Sunday, December 31, 2006
A new addition
Friday, December 29, 2006
Natural Progression
"It used to be the organic farmer was an ex-hippie kind of guy who ate tofu burgers," said Gene McAvoy, a Hendry County-based extension agent who is witnessing an explosion of organic farming in Southwest Florida. "The new guys are doing it for profit while they adhere to organic principles."
Thursday, December 28, 2006
I found $10 for you...but hurry!
A U.S. promo: Harry and David is running an after-Christmas clearance sale. Visit them and browse their selection of organic items and various gifts for whoever is still on your list (hostess gifts, maybe?) This one goes till January 31.
If you like Hickory Farms better, you'll have to act a little faster. Until December 31, use code HOLIDAY and get 15% off any order of $50 or more, or use code SNOW06 for free shipping on that $50 order. Free gifts with purchase too. Consider a gift certificate if you're not sure what they like.
Making a New Year's resolution to find more ways to go green and organic? Try a free subscription to Ideal Bites for suggestions and information. You can even see a sample tip before you subscribe. Not much to lose on this one!
Organic Evolution
Demand for organic produce feed growth
Today, Osage Gardens west of New Castle is Colorado's largest year-round grower of U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic culinary herbs.
Sales of organic red meat up 12% in year
But Fisher points out that the organic market remains very small in relation to total meat sales.
You'll hear more about eating with a conscience
But one of our 2006 trends to watch has emerged as the No. 1 issue for 2007.
Bringing Fair Trade Home to the U.S.
Why are all the fair trade certifies located thousands of miles away from the producers?
How can corporations that are so unfair towards workers, farmers, and consumers in the U.S. get away with selling and promoting themselves as fair trade?
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
New labelling to take confusion out of what's organic
A new labelling system introduced Friday by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is meant to take the worry out of organic buying and stop food producers from claiming organic status for food that is not certified.
Safe foods, quality water at odds
Water and soil conservationists and wildlife habitat preservationists have long encouraged farmers and ranchers to follow eco-friendly practices, but these can compromise food safety, in the view of businesses that buy farm products.
Bulgarian funding failing domestic organic producers
Generously subsidised eco-farmers occupy borderland
Chocolate with less guilt: Fair-trade brands help cocoa farmers
It costs more than run-of-the-mill milk chocolate -- it's 71 cents to $1.90 an ounce -- and doesn't come in holiday shapes. But buyers or sweet tooths lucky enough to receive it as a gift can feel better knowing that the cocoa farmers who helped produce it receive a living wage and money to build health clinics, improve schools and provide clean drinking water.
Asia's organic food industry coming of age
What 'organic' really means
Tibet innovates to eradicate poverty
Thursday, December 21, 2006
It's the last minute!
Coffee for Less
Friday, December 15, 2006
Green farming meet kicks off
Pesticides need not apply
Developing organic fruit and vegetables in Poland
Friday, December 8, 2006
Specials for the holidays!
First, for all your organic shopping, try the one-stop shop at amazon.com. There are a few select products right on the home page, but use the search box to find everything you need.
For wine deals:
How about 1 cent shipping? Spend $99 at wine.com and that's exactly what you'll get! Use promo code LS1CENTDEC and hurry - this one ends December 10. If that's too quick, get 5% off any order of $50 or more with code LSDEC5, $10 off any order of $150 or more with code LSDEC10, and 10% off wine collections with code LSDECCOLL. These are good till December 31, so you've got time for all your holiday wine.
How about chocolate? Chocolate Source is now offering 10% off all orders over $10.00! Be sure to use Coupon Code 95433 at checkout and order by December 10.
In Australia, visit Definitely Chocolate. I challenge you to visit the home page and not want some!
Gift baskets...too may to list them all here, and they all have organic. Gotfruit.com is one of the easiest, and has free shipping. You'll find lots more on the produce page.
Organic meat: Save the Bacon has a huge selection of meats for Christmas. More than that, for just £1.00 you can buy a special package of "Magic Reindeer Food" that will not only delight your kids, but support the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
These are just the ones I'm aware of now. Be sure to visit the Organic Food and Drink web site often for the best places to find your organic foods, around the world.
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Organic produce huge trend in Austria
Sunday, December 3, 2006
Supply drives organic foods to the masses
Organics a growing trend in Delta
In South Delta, a growing number of producers are meeting the demand from buyers who want their produce unblemished by pesticides or manipulated by genetics.
Food labelling plan spells an end to free-range free-for-all
Standards Australia's food standards board yesterday voted to go ahead with the scheme early next year, as the national competition and consumer watchdog indicated it would crack down on misleading food labelling.
White pressures government on organic sector
Retailers 'miss out on fairtrade boom'
The truth about food fraud
Avoid the 'Dirty Dozen,' buy organic
But are organics - foods free of growth hormones, chemicals, conventional pesticides and genetically modified ingredients - worth their higher cost?
Namibia: Organic Farming the Way to Go - Mulenga
Organic food demand sparks more imports
Natural & Organic Beef; Similar, But Not The Same
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Global Organic Foods Supply Tightens as Sales Soar
Growers grapple with getting the good message of organic food out
Activist group files complaint vs. Wal-Mart over food labels
Friday, November 10, 2006
Can you taste organic?
On the one hand, the folks at the Organic Trade Association recently reported, with apparent delight, that U.S. sales of certified organic wines and wines made with organic grapes reached $80 million last year, a 28 percent increase over the previous year and nearly double the sales of organic wines in 2003.
