Natural Family News

Consumer Reports recently informed readers that, because of children’s developing nervous systems, it is probably worthwhile to pay the extra money for organic baby food. Risks to babies are increased because baby foods are sometimes made from concentrated fruits and vegetables, which may increase concentrations of chemicals, as well.

There is a way to get organic foods for babies without it costing quite as much– make your own. A bag or organic carrots is more expensive than a bag of regular carrots, but a lot cheaper than buying a jar of organic carrot baby food. So, for parents who are concerned about cost but still concerned about protecting their children from chemicals, this might be an option.

A McDonald’s in Hawaii is now carrying organic green tea. So, let me get this straight. You go into McDonald’s and order a Big Mac, large fries, and organic green tea? Do people who eat at McDonald’s really care whether their tea is organic? I guess you could be in there buying a salad, and it is nice to have choices, but I’m just having a hard time wrapping my head around the whole concept.

In the February 2006 issue of Consumer Reports, the magazine will investigate which organic foods are worth the extra money and which are a waste of money. On the list of must-buys– apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, spinach, and strawberries, among others. In the “skip it” category– seafood, for which there is no real organic standard, and cosmetics, for similar reasons. Of course, the article I read only mentioned avoiding ingesting pesticides as a reason for buying organic. It didn’t mention what all those pesticides do when they run off into the water supply. Still, it’s a start when a mainstream source like Consumer Reports does a large story on the subject of organic foods.

Sioux City, Iowa has been offering tax abatements to farmers who switch from conventional to organic farming. This left some farmers asking, “If I grow organic, who will buy it?” Now, there’s an easy answer– the county.

The proposed policy would require Woodbury County and its food service contractor to buy organic food grown and processed within a 100-mile radius of the Woodbury County Courthouse. Organic foods from farther away or nonorganic foods may be purchased if a sufficient supply of a particular organic food item is not available locally.

This is a great example of governmental responsibility, in my opinion. They will provide healthier options for their employees, encourage a better relationship with the land, and provide a living for those living nearby all at the same time.

Washington, DC – Americans’ knowledge of genetically modified (GM) foods and animals continues to remain low, and their opinions reflect that they are particularly uncomfortable with animal cloning, according to a new survey released today by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. The survey also shows that religious and ethical concerns play a significant role in consumer attitudes towards cloning, and that a significant majority of consumers believe that the government should include ethical and moral considerations when making regulatory decisions about cloning and GM animals. Despite continuing concerns about GM foods, consumers do not support banning new uses of the technology, but rather seek an active role from regulators to ensure that new products are safe. When asked about importation of foreign GM products, consumers demonstrated little awareness but clearly favor U.S. regulation.

Using data from similar surveys released by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology in March 2001, September 2003 and September 2004 for tracking purposes, the analysis of the poll and opinion survey released today provides an in-depth understanding of consumers’ attitudes regarding GM foods. Highlights include:

Overall awareness of GM foods and biotechnology is up slightly, but overall attitudes are unchanged. While nearly sixty-one percent of Americans say they are generally familiar with science and technology, a majority of people polled (58 percent) remain unaware of GM foods, with 41 percent saying they have heard about GM food that is sold in grocery stores.
Consumers have heard little about the importation of foreign GM products, but favor U.S. regulation. The potential for importation of GM foods produced abroad is not on consumers’ radar screen. Four in five Americans (80 percent) say they have heard little or nothing about importation of GM foods. Even so, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) oppose the importation of GM foods, including a majority (52 percent) who express strong opposition. In addition, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of consumers surveyed strongly favor ensuring that foreign producers face the same level of regulation that American producers face.
Americans claim to have heard about animal cloning – and are uncomfortable with it. The majority of people polled (65 percent) claims to have heard about animal cloning, compared to 41 percent of the public who have heard of GM foods, 34 percent who are familiar with GM animals, and less than one in five Americans (18 percent) who are familiar with the potential importation of GM foods. Sixty-six percent of American consumers polled indicated that they are largely uncomfortable with animal cloning. In addition, less than a quarter (23 percent) of consumers believe food produced from animal clones is safe, while 43 percent believe it is unsafe; and one-third (34 percent) of consumers do not have an opinion on the safety of animal cloning.
Consumers most strongly support GM uses that are designed to protect against disease. Although most Americans oppose genetically modifying or cloning animals, the most widely favored uses are those that offer direct human benefits, including producing chickens resistant to avian flu (40 percent “very good reason”) or producing cattle resistant to mad cow disease (40 percent “very good reason.)”
Consumers strongly believe that ethical and moral considerations should be part of the animal cloning regulatory equation. A strong majority (63 percent) of Americans believe government agencies should include moral and ethical considerations when making regulatory decisions about cloning and genetically modifying animals, with 53 percent feeling that way strongly.
“From the survey results, it is clear that moral and ethical concerns play a big role in forming consumer attitudes, particularly towards animal cloning, and that U.S. consumers want these issues to be part of the public debate,” said Michael Fernandez, executive director of the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. “Despite these concerns, consumers do not support banning new uses of biotechnology, but are looking to government regulators to provide assurance that new products are safe. The ability of the U.S. regulatory system to keep pace with changing technology – whether it’s new GM crops or animals or imports – will be critical to maintaining consumer confidence.”

