By M. Jason Kuo By M. Jason Kuo May 22 at 8:00 AM

Last week,The Washington Postreportedthat 36 million pounds of imported nonorganic soybeans suddenly obtainedorganic labels for domestic sale after entering California. This could happen because soybeans, like other foods, are imported via complex global supply chains, involving many different specialist businesses between the farmer and the final customer.

Regulating these supply chains to ensure, for example, that organic foods deserve their labels is hard. Here are five reasons why.

1) The U.S. government doesnt enforce its standards for organic foods.

The key regulator for organic foods in the United States, under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, is the Department of Agriculture. The USDA is in charge of regulating organic food, both when it is produced in the United States and when it is imported. Its illegal to sell imported foods as organic in the United States unless the product meets USDA standards.

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However, the USDA doesnt actually administer the standards for imported foods. Instead, the certification checking that the food meets U.S. standards is done by USDA-recognized foreign regulators or USDA-authorized third-party organizations. This means the USDA outsources its authority to its equivalent agencies in other countries, as well as third-party certifiers.

2) Not all countries have U.S.-recognized regulators.

The number of USDA-recognizedinternational regulatorshasbeengrowing since 2009. However, it is still relatively small.Currently, the USDA allows imported foods to be sold as organic if they have passed muster with national regulators in Canada, the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland. But the United States does not recognize the national regulators of Ukraine and Turkey, the two countries of origin that handled the recent shipment of falsely labeled soybeans. This means that exporters from these countries had to turn to a different system.

3) Thats why third-party certifiers are necessary.

USDAs Certifier Lookuppage lists 82 authorized third-party organizations. Although most of these USDA-accredited certifying agents are domestic, 33 areforeign agents. Also, although some of them are purely private, others arepublic. For instance, theOrganic Food Development and Certification of China in Nanjingis a Chinese government entity.

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These USDA-accredited third-party certifying agents can also issue certification documents, acting as de factogatekeepers of organic food imports to the United States from other countries. Therefore, if these imported soybeans from Ukraine and Turkey were sold as organic in the United States, presumably the shipments were certified by USDA-authorized third-party organizations.

4) But certification remains challenging in a complex global economy.

In theory, this should all work very well. In practice, ensuring that imports labeled organic are actually organic is very hard, because global supply chains are complex and nontransparent. A number of suppliersor organizations may sell the product before they reach the final customer.

This creates ample opportunity for things to go wrong. For instance, the USDA may not have any good way to know whether its accredited certifying agents have issued false certification documents to unqualified foreign suppliers. Middleman organizations can use real certification documents for products that are not actually organic.

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Indeed, as The Postreported, the broker of the fake organic soybeans claimed that it might have been provided with false certification documents.However, its impossible to know what went wrong about this particular line of organic food importuntil the USDA completes its investigation.

5) The problem stretches beyond the USDA.

This is not the USDAs fault it is one regulatory agency with limited resources, trying to deal with a multitude of suppliers. Some of these suppliers, in all likelihood, are operating unethically.

Regardless of the hurdles, my researchsuggests that the prospect of the USDA enhancing its regulatory oversight of organic integrity in global supply chains is attainable. In response to a similar globalization challenge to food safety, for example, the Food and Drug Administration has increased transparency and accountability in global supply chains. More substantively, the FDA has conducted more inspections of food facilities in other countries, developed more innovative enforcement tools, and educated more foreign regulators and relevant stakeholders about U.S. requirements.

People may wonder whether increasing regulatory oversight is an implicit form of trade protectionism. But, in fact, more U.S. food regulation results in more food trade, not less. Asmy research shows, greater oversight of foreign food facilities boosts trade in food from foreign countries to the United States by leveraging the U.S. governments reputation to reassure customers. If these lessons extend to the USDA, too, we might expect that more regulatory oversight would make it easier for genuine organic producers abroad to sell their food to American customers.

Jason Kuo is a postdoctoral fellow at the Mortara Center for International Studies at Georgetown University. He gratefully acknowledges financial support from a Carnegie Corp. Bridging the Gap grant. Follow him on Twitter @mjasonkuo.

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Why it's so hard to know whether organic food is really organic - Washington Post

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Beatrice Trum Hunter, who wrote "The Natural Foods Cookbook" in 1961, long before organic foods became a staple at supermarkets, and who took an early stance against pesticide exposure, sharing information with "Silent Spring" author Rachel Carson, has died. She was 98.

Family members said Trum Hunter, died Wednesday night in hospice care in Hillsborough, New Hampshire.

Trum Hunter "was writing and educating Americans about whole, organic foods decades before the farm-to-table movement took the country by storm," said Vita Paladino, director of the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University, which has a collection of her personal and professional papers.

"Her quiet determination forever changed America's relationship with food and nutrition; we are proud to safeguard her remarkable legacy," Paladino said.

