This spring 17 certified organic farmers signed on to a letter to Whole Foods Market CEO John Mackey asking him to withdraw the company’s “Responsibly Grown” produce labeling program, at least temporarily. The farmers, all of whom sell produce to the 400+-store high-end grocery chain, objected to having to pay for the grocer’s marketing program… Read more »
Search Results for: GMO
Day Two Report: Will the NOSB Chicken Out in San Diego?
Tuesday was the second day of the four-day National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California. At least twice a year the 15-member expert stakeholder panel meets around the country. The NOSB was created by Congress to represent the interests of the organic community, rather than allowing the… Read more »
Start-Ups Rise to Close a Gap for Farmers
The New York Times by Stephanie Strom Credit: Havilah McGrath, McGrath Farm WELLESLEY, Mass. — In spite of the surging demand for locally and regionally grown foods over the last few years, there is a chasm separating small and midsize farmers from their local markets. But a growing number of small businesses are springing up… Read more »
Kale and Hearty: The Salad Bowl of America Turns Toxic
As nitrates seep into aquifers in California’s Salinas Valley, local scientists are working to improve water quality AlJazeera America by Sara Rubin Source: Julie Falk MOSS LANDING, Calif. — It has just rained, welcome respite from California’s ongoing drought, and puddles have turned a fallow farm field to squelchy mud. Artichokes will be planted here… Read more »
In Florida Tomato Fields, a Penny Buys Progress
The New York Times by Steven Greenhouse IMMOKALEE, Fla. — Not long ago, Angelina Velasquez trudged to a parking lot at 5 each morning so a crew leader’s bus could drop her at the tomato fields by 6. She often waited there, unpaid — while the dew dried — until 10 a.m., when the workers… Read more »
Local Food Movement Growing Ranks of Younger Farmers
Nonprofits, government initiatives hope to cultivate demographic shift Chicago Tribune By Naomi Nix Nick Batchelder and his wife moved to Chicago at the start of the economic recession, hoping their years of experience in ecology and construction would land them jobs. After months of scouring the Internet for openings and pumping their contacts for leads,… Read more »
Industry Watchdog “Dumbfounded” by USDA’s Failure to Enforce Organic Law
USDA Continues Bush-era Policy of Allowing Unapproved Synthetic Additives March 21, 2011 For Immediate Release Contact: Mark Kastel, 608-625-2000 Charlotte Vallaeys, 978-369-6409 Cornucopia, WI—The Cornucopia Institute, one of the nation’s leading organic industry watchdogs, condemned the position of the United States Department of Agriculture that it will allow products containing unapproved synthetic additives to be… Read more »
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In Trial Run, Chipotle Heads to the Farm
For Chains, Buying Locally Still Means a Long Journey The Washington Post By Jane Black, staff writer CHARLOTTESVILLE — When Chipotle Mexican Grill executives decided to begin serving local pork from one of the most famous farmers in America, they did the opposite of what most big companies would do when jumping on the latest… Read more »
Warning Signs: How Pesticides Harm the Young Brain
The Nation by Susan Freinkel The pathbreaking CHAMACOS study has detected developmental problems in children born to mothers who toiled in California’s treated fields—but will anything change? This story was produced by the Food & Environment Reporting Network, an independent nonprofit news organization. Driving along Highway 101 through California’s Salinas Valley, it’s hard to miss the… Read more »