The nationwide survey, conducted by The Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies, October 10-16, consisted of telephone interviews of 1,000 American consumers. The margin of error for this survey is +/-3.1 percent. The margin of error is higher for subgroups.

GM foods have been in the U.S. marketplace for the past nine years. Today, approximately 105.7 million acres of GM crops are grown in the U.S., with farmers producing GM corn, cotton, soybeans, canola, squash and papaya. Other countries are beginning to develop their own GM food products which they may be interested in importing into the U.S. To date, all GM food products on the market have gone through the U.S. regulatory review process. Scientists have developed GM or transgenic animals, which are animals with genes inserted from another organism, for a variety of purposes including treating human disease and improving the efficiency of food production. Animal clones, which are offspring genetically identical to a single parent, are being developed as a way of preserving elite animals for food production and preserving rare or endangered species. No products from GM or cloned animals have been approved for sale in the U.S.

View a summary of the findings from the survey, as well as the statistical results.

View other polls conducted by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology.

Scottish parents are choosing to feed their children organic foods, even when cost prohibits the parents, themselves, from eating an organic diet. Four out of five parents weaning their children would choose to feed their babies organic foods. Avoiding pesticides was the number one reason. I wonder what those percentages are here in the United States.

Take our very non-scientific poll to let us know whether you try to feed your children organic food.

Here at Natural Family News, we’re always on the lookout for opportunities to share with our readers. One of our partners, The Green Guide, has started a free newsletter with daily living tips for more eco-friendly living. Called the Ideal Bite, it is filled with tips on how to choose a more environmentally friendly coffee, hybrid cars, recycling your cell phone, getting rid of junk mail, and much, much more. Delivered to your inbox Monday-Friday for free, the Ideal Bite is a must have for those interested in taking steps, small or big, towards a friendlier planet. To sign up or to read more about what they have to offer, visit the Ideal Bite by clicking on this link.

In a recent EU draft, lawmakers are considering allowing genetically modified foods into organic food. WHAT? WHY? Whose bright idea was that, anyway?

I have often bought foods from Europe, organic or otherwise, when an organic alternative didn’t exist precisely because they shunned chemistry set (or would that be biology set) agriculture. Now, it looks like I won’t even be able to trust organic food if it comes from Europe.

The Reuters article contains the following quote:

“Genetic contamination of organic food is completely unacceptable to consumers throughout the EU,” said Helen Holder, GMO campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe.

Yeah, what she said.

Beantrees coffee made the list of 12 things Oprah’s chef can’t live without. In an article in the Chicago Tribune, Art Smith raved about the organic coffee company. Unlike Starbucks, Beantrees does not have any retail stores. You can, however, get the coffee delivered to your home by ordering online. Beantrees is certified organic, fair trade, and even bird friendly.

LAFARGE, Wis., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ — “Generation Organic,” a campaign to
save the family farmer from extinction by bringing new farmers into organic
agriculture, was announced today by Organic Valley Family of Farms, America’s
largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the country’s leading
national organic brands.
“Generation Organic is the ‘Endangered Species Protection Act’ for the
American family farmer. U.S. farmers have disappeared from the land at the
rate of 195 per day for 70 years. We have worked to protect the bald eagle and
the grizzly bear. Now it’s time to save the family farmer. The health of our
food, our environment and our future generations is at stake,” said Travis
Forgues, 32, the Organic Valley dairy farmer from Alburg, Vermont whose
concern for the future of family farming gave rise to Generation Organic, or
“Gen-O.”
Forgues noted that the average age of the remaining family farmers is
getting older, even in the organic community where the percentage of younger
farmers is high. The majority of U.S. farmers today are 55 years and older.
Said Forgues, “Gen-O will work to reverse the trend and keep family farmers on
the land!”
Forgues announced a five point “Gen-O Agenda” for developing the next
generation of organic farmers:

