Organic News Today

Today's Organic News for July 5, 2009

Purity of Federal 'Organic' Label Is Questioned
Three years ago, U.S. Department of Agriculture employees determined that synthetic additives in organic baby formula violated federal standards and should be banned from a product carrying the federal organic label. Today the same additives, purported to boost brainpower and vision, can be found in 90 percent of organic baby formula. The government's turnaround, from prohibition to permission, ...
Common Dreams - 2009-07-04 01:30:21

Swanson Vitamins Adds Two Varieties of Certified Organic Coffee
As the demand for organic food and beverages increases, Swanson Vitamins continues to add a variety of organic products from organic trail mix to organic spices and now certified organic coffee. Fargo, ND (PRWEB) July 1, 2009 --According to the Organic Trade Association, the organic industry has grown significantly in the last few years. U.S. sales of Organic food and beverages have grown from ...
PRWeb - 2009-07-04 02:43:46

How to address three challenges in organic gardening
Three big issues come to mind when organic gardening is discussed. How should we deal with fertilizer, weeds and insects and other pests? Here are tips we gathered from people on the front lines: organic gardeners themselves. Fertilizer Lasagna gardening sounds almost miraculous, but Christine Laske of Arlington Heights says it works. Here's her strategy: She knocks down a bed of weeds, covers them ...
Chicago Daily Herald - 2009-07-04 05:04:20

Organic food farm rakes in RM236m investments
THE Bio-Desaru bio-agricultural project in Tanjung Balau, Kota Tinggi is set to move forward with RM236 million in investments from seven companies. Confirmed investments are expected to draw earnings of more than RM85 million annually from the fifth year of operation. Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the companies would be running an integrated herb and vegetable garden, a pepper ...
New Straits Times - 2009-07-04 02:31:42

Organic Twinkies?
After four decades of hard work, the organic community has built up a $25 billion 'certified organic' food and farming sector. This consumer-driven movement, under steady attack by the biotech and Big Food lobby, with little or no help from government, has managed to create a healthy and sustainable alternative to America's disastrous, chemical and energy-intensive system of industrial agriculture. ...
Louisville Courier-Journal - 2009-07-04 09:06:23

Farmers markets doubling value of food stamps
ATLANTA - The luxuries of the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market - where shoppers peruse European-style breads and organic dog biscuits along with locally grown produce - are a stark contrast to the neighborhood, where Census officials have estimated 20 percent of families live beneath the poverty line. But Kate Barney hopes to draw her lower-income neighbors to the market, and she's giving ...
Cherokee Tribune - 2009-07-04 04:38:10

Guest Column: Summer is time to taste locally grown food
Summer is upon us a time when people turn their attention to no school and vacations. It is also a time for local residents to treasure their rich Pennsylvania agricultural heritage. With locally grown foods such as corn, tomatoes, and blueberries, we can take as much pride in our produce as we might take in other summertime traditions such as the Phillies and going to the shore. Eating local foods ...
Delco Times - 2009-07-04 07:27:59

Restaurateur Starts Farming, Opens Third Business
WINDHAM, Maine -- A Maine restaurateur is bucking the trend at a time when most business owners are cutting back and laying off. Harding Lee Smith, chef-owner of two Portland restaurants, is opening his third restaurant in 10 days -- his third restaurant in four years. In all, Smith employs of more than 100 employees. With so many restaurants, Smith figured he would start a farm to supply his eateries ...
WMTW - 2009-06-15 19:12:01