Organic chocolate taking a bite out of U.S. market
Organic, fairtrade chocolate hits ethical niche
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Organic food spend set to grow
“Organic” a boom market with German consumers
What's the greenest alcoholic drink?
Can organic food benefit my health?
Sunday, November 5, 2006
For many, organic is better
- Sales of organic food have grown about 20 percent during the last five years, with this year's tally expected to top $15 billion, the Organic Trade Association reports.
- More than one-fourth of Americans are eating more organic products than a year ago, according to a 2004 survey by Whole Foods Market. At the same time, more than half of Americans have tried organic products.
Saturday, November 4, 2006
Organic sales double in six years
Pricey organic chicken not as pure as you think
Smokers should consider organic produce
Organic Grapes, Organic Wine
Sinskey switched to organic farming in 1990, slowly phasing out synthetic herbicides on his grapes until 2001 when he became a certified organic grower. His productive vineyards now cover 200 acres on six different properties. But while every grape in his Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot wines are organic, not a single bottle carries the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s green-and-white “USDA organic” label.
Bellying up to organic
About spinach and milk
outbreak was about, where it came from, and why it was dangerous.
But the question remained: Were organic growing practices to blame?
Since then, spinach has gone back on the OK
list, but we've had a similar scare on green-leaf lettuce. Four
cases of botulism were linked to tainted carrot juice, sold under
both organic and conventional brands. There's also been a scare
from raw milk, but consumers have been warned for 20 years about
the dangers of unpasteurized dairy.
These issues have fueled the organic vs. conventional debate.
I've read article after article from skeptics citing studies that
use this as evidence that organic food isn't worth the money, and
may in fact be less healthy than conventional food. The basis for
this is the use of manure, rather than chemicals, as fertilizer.
The problematic strain of E.coli, E. coli O157:H7, is present in
cattle manure. Organic farmers compost cattle manure to sanitize
it before using it as manure, but there is some doubt that they do
so for long enough or under the right conditions to kill the
dangerous microbes.
A number of these detractors cite studies that I wasn't able to
find, and so can't confirm for you one way or another. For
example, I read an article that reported that both the U. S. Center
for Disease Control and its British counterpart have gathered
statistics suggesting that there is a far greater likelihood of
contracting E. coli from organic produce than conventionally
farmed. But I went all over the CDC Web site and couldn't find
anything related to that, even going back a few years.
But here are a few facts I have been able to confirm. First,
the contaminated spinach was not sold as organic. That doesn't
mean it wasn't grown organically - the producer grows under both
methods, and could have easily mixed them. But we can't
specifically blame organic farming methods
It's not yet certain exactly where the spinach-tainting
bacteria came from, but investigators have found the same strain of
the bacteria present in a cattle ranch within a mile of the spinach
fields. They still can't be sure if that was in fact the source of
the contaminant, or if it was, how it got to the spinach field, but
it "warrants further investigation." Wild pigs and other wildlife
roam the area, and plenty of potential for broken fences.
Why is this important? If the bacteria was spread through
manure tracked by wildlife, or by water contaminated by manure from
the ranch, it doesn't matter whether the spinach was being grown
organically or not. Conventionally grown spinach was equally
vulnerable.
What about the bad carrot juice? It has been traced to
Bolthouse Farms, which sells under the name of Earthbound Farms
(among others) - interestingly enough, one of the brands implicated
in the spinach scare. Food contamination in general can take place
at any point in the chain, from tainted seeds to lazy consumers who
leave their milk on the counter overnight. The latter appears to
be the culprit in the carrot juice case - the juice was not
refrigerated properly, and the botulism spores had the chance to
grow.
So the question is: who really left the juice on the counter?
Did it happen at the source? In the distribution chain? Or in the
kitchen? Regardless, Bolthouse Farms will no longer produce the
juice. Not just till it's cleared, but permanently. Hard to blame
them - it might be hard to prove just where the responsibility
lies, and in our lawsuit-happy society families might be only to
willing to assign blame
I researched this looking for evidence that organic produce was
either more or less prone to bacterial contamination. One of the
most commonly quoted studies on both sides of the argument was from
the University of Minnesota, conducted in 2004. Their research into
various organic crops found that the organic products had almost no
pathenogenic bacteria but was more subject to fecal contamination
(which is where E.coli comes from) than conventionally grown
produce.
At the same time, though, produce from a certified organic farm
had far less contamination (4.3% of samples) than produce from a
farm that was "semiorganic," or not certified, but claiming that
they followed organic growing practices (11.4% of samples).
Researches found E.coli in just 1.6% of samples from conventionally
grown produce. (You can read a summary of the report here.)
The study's conclusion was that there was no significant
difference in contamination levels among the three farming types,
until you took the type of crop into account: they found E.coli on
fully one-third of leafy greens grown on semiorganic farms. At the
same time, though, the organic-doubters quote the same statistics
as evidence that organic methods are indeed more dangerous. We see
what we want to see, don't we?
So back to our question. Is organic food inherently more
risky? The study above concludes that for certified organic farms,
the difference in contamination levels was insignificant. But,
strictly speaking, it is higher.
Does this mean you should avoid the organic stuff? Probably
not; according to the Center for Disease Control, you're more
likely to contract E.coli from undercooking your own hamburger than
from bad vegetables. But you may want to consider taking a closer
look at where your food comes from. The spinach in question all
came from a few farms in California. Buying bagged spinach from
one of those farms would have been a bad idea. But if you live in
Maine, buying fresh spinach from the local farmer's market would
have been fine.