1. Save the family farmer, an endangered species — Five million family
farmers have been lost since 1935 and most of those remaining are 55
years or older. Gen-O will bring new farmers into the fold and plant
the seed for future generations of organic farmers.
2. Keep diversity in agriculture — Do we want all our food from factory
farms? Gen-O will educate about the risks of allowing our food to be
sourced from chemically-intensive factory farms where profit is the
goal, and work to promote a sustainable and diverse organic
agriculture that works in harmony with nature to produce healthy food.
3. Preserve farmer wisdom and knowledge — Farming is a time-honored
craft whose technical and intuitive knowledge is passed down from
generation to generation. The Gen-O movement will not let this vital
treasure become extinct.
4. Unify rural and urban communities — Fostering the connection between
city and country dwellers will increase our appreciation for the
people who grow our food as well as the people who eat it. Gen-O will
tell the story of America’s family farmers.
5. Offer hope for a safe and healthy future — By supporting farming
methods that work in harmony with nature, Generation Organic promises
to deliver food that is safe and healthy, protects the environment and
nurtures a sustainable way of life.

Forgues, who chose to become an organic farmer despite earning college
degrees in psychology and computer science, speaks on campuses and community
gatherings throughout the country to urge new farmers to enter the field:
“Nothing is more satisfying than the organic farmer’s life work. We produce
safe, healthy food, protect the environment, enjoy a rich family and community
life, and protect time-honored knowledge that is vital to the survival of our
species: how to grow the food we eat.”

Organic Valley: Farming for Future Generations
Organic Valley has spearheaded a full program of Gen-O initiatives to
nurture the next generation of organic farmers and will be adding more in the
year to come. Offerings include a nationwide program of “barn meetings” and
organic educational workshops, a farmers speakers bureau, web resources,
educational literature, a farmers hotline, financial and technical support for
farmers transitioning to organic, partnerships with university-based farmer
training programs, organic school curriculum, a farmer ambassador program to
heighten public awareness of organic farmers and, starting in 2006, an organic
farmer mentoring and internship program.
“Organic Valley’s job is to help create balance between skyrocketing
consumer demand for organic products and the number of farmers available to
produce them,” said George Siemon, CEO and a founding farmer of the co-op.
“Fortunately, the resiliency of the Organic Valley cooperative business model
enables us to provide our farmers with a stable, sustainable pay price and
invest in future farmer education and support.”
Siemon noted the following highlights of the cooperative’s success in
2005:

— Sales rose 17% to $245 million in 2005 and will climb to $285 million
in 2006.
— The number of farmers in the co-op doubled over the last three years
from 361 farmers in 15 states in 2002 to 723 farmers in 22 states in
2005.
— The estimated average national organic price paid by the co-op to its
farmers ($21.80 per hundredweight) was more than 40 percent higher
than its conventional counterpart ($15.35 per hundredweight).

For further information about Gen-O and the Organic Valley cooperative,
prospective farmers are invited to call the Organic Valley Farmer Hotline at
1-888-809-9297, or visit the Organic Valley Farmers website at
http://www.farmers.coop .

Organic Valley Family of Farms is America’s largest cooperative of organic
farmers and is one of the nation’s leading organic brands. Organized in 1988,
it represents 723 farmers in 22 states and realized a record $245 million in
2005 sales. Focused on its founding mission of keeping small and mid-sized
farmers farming, Organic Valley produces 200 organic foods, including organic
milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce, juice and meats
which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives
nationwide. For more information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit
http://www.organicvalley.coop .

Who: BOBOBABY, a manufacturer of frozen organic baby food is partnering with Success By 6, an early childhood development initiative dedicated to providing all children with a good start in life.

What: BOBOBABY’s Seasonal Celebration

Where: Studio 103, Shadbolt Centre for Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby BC

When: Tuesday, November 29, 2005, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Why: BOBOBABY supports organizations that are involved in infant wellbeing. At BOBOBABY’s Seasonal Celebration, guests are asked to bring a developmental toy or book for donation to Success By 6. (BOBOBABY also donates products and a portion of its profits to Success By 6).

BOBOBABY’s frozen organic baby foods are the first such products available anywhere in the world. The leading-edge products contain NO added salt, preservatives, sugar, colour, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, sesame, dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, poultry or meat. Nutrition research and pediatricians worldwide advocate the omission of additives and these nine allergens in baby’s first foods.

BOBOBABY products are available at more than 200 locations across Canada!

www.bobobaby.com

The update to the Organic Act of 1990 leaves me feeling a little torn. I’m against anything that weakens the organic standards. At the same time, there are vendors that I like who use some synthetics who might give up using organic, altogether, if it weren’t for these changes. There was a time when I didn’t really worry about reading the ingredients if an item was marked organic. I think those days are coming to an end. You can read an interesting article on recent questioning of the Organic Trade Association about the changes to the law here.