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.

Save $5 on your order of $50 or more at Wine.com! Enter Promo Code: DECFIVE at checkout. Offer valid 12.1.08 - 12.31.08.

Save $10 on your order of $125 or more at Wine.com! Enter Promo Code: DECTEN at checkout. Offer valid 12.1.08 - 12.31.08.

Save $15 on your order of $200 or more at Wine.com! Enter Promo Code: DECFIFTEEN at checkout. Offer valid 12.1.08 - 12.31.08.

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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:
Save 15% off any 12-month wine club membership! Enter Promo Code: FALLCLUB at checkout. Offer valid 9.1.08 - 10.31.08.


Save 5% on your order of $50 or more. Enter Promo Code: FALL50 at checkout. Offer valid 9.1.08 - 10.31.08.



Save 10% off any gift basket. Enter Promo Code: FALLGIFT at checkout. Offer valid 9.1.08 - 10.31.08.


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.

Organic or not? It all depends on your pocket, new research shows

Grow, buy, cook and eat organic foods for a long and healthy life. This is the latest fad in Kenya, that has seen eateries and other outlets proclaiming to sell “natural” foods springing up every other day.

Researchers, however, have dismissed this is as a load of manure.

When to buy and when to avoid organics

If you want to get on the green bandwagon, but sticker prices have you seeing red, there are a few things you should know before heading to the grocery store to buy organic food.

There are some green items, such as organic seafood, that aren't worth the extra cost if health is your main concern, experts say.

The going gets tough for organic

Think back to June last year, when the vast organic food supermarket Whole Foods opened its first UK shop in London, and Britain seemed like a pretty different place. It was two months before the credit crunch bit, and organic food sales were rising each month, fuelled by consumers who had started to care where their food came from and how the way it was grown affected the environment. For some, eating organic had become almost a fashion statement; around the country, farmer's markets were a weekend ritual for eco-conscious shoppers, and expensive organic chains such as Fresh and Wild and Planet Organic were thriving in London and Bristol.

Organic Food and Drink Newsletter - August 14, 2008

Yes, I know it's been a while, and I apologize! Unfortunately I'm battling a bout with the Epstein-Barr virus, and it's had me pretty wiped out for several weeks now. But it's past time I got moving, and while this won't be my most informative newsletter, I'll have some good stuff for you.


For you Whole Foods shoppers, I want to be sure you're aware of the ground beef recall. Read all about it here.

Specials and Recommendations

Not a lot this time, but I found a few. Most will apply primarily to US readers.


As a Southern Californian I live in a dry climate, but as a traveler I know only too well that's not true for all of you. And with that humidity comes bugs. If you're not big on chemical pesticides, try Arbico Organics for natural pest control solutions for your organic home, business, lawn, garden,
farm and pets.


Wine drinkers, try Wine Enthusiast. Currently offering free shipping on its Eurocave wine cellars- no small thing for you wine drinkers - and on other things as well. They haven't posted an end date on this one, but I'm sure there will be one!



While you're at it, wine drinkers, how about 1 Cent Shipping on purchase of $99 or more at Wine.com! Enter code 1CENTGOLD at checkout. Valid Aug 11-15, 2008, so hurry.


Sorry to be thin on the specials this time. Keep checking the web site:

Organic wine

Organic coffee

Organic meat

Organic produce

Organic chocolate

Organics - fad or the future?

Organic food has been one of the biggest trends in the food sector in recent years. FoodNavigator is seeking your views on whether organics have staying power, or whether consumers will lose interest over time.

Drought no barrier to organic growers

An organic food craze has sent business booming in Dubbo, despite the widespread drought.

A new report has found that organic produce growers have experienced an 80 per cent growth in farm gate sales over the last four years and locally the organic market seems to be thriving.

How to be a budget organic

With all the news about rising food costs, you may be wondering if the organic milk you've been putting in your cart is worth the extra cash. It is. Organic food is more expensive, but when it comes to the staples of your diet, organics are a worthwhile investment, with payoffs that might surprise you. The benefits influence your health today — and long-term. Here, why certain foods are worth the splurge, plus tips to save you money while keeping your diet nutritionally and ecologically sound.

Organic food 'good for you' says EU

The European Commission has launched a campaign to inform consumers of the benefits of organic food and support those involved in the ever-growing organic market.

Health experts push for organic lifestyles

CONSUMERS hear and read about organic farming but they are not always sure what that means. They sometimes question what ‘makes’ food organic – and why it is more expensive than other foods. They may be puzzled by the typically higher cost of these foods, wondering why this should be so as the benefits of such foods may be perceived as being not worth the extra expense.

Farmers told organic is way to grow

Agricultural experts and officials are urging farmers to stop using chemical pesticides and start growing organic, non-genetically modified produce for export to European markets.

Prospects flourish within organic industry: expert

As the perception of health and taste benefits from organic produce drives sales across all demographics, opportunities are arising in every sector of the food industry.

George Pontiako, president and CEO of Bi Nutraceuticals, told FoodNavigator-USA.com that while fresh fruit and vegetables are proving the most popular among health-conscious consumers, more unusual organic products, such as beer and vodka, are also becoming successful.

Spotlight on organic food

HEALTH is one of the biggest single concerns for people living in the UK. Research shows that organic food can be more nutritious for you and your family – it does not contain any additives, E numbers, pesticides, drugs or flavourings. What it does contain is more of the good stuff we need – like vitamins and minerals.

