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.