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Sometimes I get asked if I think organic certification and labeling laws have gone too far. Personally, I don’t think so. As a consumer I’m pretty happy knowing that anything I purchase – believing it to be organic – is in fact organic! I am of the firm belief that this can only come about through a robust third party certification system such as the one that’s currently in place. Perhaps you feel the same? How do you react then when you hear about a company that’s been caught trying to fraudulently pass off their wares as organic? If you’re anything like me, you’re unimpressed. You may even feel somewhat disgusted. After all, this sort of behavior undermines the entire organic certification system. Perhaps worst of all,...

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...

There are several considerations and strategies which experienced gardeners will apply before purchasing their organic fruit plants. The first of these concerns the reputation and certification of the local growers, plant nurseries or garden centres where fruit trees and vines are sold as juvenile stock. To maintain their organic certification, plant wholesalers and retailers are obliged to comply with a strict code of technical management which applies to all areas of plant husbandry including cultivation, propagation, disease prevention, treatment, and the associated aspects of soil improvement, composting, and mulching. Evidence of an approved organic certification is one of the principal safeguards to eliminate inferior stock and that which...

Not everyone enjoys dried fruit. But I do. Don’t get me wrong; given the choice I’ll usually reach for a fresh organic apple in preference to the dried alternative. But there are times when dried fruit comes in handy. One example that springs to mind is when I’m out hiking or tramping. Generally speaking, when I’m out hiking – usually in mountainous terrain – the last thing I want to be doing is carting around bulky provisions. Instead, I want food that’s light, nutritious, calorie dense and – if at all possible – tasty. Dried fruit fits the bill. Drying fruit is an ancient tradition. The Egyptians, Greeks, Phoenicians and Persians used drying techniques to preserve highly perishable foods such as grapes, prunes and...

Many consumers are choosing to put an organic turkey on their tables this festive season. There are some good reasons for them choosing to do so. For a start, organic turkeys are raised more humanely than their conventionally reared cousins. Instead of being force fed in cramped conditions utilising an intricate system of tubes and intravenous delivery mechanisms to provide sustenance, organically certified birds have access to open spaces. This enables organic birds to forage for natural sources of food such as worms, bugs and insects. When organic turkeys are fed grain to supplement their natural diet, the grain itself must be from certified organic sources. In contrast, conventional turkeys are fed conventional grain. Conventional grain,...