Finns Lose Taste for Organic Products

The demand for organic products is mushrooming across the globe; however, Finns seem to be losing interest. In fact the popularity of organic products in Finland seems to have declined since the year 2000.

Health enthusiasts reluctant to give up pricey organic foods

In a display fridge at Claudia's Natural Food Market in Sylvania, Organic Valley Orange juice sells for $7.39 a half gallon. Nearby, a 15-ounce bag of Kettle Brand potato chips costs $5.29. Despite rising fuel and food costs, sales at several local organic and health food markets remain strong, managers said. For loyal customers convinced that natural foods are the key to good health, purchases are not discretionary spending that can be reduced like movie tickets and restaurant trips, they added.

The lowdown on organic food

What is the truth about organic food? Well, organic simply means that it doesn’t have anything artificial in it. Fruits, vegetables and livestock are grown all-natural. Okay, we all know that but how does that really relate to us? Why are people being encouraged to switch to organic even though it is relatively more expensive? Is it really that better and beneficial to our health? Don’t take my word for it; let’s hear it straight from the experts.

What you need to know about organic food

Organic foods are now part of the mainstream food supply as fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, eggs, canned goods, cereals and snack foods are flooding the store shelves.

World of difference for Fairtrade as credit crunch takes its toll

Those who say a ripple in America creates a wave in the UK looked to have been proved right.

The global credit crunch which was born out of the US sub-prime crisis has hit Britain hard and with more of us conscious about how much we spend and what we spend it on, one of the first casualties appears to be the organic and Fairtrade goods which until a few months ago filled middle-class shopping baskets.

Organic produce...from China??

You buy organic because it's better for you and the environment because the produce is grown without pesticides or other potentially-harmful chemicals.

But what if those organic vegetables came from China? Would you serve them to your family?

It turns out you may already have.

Organic trend produces confusion

Some shoppers may have noticed an increase in the number of organic items for sale in the grocery store.

Organic food sales in the United States have escalated by 17 to 20 percent a year for the past few years, compared to 2 to 3 percent a year for conventional foods. This could be partly attributed to the concern many have about the potential harmful effects of foods exposed to hormones, pesticides, and antibiotics used in conventional farming.

Industry Fails to Explain Organics to Public

The fresh produce industry is failing to help consumers make an informed choice between organic and non-organic produce. It is also failing to invest in the market opportunities that exist in both the organic and nonorganic markets because of its lack of understanding of what consumers want.

These were the findings of a sixmonth study on organic fruit and vegetables, published this week by the dunnhumby Academy of Consumer Research at Kent Business School, Canterbury.

Organic farming important in producing clean, safe food

Turning to organic farming has become a global goal to help clean and safe agricultural products get to the dinner table, particularly while insecticide-related diseases are increasing.>



Organic farming depends on environmentally-friendly resources like natural fertilizer. It uses biological ways to combat agricultural problems and tries to stay away from chemical substances that can alter the food and its quality.

Local and organic are the buzzwords, but they don't always mix

Local and organic are the latest foodie buzzwords - but don't always mix well. Good intentions can be lost in an ethical minefield.

Organic ingredients may clock up many air miles and the eco-aware restaurateur is left weighing up the evils of air freight over the lower environmental impact of organic farming.

New test to show if vegetables are really organic

A New Zealand scientist has invented a test to discover if vegetables have been grown organically.

GNS Science's Karyne Rogers said she developed the test to stop people being "fobbed off by someone else's half-baked organic vegetables", the Dominion Post reported today.

The isotope test looks at base elements in vegetables, and shows whether they were raised with organic manure or industrial fertiliser.

Organic-friendly Americans buy farm shares

Health scares, food shortages and growing concern about the environment have boosted so-called community-supported agriculture across the United States.

Going organic an investment in health

Shoppers who are toying with the idea of buying organic products are sometimes dissuaded by sticker shock.

Even proponents of going organic acknowledge that it’s not easy on the pocketbook, with prices for organic products sometimes significantly higher than comparable nonorganic items.

But making the switch and spending a little bit more money is worth it, they say.

Organic wine-making moves on to a new level

WITH almost 6% of its vineyard converted to organic production Alsace can claim to be the greenest wine region of France.

Although the prediction made a few years ago by one top grower that 90% of Alsace’s vineyards would be organic by 2010 now seems wildly optimistic, the rate of conversion is steady and sustained. There are also a large and growing number of vignerons who, while stopping short of full organic status, claim to practice sustainable viticulture and only spray their vines with agrochemicals as a last resort.

Biodynamics: the heart and soil of winemaking?

CONTRARY to popular opinion, biodynamic wine is not the same as organic wine, and to proponents of the former, it should never be viewed as such.

While both viticulture practices are concerned with sustainability, restoring the health of the soil and a zero tolerance of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, this is probably where the organic bit ends and the biodynamic thing begins.

Organic foods offer twice as many antioxidants

New study finds organic foods offer up to twice as many antioxidants

A new study throws light on just how much healthier organically grown foods are compared to mass produced foods - up to 97 per cent richer in certain antioxidants.

And with more nutrient content by weight, organic foods can provide more health benefits for your money.

New Zealanders fastest with uptake of Fairtrade products

New Zealand has reported the fastest growth in sales of Fairtrade products in the world - a 45-fold increase in just four years.

This is from the latest edition of the newsletter, in case you missed it!

