The national options really boil down to two distributors: Tree of Life and United Natural Foods. With them being the only major distributors, products often get discontinued and then we have difficulty stocking the item.” – Dan Gilotte, Wheatsville Co-op

The standards for certifying farms to be organic here in the United States are vast and varied and some policies aren’t even enforced by federal agencies. I think the biggest downfall of the current system is that it is a FOR PROFIT based system which inherently invites fraud.

As many of you know the organic industry in the United States as well as around the world is growing in leaps and bounds. This is all very exciting because with this momentum it is plausible to see a future where all produce is grown organically.

When Panda Express, a 1,300-outlet Chinese fast-food chain, announced plans to open a branch on the campus of the University of California-Berkeley, a group of students protested (not surprisingly, given that their city is the heart of all things local/seasonal/organic).

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is once again this year offering partial reimbursement for costs to become organically certified by a U.S. Department of Agriculture accredited certifier.

he steady growth of organic farming and ranching in North Dakota and the economic impacts of organics on rural communities cannot and should not be ignored.

A PLEDGE taken by thousands to practice organic farming marked the Art of Living Founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s visit to Gadag on February 2, 2011. 108 farmers were felicitated by Sri Sri for their commendable work for using organic methods of farming.

With the demand for organically produced food increasing, scientists are reporting new evidence that organically grown onions, carrots, and potatoes generally do not have higher levels of healthful antioxidants and related substances than vegetables grown with traditional fertilizers and pesticides.

Yeah, yeah I know this is a VEGAN website but we had to post this! The number one reason we’re posting is, it’s kind of a win for the cows, two it just goes to show you just because something is labeled ORGANIC, it doesn’t mean it really is. So this post is a reminder to shop local when possible, get to know your farmers, etc.

The Government of Canada is celebrating Organic Week by helping organic farmers and food processors take advantage of the growth this sector has enjoyed in recent years. Organic Week begins on Canada’s Thanksgiving Day, Oct. 11, and runs until World Food Day on Oct. 16.