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Local organic producers are receiving some wonderful support from colleges throughout the U.S. What am I talking about? There’s a new blog out there called Organic on the Green. Its purpose is to support the development of organic food programs on colleges nationwide. The initiative, which has been brought to life by Nina Merrill, a senior at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, provides a wonderful insight into the hearts and minds of the organic industry’s future leaders. Whether it’s a personal account of involvement in the SAFE program or a discussion about the relative merits of organic certification for a large university dining service, the posts are well-written, thoughtful and interesting. Well worth checking out! In other news,...

Everyone here knows that China produces lead toys, flame attracting pyjamas and the odd gyoza (savoury dumpling) made from boiled cardboard. But who knew that pesticide tainted ginger would be added to the list??? Now I know a lot about China and I must say, having visited the place many times, consider myself a friend of China. But to tell the truth, I really don’t trust Chinese organic producers. I think that is because I know the country – money is king. Now, I don’t blame the people. Why if you were living on around a dollar and a half a day, you’d probably boil cardboard and sell it too. You may not even care for the environment, as the folk over at thenvironmentalblog.org point out often enough (check that link out – 460,000...

Community Supported Agriculture provides a great way for people from local communities to invest in and share the benefits and risks associated of small scale organic farming. When you invest in CSA you are partnering with your local farmer. How does it work? Basically, you pay a portion of your local farmers operating costs during the winter months. This entitles you to enjoy a portion of the produce when it is harvested. This interesting video provides a tour of Zestful Gardens, a 30-acre farm situated in the heart of the Puyallup Valley in Tacoma, Washington. They produce some wonderfully fresh organic vegetables, including a number of heirloom varieties. If you’re a local, why not get in touch with them by checking out their website....

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...

An animated debate has recently been playing out, particularly in the United Kingdom, around the subject of air freighted organic imports. Those opposed to the importation of air freighted organic foodstuffs site the irreparable environmental damage caused by the release of green house gases brought about by the unnecessary burning of aviation fuel. Those in favour appear to have adopted the stance that source (country of origin) organic certification should be the only determinant used to assess whether an item should be allowed to present as organic in its destination market. They also site the fact that the vast majority of airfreighted organic foodstuffs, which routinely make their way to so-called first world nations, are generally sourced...