This issue's article talks about the thoughts and struggles behind
following an organic eating plan. Can you relate? Let us know what you think!

Specials and Recommendations
Up north of the equator we're heading into full summertime grilling season. Timing is never better for your gardens or your local farmer's market. If those don't work for you, the Internet is as always loaded with choices.

You've heard me tell you about Ideal Bite, right? Daily organic tips in your inbox? I recently saw a report that it's been bought by none other than Disney.That's validation not only of the newsletter, but of the market it serves (i.e., us.) Check it out and see why 230,000 others already find Ideal Bite so fascinating.

Pfaelzer Brothers: Take 15% off your entire purchase - just enter promotion code Summer15 at checkout. Free steak seasoning with any steak purchase too!

If you like Hickory Farms better, use promotion code FATHERDAY and get 10% off your entire purchase, through the end of June. Father's Day may have passed, but this hasn't!

And at wine.com, save 20% off any 6 or more bottles of clearance sale wines. They do frequently include organic wines in their specials, so be sure to check.



Our newsletter community spans the globe, but it's tough for me to find specials that do. So be sure you're checking the web site for providers that ship to or service your part of the world:

Organic wine
Organic coffee
Organic meat
Organic produce
Organic chocolate


Feature Article: Organic Eating Habits Aren't As Wide Spread As They Could Be

Unfortunately with the easy and ready availability of processed foods, organic eating habits aren't as wide spread as they could be. Even those of us who prefer not to literally riddle our bodies with pesticides and chemical toxins find that sometimes a fast food meal from our favorite drive-in or takeaway is easier than going to the trouble of preparing our own organically cooked meals.

I have to admit that I sometimes even go to the lengths of heating up a TV dinner when I'm too tired to even lift a finger to dial the pizza joint for a meal that has to be better than a first frozen and then nuked meal eaten in solitary confinement in front of the TV.

In fact this is why I turned to organic eating habits to begin with, to get out of the rut that my life had fallen into. It did take some doing, and I did fall off the organic eating wagon quite a few times, but perseverance finally won through and I was out of my fast food junkie and TV dinner rut, and onto the benefits of organic eating.

The problem is though, that sometimes I'm just too tired to bother about cooking a meal for myself and that's when I resort to the fast foods or the TV dinners. In order to combat the seductive quality of these fast paced lifestyle ruts, I even went so far as to find and buy organic TV dinners, but common sense finally set in on that one, and I switched back to stocking my freezer with non-organic TV dinners.

Why? Simply for the reason that after all the processing these foods have gone through, along with the freezing process, and then the nuking, it renders useless any type of goodness that might be found in the foods. So why pay more for what turns out to be essentially the same item? That was my theory anyway.

If you decide to follow an organic eating regime however, you will find that your life just became healthier and more difficult at the same time. It became healthier because you're eradicating pesticides and other toxins from your body, and it became more difficult because now you have a larger monthly food bill, and you also have to search specifically for organic foods!

The benefits however, far outweigh the disadvantages, and you will most definitely be glad later on that you went to the trouble to change your eating habits to organic eating habits.

About the author:
Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Organic Foods for Years. For More Information on Organic Eating, Visit His Site at Organic Eating.

Shoppers to 'abandon organic food to cut bills'

Shoppers who have previously been willing to pay up to 50 per cent more for organic meat, or fair trade coffee, could soon ignore ethical concerns in favour of keeping their shopping bills down.

Canada’s retailers may need organic certification

A lot of details still need to be sorted out before the new Canada Organic Regime goes into effect.

One key item — whether or not retailers will have to become certified organic in order to carry bulk organics and do in-house fresh-cut organic produce — is still uncertain.

Organic foods, sustainable fashion going from niche to mainstream

Organic food, once the sole domain of farmers' markets and small health-food stores, is going increasingly mainstream as the aisles of large, chain supermarkets fill with organic produce, groceries and convenience foods.

Organic shoppers have also changed, growing beyond a loyal core of earth mothers to a wider base of soccer moms.

Organic winemaking a worldwide rarity

You don’t have to be an organic evangelist to buy some organic products in your weekly shop, and or to have a weathered eye out for new organic products.

For instance, restaurants for the first time are starting to offer some organic selections in their wine lists.

Scientists Find Pesticides Change DNA, Increase Cancer In India

Pesticides were once touted as a tool of the agricultural green revolution designed to help increase crop yields but now are being blamed for causing cancer, reducing the nutritional value of some food crops and failing to boost crop yields.

Safer, healthier notions boost growth of organics

Organic businesses are seeing an upswing in demand for their products, partly because consumers see organics as safer and healthier options compared with conventional produce, according to a recent survey.

Organic producers need to understand customers, not cut costs

Organic farmers should work on developing consumer loyalty rather than concentrating on cutting costs, a survey into shoppers' perceptions of organic fruit and vegetables has found.

Few organic fruit and vegetable producers understood people's reasons for buying organic produce and thought price was the biggest barrier to them buying it.

Co-op takes on Soil Association in food miles fight

Two leading voices in the fight against climate change are at loggerheads over the weight given to "food miles" in a labelling system designed to encourage consumers to choose low-carbon products in shops and supermarkets.

The Co-operative group says it makes "no sense" for the Soil Association to focus so much on air freight which is often a relatively small part of the total environmental impact of a product and risks increasing poverty in places such as Africa which needs planes to carry some goods to markets.

