All About Organics
OCA's Organic Resource Center
Organic Consumers Association Campaigns, Essays, Headlines, Action Alerts, Downloads and Videos on Organic Food.
Organic food is pure food. It's safer, more nutritious and free of chemical additives. Organic crops are grown without chemical pesticides or fertilizers and organic livestock are raised without antibiotics, growth hormones or other drugs. Organic food isn't genetically modified or irradiated.
News
June 26, 2006
Today an Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) panel released a report entitled Antimicrobial Resistance: Implications for the Food System. Because the report and IFT's accompanying fact sheet contained erroneous information about organic, OTA has prepared the following facts for you to use as needed. OTA is receiving press calls indicating that reporters have a high interest in the few statements about organic in the 180+ page report. Troubling statements from IFT's press releases include:
"Organic meat production may involve potentially higher safety risks due to prohibition of Read more
"Organic meat production may involve potentially higher safety risks due to prohibition of Read more
News
June 26, 2006
BOCA RATON - Marci Zaroff, a 38-year-old Boca Raton mother of two, doesn't look like a pioneer, but that's what people in the organic clothing and fabric industry consider her.
Ten years ago, she founded Under the Canopy, now based in Boca Raton, and became part of the revolution that's taken organic apparel from hippie to hip.
That's organic as in fabrics made from organically grown cotton, soy, bamboo, linen, wool and natural silk. This year, Zaroff expects revenue at her 13-employee firm to reach $10 million.
Zaroff is riding the boom of the organic Read more
Ten years ago, she founded Under the Canopy, now based in Boca Raton, and became part of the revolution that's taken organic apparel from hippie to hip.
That's organic as in fabrics made from organically grown cotton, soy, bamboo, linen, wool and natural silk. This year, Zaroff expects revenue at her 13-employee firm to reach $10 million.
Zaroff is riding the boom of the organic Read more
News
Scotsman - United Kingdom
GORDON & MacPhail, the Elgin-based whisky distiller and distributor, expects to boost turnover by about 10 per cent on the back of strong initial sales for what it claims to be the first certified organic Scotch whisky.
Benromach Organic, which launched earlier this month, is the first whisky to be permitted to carry official organic certification, as awarded by the Soil Association.
Speymalt Whisky Distillers, which trades as Gordon & MacPhail and last year achieved a turnover of £15.5 million, won the race to be first to be able to sell whisky with the coveted Read more
Benromach Organic, which launched earlier this month, is the first whisky to be permitted to carry official organic certification, as awarded by the Soil Association.
Speymalt Whisky Distillers, which trades as Gordon & MacPhail and last year achieved a turnover of £15.5 million, won the race to be first to be able to sell whisky with the coveted Read more
News
June 22, 2006
Soaking up rays is harmful, of course, but you may want to look into the kind of sunscreen you're slathering on before you bare your new bikini; "natural" blocks are now available. Noy Vongsamphanh model.
We all know the sun-safety mantra "slap on some sunscreen". Yet for the same reason that organic food is in such demand, many people have concerns about the lotions' potentially harmful chemicals. There are products that boast they're free of toxic ingredients, but, like certain herbal supplements, just because something is labelled "natural" doesn't necessarily mean it's safe or Read more
We all know the sun-safety mantra "slap on some sunscreen". Yet for the same reason that organic food is in such demand, many people have concerns about the lotions' potentially harmful chemicals. There are products that boast they're free of toxic ingredients, but, like certain herbal supplements, just because something is labelled "natural" doesn't necessarily mean it's safe or Read more
News
July 1, 2006
To subscribe to the Non-GMO report call 1-800-854-0586 or email ken@non-gmoreport.com
Food Alliance, Protected Harvest, and Rainforest Alliance certify farmers for adopting sustainable agricultural practices without going completely organic.
For many conventional farmers, making the transition to organic is a huge step with financial risks. To bridge the gap, certification programs have emerged that reward farmers for adopting sustainable agricultural practices, such as reduced pesticides, fair compensation for workers, humane treatment of livestock, and soil and water Read more
Food Alliance, Protected Harvest, and Rainforest Alliance certify farmers for adopting sustainable agricultural practices without going completely organic.