A native of New York City's Brooklyn borough, Trum Hunter and her husband, John Hunter, bought property in Deering, New Hampshire. They turned their home into an inn in the summer that exposed city dwellers to organic and natural foods. Trum Hunter made her own muffins, bread and soups.

Her interest in nutrition grew after she read what she called a "mind-blowing" book published in 1933, "100,000,000 Guinea Pigs: Dangers in Everyday Foods, Drugs and Cosmetics," by Arthur Kallett and Frederick J. Schlink. It argued that the population was being used in a massive experiment undertaken by food and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

"The first thing I did was to cut out sugar," she told Yankee Magazine in a 2015 interview, "and then I began to use more whole grains and more fresh vegetables." She even gave up apples for a while, concerned about the chemical sprays. Schlink published "Consumers' Research" magazine, which she joined as food editor.

When "The Natural Foods Cookbook" came out, Trum Hunter said she attracted some criticism from some dietitians and nutritionists because she wasn't using processed foods. She said others thought of her as a "crank." Through the years, though, the book has become a classic.

"Beatrice blew my mind and my sense of possibility wide open," Frances Moore Lappe, author of "Diet for a Small Planet," told The Associated Press in 2002. "I still remember my excitement in trying out her shocking combinations: barley, dill and mushrooms? Wow!"

Trum Hunter also favored meat, eggs and butter. Years later, she said she would have eliminated many of the organ meats from her book, which carried a recipe for brain salad, for example. "They were so ignored by many other cookbooks at the time," she told New Hampshire Public Radio in 2004.

Trum Hunter also was contacted by Carson before the publication of "Silent Spring" in 1962, about the potential harm of chemical pesticides to the environment. She shared research with Carson about DDT and other pesticide use.

"She was influential in helping Rachel Carson find evidence for the damage done by chemical sprays to wildlife and birds," said Linda Lear, who wrote the biography, "Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature."

In all, Trum Hunter wrote 38 books and numerous articles and columns. Some of her other works include "Gardening Without Poisons," ''The Great Nutrition Robbery," ''Our Toxic Legacy," and "The Sugar Trap and How to Avoid It."

Another passion was photography. She inherited photo equipment from her late mother-in-law, photographer Lotte Jacobi, known for her candidate portraits of such renowned figures as Albert Einstein and Eleanor Roosevelt. Trum Hunter's work focused on ice crystals. She exhibited her work throughout New England.

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Pioneer of organic food cookbooks dies like she lived, quietly at 98 - NH1 News

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Organic Foods And Beverages Market Analysis By Product (Fruits & Vegetables, Meat, Fish & Poultry, Dairy Products, Frozen & Processed Food), Organic Beverages (Non-Dairy, Coffee & Tea, Beer & Wine)), And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" report to their offering.

The global organic food & beverage market is expected to reach USD 320.5 billion by 2025. Growing popularity of non-GMO products among consumers, owing to the health benefits associated with their consumption, is expected to drive the demand over the forecast period.

Fruits and vegetables dominated the global organic food market accounted for over 37% of revenue share in 2015. Furthermore, increasing consumption of meat and poultry products resulted in the fastest growth of the segment and is expected to grow substantially at a CAGR of 13% over the forecast period.

Non-dairy beverages such as rice, soymilk, and oat beverages accounted for over 33% of the total share of organic beverages market in 2015. However, beer and wine is projected to grow substantially at a CAGR of 13.5% over the forecast period owing to increasing global economic conditions and high consumption of a broad range of flavored beverages.

Companies Mentioned

Key Topics Covered:

1. Methodology and Scope

2. Executive Summary

3. Organic Food & Beverage Industry Outlook

4. Organic Food & Beverage: Product Outlook

5. Organic Food & Beverage Market: Regional Outlook

6. Competitive Landscape

7. Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/pwrfvd/organic_foods_and

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Organic Foods And Beverages Market to Reach $320 Billion by ... - Business Wire (press release)

Soybeans on a Central Illinois farm.

Earlier this year, an investigative piece inthe Washington Post revealed thatsomeorganic milksmay not deliver the health, animal welfare and environmental benefits shoppers expect. If that already hasyou rattled, another bit of discouraging news may further alter your shopping habits.

It turns out that some organic corn and soy imported into the U.S. does not meet USDA organic standards, the Washington Post reported in an otherinvestigation.

As much as half of the organic commodities American food companies use is imported, including soy and corn. And where those products are used, which is usually within a companys supply chain as ingredients or feed, imposes countless problems for the food industry.

On one hand, the organic edamame purchasedat a store such as Trader Joes or Costco is probably safe. The same goes for any other frozen or canned vegetable product you have stored in your kitchen.

The trouble, reports Peter Whoriskey of the Post, is that shipments of soy and corn on their way to become animal feed for organic food companies often dont meet organic standards. The USDA requires producers of organic foods such as eggs, meat and dairy to use organic feed which is why there is often a sizable price difference between conventional and certified organic food products.