Wine: Seeing red, white and green

Whether your favorite wine is white or red, it may have a touch of green blended in.

More and more wineries are embracing an environmentally sensitive approach to the product they put on the shelf or pour at their tasting venues. Adjectives such as sustainable, recyclable, organic, biodynamic, global climatic and carbon footprint sensitive are gradually finding their way into many wine operations and onto labels.

Going organic doesn't have to break the bank

These days, with rising food costs, just making ends meet can be tough -- and it's even tougher if you've gone organic.

But it's not impossible. If eat­ing organic produce and other foods is important to you and your family, you can make it work. It may just take a bit more effort.

Back to the soil

# Food-safety scares of the past two years have people wondering what's in and on their store-bought food.

# A reborn environmental movement questions the wisdom of using so many synthetic pesticides that end up polluting waterways and drinking water.

# Organic produce is the latest food-industry darling as restaurant menus brag about organic ingredients and supermarkets display organic choices next to the "regular" offerings.

'Organic,' 'natural' not the same thing

The terms "all-natural" and "organic" are often used interchangeably. Their meanings are different, though, so be in the know. Organic describes the way that an item is farmed - with an emphasis on renewable resources and conservation of soil and water. All-natural means a product does not contain artificial ingredients - not that it is farmed organically.

Wily food fraudsters reaping unfair ‘organic‘ benefits

THE next time you bite into that “organic” apple, think again – there‘s a good chance you‘re being conned by wily food fraudsters passing off their produce as organic to make a quick buck.

Experts say the lack of legislation governing the use of the word “organic” in South Africa means farmers who spend thousands of rands arduously growing legitimately organic products are being dwarfed by “fake organic” producers trying to make money by passing off their goods as organic.

Get healthy! 5 ways to green your diet

Greening your diet is not about sacrificing an entire food group, or strictly eating vegetables, or giving up the foods you love. A green diet is a healthy, diverse diet that involves eating real foods.

Animal Rights Concern Spur Organic Meat Sales

Organic food is moving from the fringe to the mainstream in Finland. Sales in the sector grew briskly last year -- particularly organically-produced meat. Experts say this is partly due to growing public concern about factory-farming methods.

Five Ways to Make Your Diet Healthier (for the Planet)

April 22 will be the 36th anniversary of Earth Day. Have you ever stopped to think about how your dietary choices affect the health of our planet? Sure, buying organic products helps reduce the amount of pesticides and artificial fertilizers that are applied to the ground. But what about the environmental impact of transporting organic produce thousands of miles from its source to your table? How about all the energy it takes to process, package, and transport the organic convenience foods and all-natural junk food that fill the freezers and shelves of high-end whole-foods grocers? And to bring the conversation back to nutrition for a moment, how nutritious do you think those organic sugar-frosted corn flakes really are?

Green wine: It's not just a passing trend

Green wine may sound odd, but it may ultimately be better for you. Green wine, otherwise known as organic, sustainable or biodynamic wine, is made with as little chemical and technological intervention as possible - and it's becoming popular.

The Organic Trade Association expects sales of organic wine to grow an additional 17 percent this year, on a base of $80 million.

Uncorking 'green' wines

Some like their white wines, the lighter, the better. Some are such diehard red fans they'd rather never eat fish again than have to pair it with a Sauvignon Blanc.

And then there are those who like their wine green.

Is food that’s labeled ‘organic’ worth the higher price tag?

Organic Oreos? Yep. These days, supermarket shelves are also stocked with organic Ragu pasta sauce and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.

According to ShopSmart, the shopping magazine published by Consumer Reports, organic foods, including fruits, meats and dairy, may not be on everyone’s shopping list, but more and more people are reaching for them anyway.

1 large organic shade-grown coffee, please -- with extra bats

If you get a chance to sip some shade-grown Mexican organic coffee, please pause a moment to thank the bats that helped make it possible.

At Mexican organic coffee plantations, where pesticides are banned, bats and birds work night and day to control insect pests that might otherwise munch the crop.

Majority of Darjeeling tea to go organic

The Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA) has mounted efforts to increase the production of organic tea so that the majority of the champagne of teas is organically produced by 2010.

Mixed messages on organics

THE Soil Association has hit back at claims that there is no reliable evidence to suggest eating organic food is better for you.

The association reacted to comments from the former Food Standards Agency chief, Lord Krebs, that there are no clear benefits to eating ‘green’ and that the organic message could distort other important health messages such as ‘eat less salt’.

Wal-Mart rolls out line of private label coffee

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., looking to capitalize on consumers' growing interest in sustainable coffees, is rolling out its own line of organic, Rainforest Alliance and fair trade certified coffees.

Outrage hits 'naturally raised' USDA meat labeling plan

Meat that's labeled "naturally raised" could be coming to supermarkets alongside "natural" meat.

The U.S. Agriculture Department already allows meat to be called "natural" so long as it's minimally processed and doesn't contain artificial ingredients.

Now, the Agriculture Department is proposing to let packers label beef, pork or lamb as "naturally raised," so long as the livestock were never given antibiotics or synthetic hormones or fed any animal by-products. USDA officials say the new labeling would give shoppers more choices in the meat case.

Five ways to save on organics

Organic foods may not be on your shopping list, but it's getting so easy to buy what seems to be better-for-you-and-the-planet versions of your favorite products that odds are you're reaching for them anyway. They are often worth the extra money -- but with a little research, you can still find ways to save.

