California's oldest organic farm comes under attack by environmentalists

At issue is whether Marin County and the California Coastal Commission required enough environmental studies of farmer Warren Weber before allowing Weber to make changes to about five acres of the land. Weber upset the Tomales Bay Association by acceding to a directive from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore wetlands that he filled in several years ago. Weber was in the process of getting permits for the work when the suit was filed.

Weber said the five acres provide about 12 percent of his total yield. An association spokesman said the 5 acres would be better left as wetlands.

For more, read the story in the Point Reyes Light.

Indian organic products pushed

The International Competence Center for Organic Agriculture will administer the program, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs and designed to promote consumer awareness of and improve market access of Indian organic products nationally and internationally.

For more, see the story at the Hindu Business Line.

OM Organics wins socially responsible business award

The company is the North American distribution and marketing company for Organic India. The award was presented at the Natural Products Expo East in Washington, D.C.

From the press release: "The award is presented to companies or individuals that have demonstrated excellence in nine categories of values derived from the Social Venture Network’s Standards of Corporate Responsibility. The award recognizes the Organic India and OM Organics organization as a leader in the global movement to promote organic farming and improve the economic and social outlook for small family farmers and their communities."

For more, see the story at the Natural and Nutritional Products Industry Center.

Soybean rust targeted by grant

A partnership of Iowa State University, Michigan State University, University of Florida and the Rodale Institute has been granted $480,000 by the US Department of Agriculture to identify and test methods to control Asian soybean rust. The disease has the potential to be the greatest threat to organic soybean production in the US. Estimates of the monetary damage that could be caused by the disease range from $30 million to $120 million.

For more on this, read the story at StopSoybeanRust.com.

Stonyfield Farms looks to New Zealand for milk powder

The Concord, N.H. company says it cannot find enough organic Grade A milk powder in the US to produce its products. Stonyfield is asking the New Hampshire government to pay $60,000 to send inspectors to New Zealand to inspect New Zealand dairy farms.

For more on this, read the article at New Zealand Stuff.

Portland winery goes organic

Sokol Blosser is making the change on its higher-end wines. The company posts revenues of $3.5 million and employs 16 people.

Blosser is only the 7th Oregon winery of about 300 to go organic.

Read more at The Portland Business Journal.

Prince Charles: Urbanization threatens organics

Speaking before the International Organic Congress, the Prince of Wales said that the "flight from land" in developed and developing countries will lead to "immense and frightening problems in the future."

Topics also included organic winemaking.

Organic online auction site launched

UK-based Ecoproduce hopes the new site will provide buyers and sellers of organic and other eco-friendly products with a one-stop shop.

The site will be open to all buyers, but sellers will be individually checked. Some of the products already listed are organic tea, grains and cotton t-shirts.

Visit the site at EcoProduce.com.

Canadian coffee importer adds organic to line

Montreal-based Van Houtte Inc. has launched Javanation Mexico Medium Roast, a single-origin coffee that is certified Fair Trade and organic. The roast is the first in the Javanation line that is certified fair trade and organic.

From the company's press release: "As a Fair Trade certified coffee, the Javanation Mexico Medium roast is made with beans that are purchased through direct trade from cooperatives or small coffee farmers at a price that reflects a living wage and under trading conditions that are sustainable for producers as well as buyers."

Organic cotton program getting boost in India

The Netherlands-based ETC India has announced it is establishing a Fair Trade Organic Cotton Supply Chain, designed to boost organic cotton farming and help small-scale farms survive. As part of the program, the State Bank of India will extend credit to organic cotton farmers at favorable rates.

For more on this, go to Fibre2Fashion.com.