For many conventional farmers, making the transition to organic is a huge step with financial risks. To bridge the gap, certification programs have emerged that reward farmers for adopting sustainable agricultural practices, such as reduced pesticides, fair compensation for workers, humane treatment of livestock, and soil and water Read more
News
July 1, 2006
To subscribe to the Non-GMO report call 1-800-854-0586 or email ken@non-gmoreport.com
With demand for organic ingredients out-pacing supplies in the United States and likely to get worse with major retailers introducing more organic products, there is a strong need to strengthen the US organic supply chain.
Green payments
Suppliers say the US government should help conventional farmers transition to organic. In particular, farmers need help during the three-year transition to organic when they can't earn premium prices for their crops. "This Read more
With demand for organic ingredients out-pacing supplies in the United States and likely to get worse with major retailers introducing more organic products, there is a strong need to strengthen the US organic supply chain.
Green payments
Suppliers say the US government should help conventional farmers transition to organic. In particular, farmers need help during the three-year transition to organic when they can't earn premium prices for their crops. "This Read more
News
July 1, 2006
To subscribe to the Non-GMO report call 1-800-854-0586 or email ken@non-gmoreport.com
Wal-Mart’s recently announced commitment to sell hundreds of organic products will put even greater pressure on an organic supply chain already stretched thin. Can ingredient suppliers meet the demand? Many believe they can.
Wal-Mart's commitment to organics has spurred even greater demand for organic ingredients from major food companies, according to several suppliers. "We are definitely seeing a huge amount of inquiries, across the board. Everyone wants to jump on Read more
Wal-Mart’s recently announced commitment to sell hundreds of organic products will put even greater pressure on an organic supply chain already stretched thin. Can ingredient suppliers meet the demand? Many believe they can.
Wal-Mart's commitment to organics has spurred even greater demand for organic ingredients from major food companies, according to several suppliers. "We are definitely seeing a huge amount of inquiries, across the board. Everyone wants to jump on Read more
News
June 19, 2006
The market basket turns greener every year, with chains such as Wal-Mart and Chipotle touting organic or natural products and American shoppers spending more than $51 billion on natural and organic products in 2005. The Natural Foods Merchandiser trade magazine also notes that organic food sales grew 15.7 percent, with organic fresh meat among the fastest-growing categories. Shoppers who choose meat with the USDA Certified Organic label are guaranteed that U.S. Department of Agriculture standards have been met: primarily no trace of antibiotics, chemicals or pesticides. The treatment of Read more
News
June 19, 2006
The freshly-picked strawberries at the WSU organic farm aren't as large as the ones typically sold at the grocery store, but they are redder, sweeter and grown without the use of pesticides.
"If it's seasonal, if it's local, then it's going to taste better," WSU student Julie Sullivan said as she laid out irrigation tubes in the organic farm fields.
Sullivan will likely be the first student in the nation to major in organic agriculture. The WSU College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences will offer an organic agricultural systems major starting fall Read more
"If it's seasonal, if it's local, then it's going to taste better," WSU student Julie Sullivan said as she laid out irrigation tubes in the organic farm fields.
Sullivan will likely be the first student in the nation to major in organic agriculture. The WSU College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences will offer an organic agricultural systems major starting fall Read more
News
June 19, 2006
TROY, Vermont - For the first time in decades, dairy farmer Dexter Randall could pay all his bills on time.
Wooed by signing bonuses and the prospect of doubling his earnings, the burly 60-year-old switched to organic milk over the past year. He says it is the only way to save his farm and his family's future -- all of it invested in 460 acres in the shadow of Jay Peak mountain.
Tina Durrance greeted a cow at the New Venture Farm. (Wendy Maeda/ Globe Staff) "With conventional milk, there was no light at the end of the tunnel," Randall said. "Now, I have true hope." Read more
Wooed by signing bonuses and the prospect of doubling his earnings, the burly 60-year-old switched to organic milk over the past year. He says it is the only way to save his farm and his family's future -- all of it invested in 460 acres in the shadow of Jay Peak mountain.
Tina Durrance greeted a cow at the New Venture Farm. (Wendy Maeda/ Globe Staff) "With conventional milk, there was no light at the end of the tunnel," Randall said. "Now, I have true hope." Read more
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