Organic food 'no benefit to health'

Parents who want their children to eat healthily should focus more on serving them extra fruit and vegetables and less on giving them expensive organic produce, according to one of the country's leading nutrition experts.

Did Your Shopping List Kill a Songbird?

THOUGH a consumer may not be able to tell the difference, a striking red and blue Thomas the Tank Engine made in Wisconsin is not the same as one manufactured in China — the paint on the Chinese twin may contain dangerous levels of lead. In the same way, a plump red tomato from Florida is often not the same as one grown in Mexico. The imported fruits and vegetables found in our shopping carts in winter and early spring are grown with types and amounts of pesticides that would often be illegal in the United States.

Study finds pesticide residues in wine

A study by the European Pesticides Action Network (PAN) reveals that wines on sale in the EU may contain residues of up to 10 different pesticides potentially harmful to human health. But manufacturers argue that the quantities are so tiny that drinking wine poses no health risk.

Great Easter offer from Organic Bouquet

How about a free box of gourmet chocolate with your Easter bouquet? Get one now from Organic Bouquet.

Organic farmers urged to co-operate as demand for produce rockets

Burgeoning demand for organic arable crops in the UK and increasing reliance on imports has prompted experts to call for more co-operation between organic producers.

Tainted juices pulled from Loblaws' shelves

Small amounts of it are found naturally in our drinking water, large amounts of it occur predictably in certain murder mysteries, but even a tiny amount of arsenic in fruit juice marketed to children is too much, prompting an official recall this week of two brands of pear juice sold by the Loblaw supermarkets.

What effect will organic food have on your wallet?

Shoppers who have experienced reaching the till with what they thought was a modest basket of organic groceries, only to be faced with an eye-watering total, might have been heartened by Delia Smith's recent comments targeted at organic sticklers. She hit out at celebrity chefs who push the organic cause and added that she tends to plump for whatever products look best, regardless of the organic credentials.

Organic or nonorganic, that is the question

Organic or nonorganic is the question in many people's minds these days. With eager consumers anxious to make the right choices for their families and themselves, food marketers have turned up the pressure by touting the health benefits of everything organic from cornflakes to chocolate. Is it all hype or are organically produced foods really better for our health?

Gourmet demand revives Central America cocoa farms

Indigenous people grew cocoa here more than 2,000 years ago. Now, their descendants are reviving the crop to meet world demand for high-quality chocolate.

Throughout Central America, farmers like Manuel Abrigo are planting cocoa, taking advantage of high world cocoa prices and the premium their cocoa commands.

Cheap ways to go organic

We’re constantly told that good health starts from the inside but sourcing the freshest ingredients and finding authentic organic produce can be both difficult and expensive.

The biggest study into organic food, released in November, confirmed what organic devotees have long known: that organic food is more nutritious.

Ensuring limited organic air freight is fair and ethical

Following an extensive first round consultation on the issue of air freight – lasting 4 months, receiving nearly 400 responses from the public, NGOs, industry, government and international agencies plus meetings with 100 organisations – the Soil Association’s Standards Board [1] recommended that the organisation’s standards should be changed so that organic produce can only be air-freighted if it also meets the Soil Association’s own Ethical Trade or the Fairtrade Foundation’s standard.

Different shades of green for wine fans

Green wines are growing. These are "eco" green wines that their makers say are made in harmony with nature. In the United States their sales are up, as is the number of vineyards using organic farming methods.

Why prefer organic meat? and more from the latest newsletter!

Specials and Recommendations
Heading into spring north of the equator, and Easter time for many of us. There are so many places to go to shop for your special Easter (or other spring holiday) meals, not to mention flowers or gifts.

Some of my favorites:
Meat:
Save the Bacon in the UK
Niman Ranch in the US
Lindauer Farms in the US
Also in the US, save $10 on Hickory Farms HoneyGold Hams.

Flowers and gifts:
Rainbow Designs in Australia
Organic Bouquet in the US
Sur la Table in the US
Harry and David in the US
Global Exchange just about anywhere

For all kinds of stuff, there's always Amazon.

If you're heading into springtime and thinking about planting your garden, may as well make it an organic one. Here's an ebook that will help you figure out how.

Looking for something else, or somewhere else? Lots to choose from on the web site:

Organic wine
Organic fruits and vegetables
Organic meat
Organic chocolate
Organic coffee



Feature Article: The Most Compelling Reasons To Eat Organic Meat
One of the biggest stories since our last newsletter was the recall of beef from a California slaughterhouse (see the link below, in the In the News section.) The knowledge of those practices is enough to make us think about how organic farming practices might be different. Here's an article that talks a little more about the advantages of organic meat.

Of the three macronutrients, protein is the most important for health and achieving the body you want. The bottom line is that protein is the ONLY nutrient out of the three that restores and repairs every single cell in your body. Now, every day your body with its trillions of cells is constantly being broken down and being rebuilt. In fact every 7 years you are literally a completely new person - there is not one cell in your body that was there 7 years ago. To stay alive we need enough protein to grow new cells to replace the old ones. It's that simple. With our hectic modern lives, the breakdown is even greater and so to stay healthy we need to make sure we are getting enough each and every day. Individual requirements will vary however a good minimum is anywhere from 1.5-3 grams per kilo of bodyweight when you are exercising depending on your specific goals and needs. This amount is necessary because as you exercise you breakdown a great deal of protein in the body to train it to adapt and grow new muscle that will fire up your metabolism and help you burn more body fat.

