2. Soon, the wealthy decided manure-fertilized produce was better.

3. J.I. Rodale first published his "Organic Gardening Magazine" in 1942, and the organic farming / organic gardening movement was named.

4. In 2007, organic farming advocates still have no credible science to support their beliefs.

5. Organic farming does not avoid pesticides. About 5 percent a vegetable's weight is natural pesticides, some of which are cancer-causing.

6. Foods from organic farming have more illness-causing bacteria. (The January 2007 issue of "Consumer Reports" showed that chicken from organic farming has 300% more Salmonella than that from conventional farming. University studies have found more bacteria in vegetables from organic farming than in vegetables from conventional farming.

7. If organic farming, which decries synthetic fertilizer, was chosen over conventional farming, we would have a choice. We could kill millions of people to reduce global food needs, or we could sacrifice wildlife habitat in the amount of millions of square miles so we could produce more manure.

Why is organic farming bad? Mr. Avery believes he has the answer.

Notwithstanding Mr. Avery's new book, I am not sure whether organic farming is bad or not. It is often difficult to sort through rhetoric and find fact. I do know that my forefathers had large organic farms. The produce was good and it was nourishing. Before I can turn my back completely on organic farming and organic gardening, I need clearer evidence. You probably want to do more research, too.

About the Author:
©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about organic farming on a small scale at http://www.organicspringtime.com. Anna is posting new articles regularly, each one dealing with some facet of organic gardening. If you want to know how to make your own organic fertilizer, you will want to read Anna's article on the subject.

Top 12 Must-Buy Organic Foods

Pesticides help protect crops by warding off damaging weeds, diseases, and bugs, but they also leave a residue on our produce. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, certain fruits and vegetables consistently carry much higher levels of pesticide residue than others, even after washing. Researchers at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested these top offenders and dubbed them "the Dirty Dozen." For these 12 foods, the EWG recommends avoiding pesticide residue by choosing organic versions.

Organic Farm Contaminated by Pesticides Wins $1M Verdict

A Santa Cruz County jury has awarded $1 million to an organic farm in Santa Cruz whose edible herbs were contaminated by pesticides applied to vegetables on nearby farms.

Lawyers for Jacobs Farm / Del Cabo said today that organophosphate pesticides evaporating after application and then blowing onto the organic herbs made it impossible for Jacobs Farm to sell significant portions of its 2006 and 2007 harvests of sage, rosemary and dill.

5 Foods Pregnant Women Should Eat Organic

More than four million acres of American farmland have already been dedicated to organic farming, helping our health and our future. That’s four million acres farmed without the use of toxic pesticides or other toxic chemicals; four million acres nurtured with both ancient and modern techniques that are in balance with nature, helping to reduce the production of greenhouse gasses and reduce the threat of global warming.

ComBio: Organic misconceptions and nutritional genomics

The comforting but questionable assumption that nature knows best strongly influences the food-buying preferences of Western consumers. The booming organic food industry takes the mindset a step further, by using only “natural” fertilisers and pesticides.

Unfortunately, hundreds of millions of people in the world’s poorer nations suffer because “natural” does not mean optimal nutrition. Professor Dean DellaPenna, professor of biochemistry at Michigan State University, would like to make it so.

Defining organic

The increase in popularity of local, fair-trade, and organic produce is an indication people in general are beginning to realize consumerism carries with it social, economic and environmental consequences and responsibilities.

Fall in Organic Sales Blamed on Multiples

The founder of the country's leading organic vegbox business has blamed "short-term, attention-grabbing" measures by supermarkets for a slowdown in the sector.

Riverford Organic Vegetables' Guy Watson criticised multiple retailers for a mostly "meaningless" adoption of environmental measures, such as biodegradable packaging and food miles, which has distracted potential customers.

Organic food to be re-branded 'budget' to beat credit crunch

Organic food is being re-branded as a "budget product" in an effort to stave off the credit crunch.

The market for food and vegetables produced without the use of chemicals has traditionally focused on more wealthy shoppers with celebrity fans including Prince Charles and Sting.
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However as the credit crunch bites spending on organic food and drinks fell 19 per cent in recent months to £81 million from an all time high of £100 million at the start of the year.

Organic food avoids credit crunch hit

WHILE the credit crunch may be forcing people to cut back on their spending, organic producers and farm shops have told how sales in their sector have not been adversely affected.

Organic sales continue to grow with no apparent dip in demand, according to the Soil Association, which certifies more than 80% of the UK's organic food.

Is organic food healthier?

Organic fruit and vegetables might not be healthier and not more nutritious than conventional goods, according to the German newspaper Welt online. Danish scientists of the University of Copenhagen cultivated carrots, cabbage, peas, apples and potatoes on nearby fields with comparable grounds by applying three different methods (organic, conventional, and combined), analyzed their nutrient content and fed the products to rats. “There was no systematic difference”, according to Ms. Bügel from the University of Copenhagen. The scientists came to the conclusion that organic fruit and vegetables did not contain more nutrients or micro elements and that resorption was not better. The climate seemed to be playing a much more important role than the way of cultivating food, according to scientists of the “Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture”.

Was the organic food revolution just a fad? Fear for farmers as shoppers tighten belts

From new mums worried about their children's health to foodies seeking the very finest products, consumers have embraced organic food with more enthusiasm than most environmental trends.

But now the British love affair with organics has stalled in the face of rising prices and tightening budgets as mortgage and fuel bills bite and fears rise over job losses.

Organic wine is twice as good for the planet

A new research has indicated that organic wine is twice as good as the non-organic variant for the planet, as the former is more eco-friendly.

According to a report in New Scientist, for the research, Valentina Niccolucci and colleagues from the University of Siena, Italy, measured the resources used to grow, package and distribute wine made from Sangiovese grapes at two farms in Tuscany 30 kilometers apart.

Organic farmers say they keep pests away with natural methods

Some local farmers say consumers must choose between produce coated in chemicals and produce infested with insects.

"I have customers tell me they want organic but then get all upset when they find one bug or blemish," said Ken Parker of Parker Farms. "They can't have it both ways."

Chocolate bar takes a bite out of climate change

The UK’s first fairtrade organic chocolate bar that also offers a sweet solution to climate change is to be launched in Waitrose stores this October.

For every bar of Organic Meltdown chocolate purchased, the World Land Trust (WLT) promises to save one tropical forest tree from being destroyed. To save a tree, consumers simply have to go to the Organic Meltdown website, type in the unique number inside the wrappers on each of the nine varieties of chocolate and zoom down using Google Earth onto the actual patch where the tree is located.

Price war looms on organic produce

The UK's biggest grocers will try to reinvigorate sales of organic food next week, following evidence that the organic market has suffered its sharpest fall for a decade.

After what had been a meteoric rise to annual sales of £1.3bn, according to the market research firm TNS Worldpanel, organic eggs' sales tumbled 18 per cent in the four weeks to 10 August, as customers opted for cheaper free range products, seen as ethical. A source at a big UK grocer admitted that sales of organic food were flat.

Tips for the cost-conscious

It's a tough choice for many of us - we want to avoid pesticides, support farmers who produce food organically, and eat healthy food, but we can't handle paying $6 for a bag of organic apples or nearly twice the price for a jar of organic peanut butter compared to the jar of Kraft.

Australians reach for organic alternatives

Australians are turning in ever increasing numbers to organic food as worried consumers become more aware of the health and environmental benefits of chemical-free fruit and vegetables.

Australia has the biggest area of land devoted to organic farming in the world, about 12 million hectares.