In this case, produce from the Salinas Valley has been
implicated in bacterial outbreaks nine times in the last decade.
With the severity of this case, there is some speculation that
Natural Selection Foods may not survive. Regardless, there will be
significant investigation into farming practices in the area.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Canadian pesticide regulations among the worst: Suzuki report
Certifiers weed through plenty to keep organic farmers in the green
"It's a fun challenge," he said.
But early one morning in September, he waited at the edge of his property for a different sort of challenge: inspection day.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
The art of organic living
Study Reveals Produce With Most Pesticides
But does buying organic pay off? As NBC5 health reporter Nesita Kwan found out, it depends on what you're eating.
Twenty steps to a greener lifestyle
Number of organic farms on decline, stats show
Hershey enters organic chocolate market
Fair to the last drop?
Fair-trade coffee begins to heat up mainstream market
It has been a phenomenon of the specialty-coffee market, where better quality brew tends to sell at higher prices. That category includes Starbucks, which says it's the largest purchaser of fair-trade coffee in North America.
Be a Smart Organic Shopper
The difference is in the green sticker, designating the latter as USDA Certified Organic, grown without the use of chemical or synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.
Agribusiness likely cause of E. coli outbreak
Over the years, agribusiness and biotech-funded think tanks such as the Hudson Institute and the Competitive Enterprise Institute have repeated the canard that composted fertilizer used as a non-chemical fertilizer on organic farms is dangerous when in fact there have been only a tiny number of reported cases of food poisoning caused by organic products.
The growing philosophies on food
Meanwhile, our waist-lines are expanding, the rate of diabetes is rising, food disorders are increasing among teenagers and the jury is still out on which food philosophy is best.
Marketing Gimmick or More Value?
"Bottom line, organic is better for all people and our planet," says Anthony Zolezzi, chairman of the board of The Organic Center and author of, "Chemical-Free Kids," (Kensington). "Whether you choose to eat healthy or not, purchasing certified organic products makes a huge impact on the environment and your personal health."
Tips on Buying "Organic" Foods
Promote organic farming
Sunday, October 15, 2006
E. coli's effects linger
A month into the largest agricultural crisis in recent county history, the FBI probe into the incident that killed three people and sickened nearly 200 others continues. The Mexican government is holding strong on a ban against California lettuce, tangentially connected to the outbreak.
Picked to imperfection
In the summer, a single plant, corn, overruns nearly all of the 50-some acres. Through the remaining seasons, the Brentwood land mostly lies dormant, uncovered, as winds continually abrade the topsoil.
Fertile niche
“I sold everything, but I was still many hundreds of dollars in the hole,” he said.
These days the Lavina farmer is selling his produce to restaurants and stores in Billings, Red Lodge, Big Sky, Bozeman and Livingston. He spends three days a week on the road, delivering his products and those of like-minded farmers and ranchers to an expanding circle of customers.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Coffee leads the way as we play it Fair
Ethical food spending rockets
It's David vs. Goliath in organics
In the wake of recent food scares over organic carrot juice and spinach, a fresh light has been cast on the organics industry, leaving people like Pfenning to plead that consumers not confuse his small organic operation with the giant farms dominating the business.
From farm to fork: The food safety system
Ha Noi boosts use of organic vegetables
Organic vegetables made up 44 percent of the city's total vegetable areas and 38 percent of the total output with a production of almost 58,000 tonnes last year.
Environmentalist say safe food options can be found on local farms
Putting your money where your mouth is with your produce
If you're looking for organic wine, be sure to ask
I talked to the owner of a wine shop on the waterfront and asked him about organic wines. He carried some Bonterra but not much more. But he did point out that a number of wineries follow organic practices, they just don't go through the paperwork of being certified organic. The moral of the story is...if you're looking for organic wine, ask. A wine you're looking at might in fact be from organically grown grapes, but the label doesn't say so.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The battle for the soul of the organic movement
Thirty years on, he has seen organic farming transform from a cottage industry into a billion dollar game played by international food companies. And it's not just about chickens, carrots and lentils. Consumers hoping to eat healthier can also salve their social conscience with organic wine, mouthwash, surfboards, paint, jeans, pram blankets -- the list is endless.
Should you go organic?
Vineyard pioneers wine for diabetics
The 119-year-old Vinos de la Cruz family vineyard in the middle of the pampas has tapped into a flourishing new market because of the spread of the disease.
Friday, October 6, 2006
Organic wines improving and multiplying
Organics are difficult to manage on the farms and in the fields, and as this is especially true with grapes, the wine business has been slow to come around. But every three months, when I look for organic wines to review, there are more and more labels available and from more countries.
Organic food costs more; what does it deliver?
For a flat fee, I received a weekly delivery of organic vegetables or fruits during the growing season. Unfortunately, you had to accept whatever they gave you, and you tended to get whatever crop happened to come in that week.
A Perfect Fit: Ecotourism and Smallholder Coffee Communities in Oaxaca, Mexico
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
When to go organic: An aisle-by-aisle guide to getting the most out of your supermarket dollar
Is it Popeye's Revenge?
E.coli is commonly found in human and animal digestive tracts. If you pick it up, your normal stomach acid is probably tough enough to kill it off and you're none the wiser. But this particular strain (E. coli O157:H7) causes diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. It a more severe case it can cause "hemolytic uremic syndrome," a kidney ailment which is normally treated with intensive care and often requires blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Two to 7 percent of infections lead to this syndrome, and of those infected, it has a mortality rate of 3-5%. Of the more than 180 people known to be infected, there is one known death and two "suspect cases" in which E. coli may have been the cause of death, but it's not yet certain.
