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.