Tags

butterfly visiting the garden

Posts tagged with keyword: features

Interview with Mark Retzloff from Aurora Organic Dairy

With more than 70 years of collective experience in building successful dairy and organic companies, there isn’t too much Mark Retzloff, Chairman, Aurora Organic Dairy, and Mark Peperzak, CEO, Aurora Organic Dairy, don’t know about the organic dairy industry. Five years ago they co-founded Aurora Organic Dairy. Bringing knowledge and expertise, as well as an unwavering commitment to accessibility and affordability, they have managed to position Aurora Organic Dairy as one of the leading suppliers of high quality organic milk to average Americans. By focusing on organic stewardship, sustainable farming practices, innovative business models, and practical community involvement, Aurora Organic Dairy is well placed to bring organic milk into...

Supermarkets and the organic sector

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...

What everybody ought to know about trans fat

Obesity is already a major problem in much of the Western world. And with levels of morbid obesity predicted to increase ten-fold within the next twenty years, many health professionals are calling for something to be done now to address the problem. One of the culprits fueling high obesity levels is the inclusion of trans fat in many of the foods we commonly eat. What are trans fats? According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil – a process called hydrogenation. Hydrogenation increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods containing these fats”. Where are they found? Trans fats are a key ingredient in processed foods such as margarine, biscuits, crisps,...

The organic answer to climate change

Agriculture is not only affected by climate change, but also contributes significantly to it. Greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors related to agriculture are estimated to contribute up to 30% of all greenhouse gas emissions. According to Dr. Timothy J. LaSalle, CEO The Rodale Institute, “…agriculture is an undervalued and underestimated climate change tool that could be one of the most powerful strategies in the fight against global warming”. Unfortunately, conventional agricultural practices exacerbate rather than alleviate the effects of climate change. Organic agriculture on the other hand – with its emphasis on closed nutrient cycles, biodiversity, and effective soil management – appears to have the capacity to mitigate...

Healthy eating habits and good quality organic foods

One of the poorly understood aspects of nutritional health is the importance of measuring appropriate quantities of food throughout the lifecycle. During teenage and adolescent years, the body requires an additional resource of nutrients and, in many cases, calories to support the average lifestyle which is likely to include a diverse range of sporting, cultural, and social activities. Depending on occupation and other factors, adults usually experience a sharp decline in their physical activity levels commencing around their mid to late thirties. While many perceive this not to be the case, the objective reality has been documented in large scale health surveys. These indicate a series of common factors which include increased dependence on...

Subscribe to Organic Guide