The true source of the problem isn't known. The fact that the outbreak is so widely dispersed, known to have covered 27 states, indicates that contamination happened early in the distribution cycle - in other words, close to the farm in California.
Typically, E. coli is spread through feces contamination. So somehow the spinach came in contact with raw manure. This most likely happened through one of three ways: water, domestic or wild animal life, poor worker hygiene, or fertilizer. Water is getting the most blame, especially since rivers and creeks in the Salinas Valley area, where the spinach came from, have been known to be contaminated. In fact, California spinach was responsible for an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in October 2003, where 16 people became ill and two died.
This is all background information, and it's been all over the news. The question I wanted to answer: Are we safer when we choose organic produce?
We know that the guilty spinach in this case was not sold under the "organic" label. But does that mean that the organic vegetables were protected somehow? My research tells me...it's going to take more research. I'll address that question in my next newsletter.
Stay on top of news, specials, deals, info...www.organic-food-and-drink.com!
Monday, October 2, 2006
Will the organic dream turn sour?
Friday, September 29, 2006
Dangers lurking in fruit and veg
A wide range of fruit and vegetables eaten by millions of Britons every day contained pesticides.
Wal-Mart Declares War on Organic Farmers
Is It Worth Changing To An Organic Diet?
Eating Well 21 / The unnatural glow of the organic logo
Organic eats, a senseless investment
Like Starbucks’ fair-trade coffee, Whole Foods lets you feel good by spending more. Instead of subsidizing Juan Valdez, you get to prop up family farms growing food the way nature intended — organically. But before you drop in for another pound of chipotle hummus, consider whether organic food is worth the increased cost.
Next Wave in Access to Healthy Food: Target Launches Private Label Organics Line
organic and affordable prices. The Archer Farms brand, exclusive to Target,
will include a variety of organic groceries complementing the core line of
popular items that Target guests know and trust. In addition, the produce
department at SuperTarget is now certified organic by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA), offering superior quality and prices on produce such
as strawberries, apples, and other fruits and vegetables found in nearly
everyone's home.
Shopping tips help cut cost of going organic
Five years ago, consumers paid up to 50 percent more for tomatoes, chicken, milk and other organic foods. Today, smart shoppers can convert from conventional to organic foods without taking a night job.
Big business accused of corrupting organic label
All-natural potato chips. Organic breakfast burritos. Traverse the frozen foods aisle and one can unearth multiple varieties of organic threecheese lasagna.
'Green’ Consumers Force Retailers to Rethink
How To Avoid Hidden Dangers in your Food
A survey by the World Wildlife Fund found that every sample showed at least one pollutant, while some contained a cocktail of toxins.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Now we have produce too!
Chinese domestic market grows rapidly for organic vegetables
Your guide to going organic
"Organic" is a hot topic in the food world, as in other areas of life, and many products bear the wholesome-sounding label. But it's not as simple as it sounds.
Many questions about organics, including its purported benefits, remain unansweredHere are some of the basics, a guide to questions you should ask and a sampling of opinions to help you make informed choices as you shop for food.
Rice farmer who went organic
Rice farmer who went organic
Good results for organic fruit growers
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Fair trade coffee sales have reaching effects
Can coffee brew a better world?
And so it came to pass that Kyle Cureau and Jess Arnsteen climbed into a truck and drove through Mexico to Guatemala to visit coffee farmers. Now they’re helping launch an organization that will import organic coffee directly from some of those farmers.
'Green' consumers push for organic cocoa
According to the Pesticide Action Network, cocoa is second only to cotton in its high use of pesticides, however organic production of the beans entails natural methods of pest control and has been praised for its contribution to sustainable farming.
Organic meat group aims for consistency
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Was the organic option worse?
What makes this especially relevant to us is that the spinach in question was grown organically, and it's being postulated that the natural fertilizers are in some way the culprit. They can carry the bacteria where chemical fertilizers wouldn't.
So, my question to you...does this affect your attitude about organic produce at all?
Monday, September 11, 2006
Kiwis not buying into 'ethical' goods
Humboldt beef products setting new standards
'Organic' label little more than a marketing tool for food, critics say
At the local supermarket, the organic fruit and vegetable display is a frequent stop for health-conscious consumers. But turn to the next aisle and shoppers are likely to find a different array of "natural" and "organic" foods.
All-natural potato chips. Organic breakfast burritos. On the frozen-food aisle, a shopper can unearth multiple varieties of organic three-cheese lasagna.
(Debbie's comment...Don't know about this. "Natural" is a marketing term, and could mean almost anything. Poison ivy is natural [all right, it's probably organic too, but you get my meaning.] And the article makes the point that "organic" doesn't necessarily mean "healthy", as in organic tortilla chips. But if sustainable farming and kindness to the environment remains part of the goal, then we're all still better off supporting the tortilla chips made with organic corn than the ones that aren't, right?)
Saturday, September 9, 2006
'To stay in farming we have to do something different'
Friday, September 8, 2006
Farmers question value of 'responsible' coffees
Organic on the Rise
GO ORGANIC
TODAY'S supermarket shelves are filled with ethically-minded products for the green consumer.
As people become more aware of the impact their shopping choices can make on their bodies and the environment, organic food has slowly gained a foothold in this country....
But beyond the fact organic fruit and vegetables are more expensive than their non-organic counterparts, what do we really know about them? Here are our top 10 reasons to go organic.
