Welcome to the CCOF Organic Blog
 |
Thanks for stopping by! Please check in often to read thoughts and comments about current topics and events in the organic sector. Feel free to submit comments.
Peggy Miars
Executive Director |
|
|
March 30 , 2009
USDA May Hire Special Coordinator for Organics
An unsubstantiated article in the Sustainable Food News reported today that Barbara Robinson, Acting Director of the National Organic Program (NOP), will recommend that the NOP be moved out of the Transportation Branch of the USDA's Agriculture Marketing Service. That would give it a higher profile and a director to oversee the daily operations of the NOP. This sounds like a good move that will give the NOP the resources it needs.
The article also stated that the NOP will be hiring more staff by June of this year. A year ago, the NOP budget was increased 80% from $1.5 million to about $2.7 million. Additional staff have been hired over the last year to manage the ever-increasing workload. Another budget and staffing increase is certainly warranted.
Organic Private Label Continues to Grow
As consumers tighten their wallets at the grocery store, a trend is emerging in the organic sector -- private label, or "store brands". The introduction of high quality, store-brand organic products has changed consumer perceptions of private label grocery brands, according to an upcoming J.D. Power and Associates Private Label Industry Report. Consumer attitudes have shifted from a perception that private label products were low quality with bland packaging to being thought of as unique and having quality equal to traditional brands.
Private label food products from Safeway, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Markets got the highest levels of recommendations. Safeway and Whole Foods garnered particularly large volumes of positive comments overall for their mix of private label brands and categories.
Back to top
March 19 , 2009
Obamas to Plant White House Garden
I've been following the work of the young people spearheading the WHOFarm Project for a couple of years. (That stands for the White House Organic Farm Project.) I just read today that the Obamas will, in fact, be planting a garden on the south grounds of the White House lawn! I've read conflicting reports about whether it will be organic, but I'm hopeful! Read more at the sustainablog and Obama Foodorama blogs.
FDA Approves Genetically Engineeered Animals -- Without Public Input
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first commercialization of both a drug from a genetically engineered (GE) animal and of the animal itself. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the FDA had previously assured the public that it would offer opportunities for public input into this decision. But, surprise! -- the approval was made without input from either the public or the FDA's own advisory committee. Read more in the New York Times.
Back to top
March 3 , 2009
Organic Growth Hits 12.5% in 2008
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) announced yesterday that overall growth of the organic sector fell from 20% in 2007 to 12.5% in 2008. That's still extremely impressive given our current economic climate. Organic has enjoyed double-digit growth for the last 15 years, and growth is projected to slow even further in 2009. Even so, it will still outpace the growth of non-organic products.
Natural Products Expo - West
Tomorrow I'm headed to the Natural Products Expo - West trade show in Anaheim, CA. We're looking forward to talking with people interested in sourcing organic products, selling or distributing organic products, and becoming certified to the USDA national organic standards. Stop by our table #77 in the Fresh Ideas tent on Thursday and our booth #2708 on the Expo floor Friday through Sunday.
Back to top
February 25, 2009
California Drought Hits Farmers Hard
Every day I read another news story about the extreme water situation in California and other areas in the western United States. According to The Produce News,
the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation announced last week a zero allocation of water from the Central Valley Project for agriculture use in 2009. The Appeal-Democrat reported that water users receiving Lake Oroville water will get just 15% of their normal annual allocation, and federal contracts for Shasta Dam water will be reduced to 75% of the normal amount.
This dire situation will cause many farmers, including those in California's rich Central Valley, to let fields lay fallow. Keep in mind -- this is not just a Calfiornia issue. California grows the vast majority of the vegetables enjoyed by citizens across the United States.
What can we do? Homeowners should conserve water as much as possible. Don't water your lawns, and wash your cars less often. Don't let the water run when you brush your teeth or wash your hands. Catch rainwater and reuse it. We also need to be prepared to pay more for our organic fruits and veggies in the coming months. Farmers work hard to grow our food, and we need to pay them a fair amount, especially in these times of drought.
Back to top
February 24, 2009
Organic Food Pioneer Tapped for USDA Post
Great news for organic! President Obama just announced Kathleen A. Merrigan as his nominee for Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Merrigan is currently Director of the Agriculture, Food and Environment Program at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston.
From 1987 to 1992 Merrigan was a senior science and technology advisor on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agricullture, Nutrition and Forestry, where she helped develop the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. She was head of the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) from 1999-2001. The AMS includes the National Organic Program (NOP).
Merrigan's nomination is being hailed as a victory by many in the organic sector. Finally, we have an organic advocate in a high-ranking USDA position! We at CCOF look forward to working with Merrigan to uphold the integrity of the national organic standards.
Back to top
February 20, 2009
NOP Lacks Confidence in Port Organic Products, Ltd.
CCOF applauds the National Organic Progam’s (NOP) announcement today advising accredited certifying agencies (ACA) that they are no longer confident that products manufactured by Port Organic Products, Ltd. can be shown to be compliant with NOP regulations. The announcement specifically notifies ACAs that certified operations using Port’s Marizyme and Agrolizer products are at putting themselves at considerable risk. CCOF has had discussions with NOP officials expressing our concern about high-nitrogen liquid fertilizers, and we shared CCOF's recently announced policy with them. Read more about this critical issue.
Back to top
Read past posts...
|
