Conference brings farmers, consultants together

Organic farmers and consultants shared success and failure stories recently at the third annual Organic Farming and Food Conference, held in Chico, Cal. The conference, sponsored by California Certified Organic Farmers, was designed to help farmers new to the organic way of growing avoid some of the time- and money wasting mistakes made by their colleagues.

Read more about the California Certified Organic Farmers.

Organic farming mentor program expanding

California Certified Organic Farmers has expanded its Organic Farming Assistance Program with plans to train 40 new farmers in seven regions in the state.

The program's goal is to convert up to 5,000 acres of farmland to organic in three years.

For more on this, read the Chico Enterprise Record.

Institute asks for federal investigation

The Cornucopia Institute has filed a formal legal complaint with the USDA requesting a full investigation into allegations of multiple violations of federal organic regulations at Colorado-based Aurora Organic Dairy, the nation’s largest organic dairy. The institute claims that the 6,000 cow dairy has violated numerous organic regulations governing the rearing of animals entering its vast factory farm operation.

Aurora processes private label milk for grocery chains, including Safeway, Wild Oats, Target and Costco, and supplies milk to Horizon Organic, the nation's largest organic label.

For more on this story, see the full release at The Cornucopia Institute.

Canadian organic supermarket posts gains

Alberta-based Planet Organic Health Corp announced year-end financial results recently, recording a 120 percent increase over 2004 results. The company reported that sales increased by $15.1 million to $27.2 million, while net income increased 140.3% to $193,606.

For more on this, go to the company's press release.

Vietnamese catfish exporter going organic

The Agifish company hopes that its adoption of rules banning antibiotic use in growing catfish will boost its exports to countries, such as the US, which do not allow certain antibiotics. The company has formed the Agifish Bio Pangasius Union, comprised of catfish farmers. The Union will help train farmers how to raise catfish naturally.

For more on this, see the Thanh Nien Daily.

Kucinich speaks out against bill to weaken organic standard

In his opposition to the agriculture appropriations bill, Rep. Dennis Kucinich points out that some of the bill's provisions - authored by lobbyists for Big Agriculture - would allow the use of synthetic ingredients in organic products. This, he said, would lead to an undermining of consumer confidence in organic products and ultimately hurt the industry.

For his complete comments, go here.

Iowa county offers tax incentives for organic farmers

Woodbury County government is offering the tax incentive to farmers who convert to organic methods. County officials hope the move will create more jobs in the region.

The county will also host the Organic Growers Conference in November, a two-day event to help educate farmers about organic growing methods.

For more on this. see the story in the Sioux City Journal.

Brazil gets organic milk production facility

The plant will be located in the state of Minas Gerais and will produce 2,000 liters per day at full production.

The plant is expected to begin production in November.

For more on this story, go to Brazil-Arab News Agency.

Organic cranberries on the market

Naples, Fla.-based Global Berry Farms is now providing its Naturipe organic cranberries to its customers. The cranberries, grown and packaged by Sandhill Cranberry in Wisconsin, will be available from October through December.

For more on this story, go to Fresh Plaza.

Germany welcomes Dominican Republic organics

Experts say the country has an excellent opportunity to export its organic products to Europe in general, and Germany in particular. Germans have long expressed a preference for organic foods, the experts say, with bananas and mangoes leading the list of sought-after products.

For more on this, read the story in Dominican Today.

Northern Ireland farmers urged to go organic

The Organic Action Plan Group for Northern Ireland emphasized the benefits of organic farming to the economy and in terms of land sustainability. The group also believes that boosting production of domestic organic products could reduce the amount of organics imported, while helping Northern Ireland's farmers create an export market for their products.

For more on this, read the story at Farming Life.

Prince Charles goes organic

The Prince of Wales is converting the gardens at his estate in Deeside, Scotland. The prince, a patron of the British Soil Association -- the body that certifies organic farms -- also practices organic gardening at his estate in Highgrove.

For more on this, read the story at The Scotsman.

Canadian stores meet increasing demand for organic food

Some estimates have the Canadian market for natural and organic products growing by 20 percent a year. In 2003, a Canadian firm estimated the worldwide organic food market at $23 billion a year.

Retailers such as Capers Community Markets, owned by U.S.-based Wild Oats Markets, and Canadian-based Choices report huge surges in the market.

For more on this, read the story at The National Post.

Organic fertilizer program boosted in the Philippines

Called the Agri-Kalikasan, the program is designed to help small and vulnerable farmers. Targeted to allow farmers to grow rice less expensively, the program's aim is for "full development of community-based organic fertilizer production and minimal use of oil-based fertilizer,'' according to a release.

For more, read the release at PIA Information Center.