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Govt. wants change of 'grass-fed' rules
If the government has its way, the grass-fed label could be used to sell beef that didn't roam the range and ate more than just grass.
Your choice of coffee could save songbirds
September is the peak of southbound songbird migration. Have you ever thought about where your migrant songbirds are going and how they're going to survive? Most of them are going to where your coffee is coming from, and they need trees and insects there. If you want to continue enjoying their spring and fall passages, I'd like you to consider buying only "shade-grown" coffee.
Will Czechs go organic?
Sales of organic produce up 30% in year
All the leading supermarkets have expanded their range of organic food rapidly in the last year and report dramatic growth in demand. Supermarkets accounted for £1.2bn of the total market for organic produce in 2005.
Sales of organic foods, beverages make small dent in total U.S. sales
"Organic" is a hot topic in the food world, as in other areas of life, and myriad products bear the term on their labels.
Friday, September 1, 2006
Nuns help impoverished Mexican Indians develop coffee trade
One in three buying organic food
More than one in three Britons will buy organic food over the next month, research has revealed.
One in 10 will buy organic fast food, such as pizza and ready meals, while 14% will pick up organic peanut butter and 11% will buy organic chocolate and biscuits.
Organic wine joins the chemical-free dinner party
Organic wine, once viewed as one of the most marginal outposts of the organic movement, is getting the nod from the public.
Retailers are reporting strong sales of organically produced wine from shoppers concerned about how their drink affects the environment and their health.
(Where to find organic wine? Start with Organic Food and Drink's wine section for a list of wineries and wine suppliers.)
Activism begins at the dinner table
Lydia Zepeda, a UW-Madison professor of consumer science, signs her e-mails with a twist on the well-known idiom: We are what we eat.
Hog plant looks to upscale markets
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
So...about GM...
Specials and Recommendations
Have you tried one of the rarest coffees in the world? CoffeeAM.com is featuring its Organic Galapagos Island Estate coffee. They roast their Galapagos beans to have a medium body. This is a well balanced coffee with an intriguing finish. To sweeten the deal, you receive a half pound of this coffee free with every purchase.
And meat eaters: Niman Ranch is offering a variety of summer specials. Take its sweet Italian sausage, for example, on sale for $7.95. Holding themselves to the high standards set by artisanal sausage makers, they use carefully selected herbs and spices. No nitrites added! This sausage has balanced sweet and savory notes from ingredients including toasted fennel seed and a touch of black pepper. Its mild flavor makes it one of the most versatile of sausages, perfect for grilling or as an ingredient in Italian dishes, stuffings, soups and more.
In the world of organic wine, Cellars Wine Club has added a 2005 Snoqualmie Riesling and a 2005 Snoqualmie Gewurztraminer, both at $10.99. This is in addition to their selection of Bonterra organic wines.
Feature Article: Genetically Modified Foods
One reason for many of us to choose organic products is uncertainty over the effects of genetically modified, or GM, foods. This article from the College of Naturopathic Medicine UK and Ireland goes through what GM food is, how and why it's modified, and how you might avoid it if you want to. It's quite a long article, so I'll include the first few paragraphs and a link so you can read the rest if you would like.
With the introduction of the first genetically modified tomato to the commercial market in 1994, there has been great debate over the use of GM foods in our community.
The argument for these foods has been put to us from the companies that have created them, scientists and some farmers, and the argument against these foods comes from environmentalists, health care professionals and the concerned consumer at the end of the chain. Research for and against the safety of these foods is varied and the results seem relative to the view of the people creating the research. The long term effects of these foods on the health of animals and human consumers, and on the health or our environment, are yet to be established.
GM foods were originally created to bypass the relatively slow process that farmers and horticulturists were using to cross breed different strains of plants. Scientists soon realised that through gene therapy, they could bypass the breeding stage, and create plants with the qualities that they wanted in them. This is done by removing or adding specific genes in the DNA sequence of plants. This then switches on specific qualities in a plant or switches off undesired ones. As consumers and farmers we were told that these new breeds would reduce pesticide use, and increase yield due to the creation of strains that would be more disease and weather resistant. We were told that the larger yields would contribute to a greater abundance of food therefore creating less poverty and hunger. We were told that these foods would be perfectly safe and that they would not affect our health or the health of the environment. That was the marketing ploy behind a huge company that has profit as their motivation. In truth, GM foods are a booming business that earns the creators of these seeds trillions of dollars in profits a year. The aims of these companies are to create an ongoing increase in revenue to their pockets. But what cost is that to us as health consumers and the environment?
With the introduction of GM foods, the truth of the matter started to become more apparent. Crops could be created that meant they do not self-seed again for the next season. This then creates a market for repeat buying of the GM seed as the farmers have to buy the seed again for the next year, instead of using their own harvest. This may be perfectly acceptable in some large farming communities, but what does that pose morally, ethically and environmentally for nations that are hardly affording to grow the first crop? Is the creation of a super-breed then good for the health of the community or good for the wallets of the company that created the strain of plant?
For the rest of this article, click here.
Turkey's born-again farmer
More parents using organic baby products
Parents are increasingly turned on by the idea of organic products -- clothing, creams and food made without chemicals that they feel are too harsh to be used on their pristine and delicate children.
Breyers introduces organic ice cream
The Green Bay-based manufacturer and marketer of branded packaged ice cream and frozen novelties is calling the line All Natural Organic Ice Cream. It will be available in vanilla bean, chocolate, coffee and vanilla fudge swirl flavors at supermarkets in the United States.