Now when we talk about quality protein sources you can always look to red meat...but not just any red meat, more to the point, quality organic red meat.

One of the most compelling reasons to eat only organic meat is the massive use of anti-biotics in the stock feed of mass commercially produced meats. In the United Sates almost 17.9 million pounds of anti-biotics was added to stock feed of farm animals in an attempt to prevent the diseases caused by mass farming as well as a growth promoter to fatten the stock more quickly.

Considering most dosages of anti-biotics if you are unlucky enough to need them once or twice a year are measured in milligrams (1/1000th of a gram), anti-biotics in livestock feed create a massive overdose of 27g of anti-biotics per year for every man woman and child. This means that as a population, our natural resistance to disease is being steadily eroded. The situation in Australia is little better with approximately 20g of anti-biotics from stock feed ingested per person each year.

Once you have converted to organic meat there is no going back as it is far more carefully produced in smaller batches and the superior quality and taste is self-evident.

Eating meat can make you feel heavy at times but after eating organic meats you will probably find yourself feeling energized, as you should after having a good quality dose of protein. Game meats such as buffalo, bison, venison, kangaroo and ostrich are an excellent source of clean chemical free protein. They is also very low in fat, taste great and can be very good value for money. In larger pieces game meats with their lower fat content need to be cooked fairly rare, but if you prefer well done, slice thinly and use in stirfrys.

Your protein intake may be supplemented by good quality protein powders, which are particularly good before and after training due to their quick absorption, and convenience.

About The Author
Ben Kong is the author and co-creator of http://www.ultimatebodysuccess.com - The Impossible To fail, Total Lifestyle System For Creating Your Best Body Ever.

Ultimate Body Success is dedicated to helping you finally understand that long lasting, body transformation is only possible when you understand how the body really works - only then can you trigger it's very own natural system for creating your best body ever. While there are no short-cuts, this is THE EASIEST WAY. Click the link now to find out once and for all how to profoundly transform your body beyond belief.

Garden Organic disputes claims against organic benefits

The UK’s leading authority on organic growing, Garden Organic, is disputing claims made yesterday, Tuesday 26 February, on BBC 2’s Horizon programme, ‘Professor Regan’s Supermarket Secrets’ that there is little scientific evidence of organically produced food having any nutritional differences or benefits compared to non-organic food.

Slaughterhouse video prompts unprecedented beef recall

This undercover video of sick and crippled cows being brought to slaughter in an abattoir in southern California has prompted the largest recall of beef in US history, (writes Will Pavia).

The US Department of Agriculture yesterday ordered that 143 million lb of beef from the slaughterhouse be recalled. Officials estimate that some 37 million lbs of the recalled meat had been heading to schools across America though they fear that most of it will have already been eaten.

Organic joins the mainstream

Research carried out for the drinks trade magazine, Off Licence News, shows that sales of organic and biodynamic wine is a huge growth area for independent wine retailers.

But some wine merchants remain to be convinced that it’s time to jump aboard the organic bandwagon. They say there’s still too little demand for organic wine; others believe it is overpriced and a few think that its quality leaves something to be desired.

Organic food 'is no healthier'

Consumers who pay extra for organic produce and so-called 'superfoods' are being misled by claims that they are healthier than ordinary foods, according to leading scientists.

They insist there is little evidence that an organic diet provides greater nutritional benefits or that non-organic crops grown using pesticides and chemical fertilisers are more harmful than their organic competitors.

Article: Fair Trade or Fairly Traded?

Here's the article from the recent newsletter, in its entirety.

As consumers, do we always consider the impact of our purchasing power? How many times have you stopped to ask yourself, "Where was this craft, coffee, chocolate, or tea produced, and did the worker receive a fair wage for his or her work effort? Probably not often. After all, we live in a consumer society conditioned with not just an individual, but a collective consumptive mentality. That those products represent some of our largest imports from under-developed nations whose cost of living increases against a backdrop of stagnant wages, makes this a topic well worth consideration.

Not many of us have the phrase "Global Equity" etched across the top of our weekly shopping lists. Conditioned to believe that we need the next best thing and in ever increasing quantities, we've moved through much of our lives down a consistent though generally thoughtless path of frenetic purchasing activity.

Fair Trade is an organized endeavor to correct that course. It serves to help marginalized workers and small scale producers to attain economic self-sufficiency and stability toward an increased standard of living. Fair Trade promotes the practice of fair pricing and ethical consumer consumption through international labor standards, environmentalism, education, and the development of social policies around labeled and unlabeled Fair Trade products.

Contemporary economics traditionally driven by consumerism has been focused primarily on the relationship between product quality and price. Fair Trade seeks to create an equitable exchange and so has developed a labeling and certification process as a means to further protect workers and producers, while assisting consumers in their conscientious shopping activities.

THE FAIR TRADE DEBATE There are two major camps of debate surrounding the Fair Trade issue: one that sees Fair Trade as an unnecessary subsidy that impedes economic growth; and one that sees organized Fair Trade as paying lip service - that Fair Trade is not enough and somewhat falling short of a thorough challenge to the current trading system. Amidst this, the promising hope of change. With the advent of (CSR) Corporate Social Responsibility at the big business level pushing for responsible action, to public education and the quiet conscious efforts of smaller businesses and organizations who have long known and understood the importance of economic equality - Fair Trade has moved from a remote public consideration to a genuine model of moral socio-economic behavior.

