E.U. Official: Organic Farming Fights Climate Change

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

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

Concerns grow over pesticides in produce

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

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

Checkout Line: Organic chemistry

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

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

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

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

LGUs push for organic farming

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

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

China's new organic industry

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

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

Organics and world hunger - Organic Matters, February 19

New Names

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

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

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

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

Not so healthy after all


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

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

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

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

Organic tea coins gain favour in Europe, Southeast Asia

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

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

Stemming Food Losses from Farm to Kitchen and beyond

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

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

Study shows organic produce holding its own

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

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

Dark Chocolate and Ginger

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

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

California Senate reviews organic fertilizers

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

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

Earthbound Farms responds to non-organic fertilizer news

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to have a green valentine’s day

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

Forces Of Universe Improve Wines: Biodynamics Catching On

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

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

Old Appetites Die Hard

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

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

Organic and other Wines Going Green

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

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

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

Introduction

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

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

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

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

Organic eggs

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feeding an appetite for organic food

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

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

In the Green at the Grocery

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

Organic growers call for more fertilizer oversight

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

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

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