Coffee with a conscience; Agua Prieta roaster helps keep farmers from migrating
Thursday, August 24, 2006
USDA Undermines Organic Law, Authority of Expert Panel Ignored
Coffee with a conscientious kick
It's easier to be green, but does it matter?
But while all that green may leave you feeling good, does it really leave the world a better place? Or just thin your wallet?
Find Out Which Organic Products Are Worth The Expense
Consumer Watch reporter Liz Crenshaw is here to tell us when it pays to buy organic and when it doesn't.
Hard to swallow
Domestic market grows rapidly for organic vegetables
All vegetables, except for organic ones, are grown with the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
Domestic market grows rapidly for organic vegetables
All vegetables, except for organic ones, are grown with the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
USDA Seeks To Expand Allowable Substances In Organic Meat
Read more of the article to find out exactly what substances are under consideration, and stay with the Organic Food and Drink newsletter for news on this subject and more.
Organic butchers 'breaking law'
Agog over organics
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Is this a good reason to choose organic, or what??
In his polemic We Want Real Food (Constable & Robinson, 2006) agricultural reporter Graham Harvey notes that in the UK in the half century between 1940 and 1991, vegetables have lost one quarter of their magnesium and iron, half their calcium and three quarters of their copper. There are two main reasons for this: the widespread use of pesticides has produced sterile soils. A teaspoonful of healthy soil contains a whopping 5 billion living organisms – almost the entire human population of the planet – from over 10 000 different species. In addition to mega fauna like dung beetles and earthworms that aerate and fertilize the soil, there are myriad species invisible to the naked eye.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Eat It Up
Organic and natural-food retailing is the fastest-growing grocery segment in the U.S., increasing by about 20% annually.
Been a little while...
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Doing the java justice
Bowen is the founder and CEO of Latin Organics - a coffee company committed to making a difference in the lives of Latin American farmers.
Good to grow
"People would literally ask me questions like, 'What's an organic? How do you grow one?,' like it was a type of vegetable," says Bowman, now CEO of Indiana Certified Organic, an agency authorized by the USDA to designate farms and producers as "organic."
Organic food is growing as a popular choice for customers
But sitting alongside screwdrivers, weed trimmers and bicycles in the middle of a garage?
That's the sight every two weeks at the home of Lisa Mindich, a member of the Purple Dragon Co-op, which specializes in home delivery of organic produce.
Visit www.organic-food-and-drink.com to see which of your favorite organic treats you can have delivered to your home.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Is There Anything Left That We Can Eat?
Local farmers provide quality produce
Bonterra Vineyards is named the Official Wine of The PGA of America
Bonterra wines are produced using only organically grown grapes, which make for better tasting wines. Available in fine restaurants and retail stores across the United States, Bonterra's award winning varietals include: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Hospital Purchasing Group Signs Deal with Major Organic Food Distributor
Resorts, hotels going organic
Monday, July 17, 2006
BCGEU sets an example in supporting fair trade in coffee
BCGEU representatives met recently with partners from coffee cooperatives in Central America to review the benefits for agricultural workers from a solidarity project, called Café Etico. Participants included Lesbia Morales, who represents a Gutemalan coffee co-op; Encarnacion Suarez Obregon, who represents ACOPAN, a co-op in Nicaragua; BCGEU vice-president Colleen Jones and BCGEU coordinator Nancy Gillis.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Organic Ingredients
The popularity of the products have some ingredient suppliers scrambling to find ways to fill the orders. And while grocery shelves are packed with products finding the essential ingredients can be a challenge for those who make them.
This article brings up an interesting point. One of the foci of the organic movement has been "buy local." But local isn't always organic. So do you buy conventionally-farmed local ingredients, or go out of the area to buy organic?
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Not-so-simple choices
A typical grocery list might include eggs, milk, pork chops, asparagus, coffee, salmon steaks and bananas. Sounds simple. But each involves a personal choice that reflects our values.
Are the bananas organic or grown with chemicals? Do they carry a Fair Trade sticker, indicating that the farm workers who grew and harvested them earned a living wage?
Boss is full of beans over coffee company
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
All aboard the organic bandwagon
I've definitely come around to enjoying the natural way of life and find that it makes sense. Now we have organic cotton, organic tea, organic coffee and organic veggies. And there is a quiet but growing movement in the wine business toward sustainable, organic vineyard practices.
Where can you buy wine from those organic vineyards? Visit www.organic-food-and-drink.com to find your favorites.
Venezuelan cacao farmers hope to get rich
Small farmers enticed by the promise of profits from chocolate's essential ingredient are revitalizing cultivation of the once-neglected plantations.
Organic beer gaining momentum in marketplace
Sales of organic beer grew 40 percent in 2005, which ties it with organic coffee as the fastest-growing organic beverage. Even Anheuser-Busch -- the nation's largest beer company and maker of Budweiser products -- recently started producing two brands of organic beers.
Chocolate with a conscience
Those are both goals of the Endangered Species Chocolate Co., which has exploded with growth in the past year since moving its headquarters to the Northwestside of Indianapolis.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Food co-ops seek fresh ways to stand out in organic market
As mainstream supermarkets have upped their organic product offerings in recent years, many of the natural food cooperatives that sprouted decades ago on the fringes of their communities have grown into stores resembling modern grocery outlets - with meat and fish counters, in-store cafes and coffee bars.
Co-op advocates say the changes reflect both the desires of their member-owners and a need to compete with everyone from Whole Foods to Wal-Mart for organic food sales. But they say co-ops still offer something the national food marketers don't: ownership in a community organization dedicated to locally grown foods.