One company effecting change is the Camano Island Coffee Roasting Company.

Jeff Ericson, founder of Camano Island Coffee believes that Fair Trade is not enough:

"We not only must make sure that a fair price is paid for the coffee - we also need to make sure that the farmers own the land that they work on. We need to make sure the children are getting basic health services and learning to read and write - so we do not repeat this process again in the next generation. We need to make sure the people are not totally dependent on just one crop (like coffee) - but that they have other ways to make money. We need to make sure that the village we work with has learned to work together as a team and can create streamlined approaches to business challenges of a rural area and that they have clean water to drink."

THEN- we can pay a fair price for their coffee while requiring the coffee is organic and shade grown.

The challenge with a bureaucracy is that they tend to "lower the bar" in order to get everyone (even the big guns) into the pack.

We feel sustainability is a commitment - not a marketing term. If you do anything less then 100% in your purchasing decisions of coffee - then we feel you should not call yourself "fairly traded".

We use the term "fairly traded" because we do not feel it is our role to promote a bureaucracy but to promote a practice of responsible consumerism.

Jeff has built his organization based on principles of quality, equality and service. They provide exceptional organic coffee products that are produced with the utmost regard for sustainability. It is a system that is vigorously enforced, providing fair-trade wage and opportunity to the coffee farmers who work so hard to maintain that delicate balance of health and prosperity.

Camano Island Coffee beans are 100% organic, shade-grown which preserves the native plants, and fairly traded using the top 1% of the available coffee market. The company aims to develop "Prosumers", or customers who are conscious of the impact their dollars have on coffee spending.

A strong part of the philanthropic vision is realized through its mission-based business model. The company participates in two key charity programs: Coffee Kids Grounds For Hope and Agros International - both committed to breaking the cycle of poverty for families in Central America and Mexico by enabling landless communities to develop, achieve land ownership and economic stability.

Camano Island Coffee Roasters at: www.camanoislandcoffee.com

ONEGREENGLOBE.COM Q & A Conscious consumers and representatives of the Fair Trade industry share their views:

Q1: People use the terms, Fair Trade and Fairly Traded Products interchangeably. What do these terms mean to you?

A1: The term "Fair Trade Certified" indicates a product that is licensed according to specific

Fair Trade standards. Our Fair Trade Certified label is a guarantee, not just a claim. It ensures that the product purchased has been produced or grown according to an international set of economic, social and environmental standards aimed toward creating greater sustainability. To us, this is a guarantee of transparency and equity.

Jennifer Rudolf Pr manager, TransFair U.S.A.

I had never heard of Fairly Traded products until you mentioned them here. I still do not know the difference between the two. I did see a graphic in ODE Magazine that showed that the difference between a normal "free" trade T-shift and a fair trade one for the workers was 2 cents on a $15 shirt. It didn't seem like a big gain for the workers.

Personally, I think the debate needs to move toward relating manufacturing wages to a living wage in the area. If we had hard (easily computed and verifiable) living wage numbers, it would be much easier to determine if a given product was being traded fairly or not. I do not think it is fair for the workers that create the products to be paid starvation wages when the other players in the process (distributors, employers, marketers, retailers, etc) are making so much.

Dr. Clay M. Thompson, Environmentalist Founder, Creative Creek

Fair Trade has a specific definition, whereas Fairly Traded Products is a much more vague term. If you see a food product like coffee or chocolate that says that it is Fair Trade Certified and it has the certification label on it, you can be guaranteed that certain criteria have been met, and that third party certification includes independent monitoring to ensure that the criteria is met. One example would be the minimum floor price; for coffee, a Fair Trade label of coffee ensures that the farmers were paid at least 1.26 per pound. For a list of Fair Trade Certified criteria for food products within the U.S. visit www.transfairusa.org.

It is more difficult for consumers to identify Fair Trade craft products because there isn't currently a certification label. This may be why you see the term fairly traded more often on craft products; because there is no label as of yet.

Tex Dworkin Manager, Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store

Q2: What do you see as the biggest challenge to upholding a Fair Trade practice in business?

A2: Creating a uniform set of standards becomes challenging when dealing with different farming practices and various local economies, especially when dealing with different products. For example, the farming practices and challenges within the coffee industry vary greatly from those prevalent within the banana industry.

Jennifer Rudolf

Information flow is the key. Certifying/Branding, like the Fair Trade people are doing, is probably the best way as long as the certification process doesn't get usurped like the organic standards have.

Dr. Clay M. Thompson

Not having a certification label for non-food products makes it difficult to market Fair Trade to consumers. Another big challenge is having to educate consumers about fair trade while marketing it. If consumer awareness was more widespread, it would be easier to market ethically produced goods.

Tex Dworkin

Q3: What do you see as some of the greatest opportunities for positive change in this area?

A3: Even though Fair Trade is still a fairly new concept in the US - we've been around nearly 10 years - we are beginning to see the direct, positive impact of increased revenues from Fair Trade Certified purchases at origin. Cooperatives around the world producing Fair Trade Certified goods have been able to build schools, improve their work facilities, increase the quality of their drinking water, repair roads, open health clinics, and lend positive change not only to the workers but also to the surrounding community. Beyond this, the ability of Fair Trade Certified standards to lend to greater dignity among farming communities is invaluable to us. That a farmer can feed his family and afford to send his children to school is the most positive change we could hope to see within our farming communities.

