It’s possible that the supermarket concept evolved during the Great Depression. “Pile high, sell low” was the strategy of King Kullen, a famous New York grocer during the 1930s. Since that time, supermarkets have merged within our contemporary economy where they have been been both popularised and demonised. From the perspective of many consumers, supermarkets provide an essential vehicle for reliable convenience and access to organic groceries and fresh produce. Alternatively, there are traditionalists who fear the influence of large organisations and the pressures of economic rationalisation which may be exerted within the general agricultural and organic agricultural sectors. A fundamental complaint against established...

A consumer survey conducted by Organic Guide at Sydney’s Organic Expo has found that the reasons for choosing organic over conventional products has changed significantly to include climate change. “Organic farming, with its emphasis on closed nutrient cycles, biodiversity, and effective soil management, has the capacity to sequester carbon from the earth’s atmosphere and trap it in the soil as carbon”, says Gavin Robertson, Editor of Organic Guide. “While previously organic consumers focused on personal health benefits, today they’re focusing on broader global concerns”. The survey looked at the reasons why consumers choose organic over conventional products. Concerns regarding genetically modified organisms, the processes of...

Dagoba Organic Chocolate, a company that grew rapidly from humble beginnings, has become one of the world’s most respected manufacturers of premium organic chocolate. Frederick Schilling, the driving force behind Dagoba, recently shared with us his views on chocolate, Dagoba, and life in general. It’s always inspiring to hear the thoughts and views of someone like Frederick. Clearly, he loves what he is doing. And like many within the organic community, Frederick has a real social conscience. Through the principles of fair trade and the careful development of mutually beneficial long-term relationships, Frederick is ensuring that those involved in articulating his dream are also able to share in the benefits of Dagoba’s hard-earned...

The mental and physical components of stress are an unavoidable and necessary part of life. Over generations, the ability to adapt and cope with stress, has frequently underpinned the notable achievements (and failures) of human civilization. From an individual’s perspective, there are significant benefits to be gained whenever stress is effectively managed. Learning to balance the positive and negative aspects of stress can assist physical and emotional wellbeing, social relationships, motivation, personal and career development. Stress and our immune system Health and medical research provides ongoing evidence that the human immune system is compromised by stressful experiences and more specifically, the inability to rationalise and cope...

Quality sleep is an important contributor to optimum health and longevity. For a variety of reasons, many individuals encounter significant difficulties in this area. In today’s highly pressured world, insufficient sleep is likely to result in strained relationships, emotional instability, and poor decision making. Fatigue is frequently a contributing factor in vehicle, and workplace accidents. Over time, poor sleep patterns will compromise the immune system and may eventually result in chronic health problems. Substantial funding is now allocated to the medical and scientific investigation of sleep disorders, and there are reliable sources of professional help for those affected. In addition to general medical practitioners, expertise in...