If you can't find just what you're looking for at your local market, check www.organic-food-and-drink.com for the best sources for organic wine, organic coffee, and more.
Saturday, July 8, 2006
Grocers see green in natural foods
The organic foods business is gaining ground across America. In Fayetteville, shoppers will notice extended offerings of all-natural products in the aisles as many stores expand their organic product lines.
Thursday, July 6, 2006
Australian organic food in demand
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) has delivered a broad study of the organics industry, finding demand for the products is outstripping supply around the globe.
You're eating the WRONG fruit and veg!
How's that for a reason to go organic? Stay with www.organic-food-and-drink.com for the information and resources to make it easier.
Big sugar targets organic market
Wednesday, July 5, 2006
From Seed to Cup, This Organic Coffee is All About Women
Retailers boost fairtrade sales
According to the latest figures from the Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO), the market for fairtrade coffee grew 70.9 per cent in the US and 34 per cent in the UK, helped by the expansion of product lines across all the major supermarket chains.
Where to get that fair trade coffee? Visit www.organic-food-and-drink.com for wine, coffee, and more from around the world.
Organic ice cream disappoints panel
A lot, as it turns out. At least that was the collective opinion of the Taster's Choice professionals confronted with their first-ever tasting of organic chocolate ice creams.
Increasing trend to woo organic food shoppers
The Wal-Mart move is among several signs that Americans are beginning to think more seriously about what they eat. In a grocery market, stagnant for many years, the organic and fair trade sector — though small — is expanding by 20 per cent every year, says Joseph Mendelson of the Centre for Food Safety in Washington. Demand for organic milk regularly outstrips supply, and each year more farm acreage is used for organics.
Wal-Mart going organic? Good or bad? Post your comments here, and sign up for our newsletter at www.organic-food-and-drink.com for all the latest.
USA's First LEED-Certified Winemaking Facility Opens in Oregon
Monday, July 3, 2006
GOING ORGANIC
"Organic is one of our fastestgrowing categories," said Jim Spilka, vice president for produce and bulk food at Meijer. "It still accounts for a small percentage of total sales, but yet it keeps doubling itself."
European organic crops market in the wait, farmers told
Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, the Country Manager of Export Promotion of Organic Products from Africa (EPOPA), Marg Leijdens, said many developed and developing countries now prefers to use organic produce than other crops.
David Michael Offers FairTrade Vanilla
Fair Trade vanilla is new, but you can find fair trade coffee at www.organic-food-and-drink.com.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Fair Trade Certified(tm) Chamomile, Hibiscus, Mint Now Available in US Market; Join Booming Fair Trade Certified Tea, Rooibos Market
Don't know where to find fair trade products? Keep checking www.organic-food-and-drink.com for the best sources on the Web.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Back to the basics of organic
According to Juli Brussell, an expert with University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, organics have experienced a "25 percent or greater increase every year," while conventional markets flatlined.
Looking for something in particular? Keep visiting www.organic-food-and-drink.com as we add more and more food, drinks and resources.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Resorts and Hotels Try Growing Organically
Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico (www.rancholapuerta.com), which has a six-acre organic farm that produces vegetables, herbs and fruit used by the spa's chefs and therapists, plans to open a cooking school next spring with a focus on natural foods.
How does your vineyard grow?
When they first emerged in the agricultural world, more well-off farmers hopped on the plant-steroid train, leaving others to grow their crops as they always had -- organically.
That trend has reversed in the past decade. Chemicals are out, and organic is in.
Organic wine and where to find it...visit www.organic-food-and-drink.com.
Friday, June 23, 2006
TeaForHealth Presents the Only Green Tea with FDA Qualified Health Claim at the Summer Fancy Food Show
TeaForHealth(R) will present the only green tea product with a qualified health claim from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based on the de facto standard recommended by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for effectiveness against cancer, which is 800 ml (27 oz) of green tea containing 710 mcg/ml (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) per day in an adult. The new TeaForHealth 710EGCG(TM) organic green tea "inabottle(TM)" product, in four ready-to-drink flavors, will be made available for tasting at the Summer Fancy Food Show.
New organic flavour extracts hit European market
The new ginger root, cinnamon and hibiscus extracts are the fist in a range of organic products, with the line due to expand within the next few months, said supplier Euringus.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Biodynamics helps wine find its inner grape
A growing number of wineries are taking that philosophy further with the concept of biodynamics, a type of organic farming that calls for more than eliminating the use of chemical sprays or fertilizers.
Biodynamic, organic, NSA...find them at www.organic-food-and-drink.com.
Change brewing at Wal-Mart?
That effort has taken the company that built an empire on the principle of high volume and low costs into previously uncharted territory, into the realm of trendy apparel and organic food.
Now, with the help of Pereira, it is embarking on one of its most radical undertakings to date: fair trade.
Shopping queues get into step
Keep on top of all the developments at
www.organic-food-and-drink.com.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Consumers buy with their beliefs
That’s the message of Endangered Species Chocolate, which sells organic and “ethically traded” candy bars.
And more people seem to be buying it.
Find more of what people are buying at
www.organic-food-and-drink.com.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
DTI Kalinga helps farmers acquire organic coffee tag
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Kalinga is helping local farmers grow coffee the organic way.
Organic coffee farming is being piloted in three areas—one site in Pinukpuk town and two in Upper Tabuk.
The technology is in line with the “One Town, One Product” program of the government and is in response to the global trend on the use of organic products.
If you're not already in the Philippines, you don't have to go that far to find organic coffee. Visit www.organic-food-and-drink.com/coffee instead!