Jennifer Rudolf

I would start with trying to identify what the living wages are for a manufacturing region and country and make that known. Then do comparisons of the actual wages relative to the living wages. If they are higher, great. If not, build awareness that the products are not being manufactured fairly. Also promote products that are being manufactured/traded fairly.

Dr. Clay M. Thompson

Fair Trade has the capability to create self sustaining villages throughout the world, lessening underprivileged artisans and farmers' dependence on foreign aid and truly empowering them to step out of vicious cycles of poverty.

Tex Dworkin

Q4: What do you see as the role of the various Fair Trade Organization and Certification Programs?

A4: The role of Fair Trade Certification is to certify products, link licensees with producers, open the market by increasing consumer awareness and demand for Fair Trade Certified products, and audit the cooperatives at origin to ensure that the standards are being met.

Jennifer Rudolf

Very important since this is probably the easiest way to communicate to the consumer about the "life cycle" of the product. By "life cycle" here I mean the social and environmental impacts of the product (is it fairly manufactured, does its manufacture help or hurt the environment, is the product itself life affirming?).

Dr. Clay M. Thompson

Fair Trade Organizations have the ability to assist farmers and artisans to step out of the cycle of poverty and into a role of self sustainability. Certified coffee, chocolate and more has already proven to be a feasible, successful business model. In that realm, Fair Trade certification needs to be introduced to the global market and consumers need to be educated on the benefits of purchasing Fair Trade products. In terms of crafts, it is important to make a concerted effort to create a Fair Trade certification for crafts so that it is easier to identify these products to consumers. In both cases, the role of organizations and certifications is to market "Fair Trade" to consumers, encourage large companies and corporations to adopt fair trade principles in their day to day business operations, and do what we can to prep the market for Fair Trade products to grow demand for such products. At this time, Fair Trade product supply far outweighs demand. By working within the market to raise consumer awareness, Fair Trade organizations will help grow the movement.

Tex Dworkin

Q5: What changes would you like to see in Fair Trade Organizations and Certification Processes?

A5: We'd like to be able to help more farmers. Ideally, we'd like Fair Trade Certified products to include non-food products, domestic goods, textiles, clothing, manufactured goods and gemstones.

Jennifer Rudolf

Comparison to the living wage. Transparency and accountability. Some way to avoid what is happening to organic now (where the standards are being watered down so much that consumers lose trust in them -- e.g., USDA organic).

Dr. Clay M. Thompson

1) More collaboration between various international organizations working on Fair Trade. 2) More resources/funding for fair trade organizations so they can take the necessary steps to grow the industry. For example, funding enabling specialists to visit producer groups to provide vital design, tech, etc advice. Also funding so that fair trade groups can be visited by third parties to ensure that fair trade practices are being adhered to.

Tex Dworkin

Q6: What can the everyday consumer and/or business do to promote the practice of Fairly Traded products and Fair Trade, in the spirit for which it was intended?

A6: Purchasing power truly does make a difference. By voting with your shopping cart, you are contributing to a system that betters the lives of farmers in developing countries. Look for the label and go out of your way to purchase Fair Trade Certified products. When you don't see the label in your local grocery store or café, ask for it. Becoming a conscientious consumer is the most direct way to support the movement that helps improve the lives of traditional, small family farmers around the world.

Jennifer Rudolf

Businesses: Help build trust in the good certification programs. Put the certification logo on their products. Require their products be created by workers who receive at least the living wage.

Consumers: Do not buy anything that doesn't meet the minimum standards. Make it known (by letters, boycotts, blogs, etc) what we expect from manufacturers.

Dr. Clay M. Thompson

-Purchase Fair Trade products that are currently available like coffee and chocolate -Request fair trade products at cafes, supermarkets, etc -Pressure manufacturers like World's Finest and Nestle to pay fair trade prices -Spread the word to others about the importance of buying Fair Trade products.

Tex Dworkin

About the Author

Marie Gunter is the Co-Founder of OneGreenGlobe.com, a leading online community for conscientious individuals, businesses and groups promoting sustainable and healthful living. A life-long proponent of holistic systems and a seasoned promoter of innovative technololgies, Marie provides consulting, business development and public speaking services throughout the U.S.

Organic Food: Getting what you pay for?

The last thing anyone wants, along their sweep of the supermarket, is to be confused.

Let's be honest, most of us, when we go to the grocery store want to get in, and get out. We want the food to be all it's billed to be. And when it comes to organic food there should be no exceptions.

Organic perceived as costly and lacking in flavour

High prices mean over half those surveyed in Ireland have never purchased organic food and confusions abound on its taste and benefits.

Organic foods hit the big time

Organic foods are a victim of their own success, with production no longer able to keep up with demand, while purists claim that the initial ideals of clean, natural and healthy produce have been sacrificed for profit.

UK appetite for organic food is hampered by supply problems

Britain's soaring appetite for organic food is being hampered by supply problems in the industry, according to a new report published today.

The organic food and drink market is now worth about £1.5bn a year in Britain - up by about 70% since 2002 - and is set to increase by another 54% by 2012, according to market analyst Mintel. However, its Organic Food in the UK report says the market for organic food in Britain has not achieved its full potential because supply cannot meet demand.