Organic Coffees are Perfect for Holiday Gifts and Entertaining
Where can you buy organic coffee? Find the answer here: www.organic-food-and-drink.com/coffee/.
Olives, emus and snails
More information about organic foods and beverages: www.organic-food-and-drink.com.
Friday, June 9, 2006
One item, two prices - that's fair trade
More information on organic coffee: www.organic-food-and-drink.com
Organic coffee loses appeal for Nicaragua growers
"It is something we are noticing and it worries us because we know that the production costs (of organic) are higher."
More information on organic coffee: www.organic-food-and-drink.com
Sunday, June 4, 2006
Beyond sugar and banana
For more on organic food and beverages, visit www.organic-food-and-drink.com.
Friday, June 2, 2006
Dominicans stage III Organic Coffee Festival
It is a community-oriented festivity that gathers organic producing families of the Southeastern zone, to thank and celebrate the year’s harvest.
For more information on organic coffee, visit www.organic-food-and-drink.com.
Vowing to be Green
Natural Products Sales Top $51 Billion in 2005
More info...www.organic-food-and-drink.com
Thursday, June 1, 2006
Cuban Organic Coffee Goes to Japan & EU
Violence Threatens E.Timor Coffee Industry
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Cold Organic Coffee Perfect for Hot Summer Days
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Bolivian organic coffee farmers target niche markets
May is the start of the harvest for the Yungas cooperatives and red coffee berries hang heavy on their branches in the shade of mandarin trees and banana plants. Everywhere, families are at work, picking, hulling and sun-drying the coffee beans on which their rural way of life depends.
"Our coffee compares well with coffee from Jamaica or Central America but it's not so well-known. We still need to earn the confidence of buyers," said expert coffee taster and grower Martin Oluri, adding that the region's coffee is characterized by chocolate, honey and citrus flavors.
Winner: Best Organic Wine
Cotton’s sustainability story hits the road
California wine grape growers have had a major sustainability push for several years and others are trying to meet a sustainability litmus test to mollify consumers.
Cotton is the latest crop to be called on the sustainability carpet, not yet by consumers but by people who buy cotton and make and sell textile products from the natural fiber.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
What's new with food? These healthful products
Food companies are catering, above all, to consumers' desire for ever-more-healthful, ever-more-organic products.
How a £1.50 chocolate bar saved a Mayan community from destruction
Friday, May 26, 2006
What is fair trade?
So what is the difference between “free trade” and “fair trade”? Free trade is so named because the prices of goods and services are market-driven, all producers get the same conditions (in theory) and there are no import limits. Does that actually happen? Not so often. In reality, certain industries get government financial help so that they can sell their goods at unfairly low “dumping” price levels. Furthermore, the large corporations that control most of the world’s coffee trade strive to undercut each other on price, which they commonly achieve by cutting wages and benefits to laborers. When these workers earn about $.80 per pound of coffee – while consumers pay double that, and more, for a single cup – “free trade” becomes something less than fair.
The fair trade movement, sometimes called the trade justice movement, promotes standards for the production and trade of different goods and services. Fair trade strives not only for economic development, but also for social justice, environmental protection, and maintaining stronger trade connections.
Labels used in United States ("Fair Trade Certified"), United Kingdom ("Fairtrade") and Europe ("Max Havelaar") are a guarantee that the producers of the goods you buy meet fair trade standards. Today, 19 countries have their own labeling initiatives which operate under the guidelines of the Fairtrade Labelling Organization, and more than 500 partner organizations have already been certified in accordance with international fair trade standards. They require a guarantee of fair process, no child or slave labor, anti-dumping practices, and high quality standards. In addition, they must employ environmentally-friendly growing methods. Thus organic farming is often linked with fair trade movement, because of the common emphasis on environmental and social balance. All these standards also follow the conventions of the International Labor Organization.
As consumers, we don’t need to donate large sums of money to make a difference. When we choose fair trade products – such as coffee, bananas, tea, chocolate, honey, sugar, orange juice or flowers - we support the movement. We help third world producers keep their farms, and improve the living and working conditions of small farmers, workers, and families in regions that need us the most.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
It's Not Enough to Be a Vegetarian
But now even the moral high ground of a vegetarian lifestyle isn't good enough. Singer's new book, The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter argues that, all things considered, only a vegan lifestyle will do. The reasons go far beyond Singer's past exposés of animal abuse and factory farming. Tracking the source of food served at three very different American tables, Singer and his co-author Jim Mason uncover more than they could swallow.
Cool beans
Unfortunately, due to the volatility of the coffee market, a lack of equipment and technical know-how, and profiteering middlemen, these Chiapas campesinos, many of whom farm on less than seven acres, live on about $3 a day — less than the price of one Venti latte at Starbucks. ...
Fair Trade practices are viewed as one solution to the coffee crisis, which persists despite rising international prices and demand. Fair Trade principles prohibit forced child labor and provide living wages for farmers, while sustaining their communities. And there are environmental benefits, as well: Although sun-grown coffee produces greater yields, Fair Trade coffee is shade-grown, which eliminates the need for clear-cutting and preserves delicate ecosystems. And since many farmers can’t afford pesticides and other chemicals, there is an ample supply of organic Fair Trade coffee.
Organic farms help to plough in rich returns
Sunday, May 21, 2006
The natural progression of organic wines
In recent years, though, as demand for organic choices continues to grow, wineries have responded with quality and variety. Still others, committed to the advantages of natural growing methods, are bottling organic wines while leaving "organic" off the label.