But the problem is the paper trail. Companies that import certified organic products must keep receipts and invoices. But the USDA does not require companies to trace these products back to the farms at which these crops were grown. Meanwhile, records that Whoriskey and his team at the Post were able to obtain revealed high levels of residue on products grown in Ukraine and China. Yet dubious paperwork some importers had submitted allowed them to fetch a far higher price for the product due to the organic label on its products.

The USDA claims to take a harsh stand against companies that flout its organic certification rules. The agency says that the use of fraudulent documents to market or sell crops as organic can result in fines of up to $11,000 per violation. And the agency publicly posts a list of companies found to violate its rules; it was last updated on Monday.

The problem, however, is that such enforcement measures are weakened by spotty inspections. Farmers can hire the inspection companies of their choice, and they are often scheduled days or weeks ahead, which eliminates the chance of any spontaneous visits. Furthermore, testing for pesticides is not a standard practice, and is only conducted sporadically. The result, said Andrew Porterfield of the Genetic Literacy Project, is that as many as 43 percent of the organic foods sold in the U.S. could have substances prohibited by USDA organic guidelines.

Everyone is hurt by the USDAs lack of rigor when it comes to ensuring that organics are actually organic by definition. Farmers and ranchers in the U.S., already squeezed by thin margins, find it tough to compete against imports that are often cheaper and may not even be a genuinely organic food product in the first place. Food companies and retailers have their brand reputation put at risk because of doubts sowed within their supply chains. And consumers are left wondering if the extra money spent on supposedly certified organic products was a waste not to mention the fact that they and their families could have been exposed to chemicals they thought would never occur due to the premiums they had paid for supposedly safer foods.

Image credit: Kevin Dooley/Flickr

Originally posted here:

Not-So-Organic Corn and Soy Revealed in Food Companies' Supply Chains - Triple Pundit (registration) (blog)

Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

Whole Foods used to be my idea of grocery heaven. Once upon a time, I shopped at the California Street location in San Francisco it was light and airy with produce for miles. I knew the cheesemonger. I had philosophical conversations with the butcher. I stared longingly at the Le Creuset bakeware. The soap aisle smelled like lavender. Heaven.

But eventually, I fell out of love. Or, to be more specific, I changed my mind about organic food after reading the research: It turns out organic isnt more nutritious or even necessarily better for the planet. So I pretty much stopped shopping at Whole Foods altogether.

Im not the only one. Whole Foods may have once revolutionized the organic-food industry, but its no longer the only game in town. These days, many consumers are now buying their organic groceries at less expensive stores, including Costco and Walmart. Whole Foods sales are on the decline, driving many observers and even their own investors to suggest that in order to survive, the chain has to make a drastic change.

Well. I have a suggestion as to what that change might be. Its pretty drastic, but, hear me out, Whole Foods. This could be good for both of us. Here it is: Why not revolutionize grocery shopping all over again? Only this time, the revolution should be powered by science and agronomy, and not misleading marketing.

Heres my first problem. Labels like organic and conventional are too broad, and too black and white, to really be all that helpful. A more specific, more informative approach could fix this: If Whole Foods listed all of the pesticides used on every fruit and vegetable, whether natural or synthetic, consumers might begin to understand that both conventional and organic produce are grown with pesticides, and what matters more is the toxicity of the pesticide used. Copper sulfate, for example, a pesticide allowed in organic produce in the U.S., is more toxic than some conventional pesticides. Chlorpyrifos, an insecticide used in conventional agriculture, is more toxic than glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup. Its worth noting that Whole Foods took a step in this direction once before with its Responsibly Grown program, which recognized that conventional produce can be more sustainable than organic, but organic farmers loudly objected and the company eventually undercut those standards. Its time to bring them back.

This new science-based labeling system should also make it crystal clear that trace pesticide residues arent dangerous for consumers as long as the residues measure below the tolerance levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (and they do, year after year), then they arent a cause for concern. If there is a concern about a pesticides toxicity, its the health risk to farm workers and their families, and thats something to consider before buying those perfect-looking strawberries.

Well also want to know the pesticides environmental impact, like how it affects the bees or the surrounding water supply. Many people believe pesticides alone are killing off the countrys bee population, but if you dig a little deeper, you discover that pesticides arent actually the biggest culprit. Iida Ruishalme, a biologist who writes the blog Thoughtscapism, has published several in-depth posts examining the different hazards to bee health. She says even though neonicotinoid [pesticides] steal most of the thunder, there are graver threats to be concerned with: The Varroa mite, disease, habitat loss, and invasive species (such as the European honey bee itself) play a far greater role.

But pesticides are only one piece of the broader sustainability puzzle. Consumers should also be able to know whether the farmer who grew their produce uses practices like cover-cropping and conservation tillage, two things that improve soil health and mitigate the impact of climate change by increasing the sequestration of carbon in the soil. Both organic and conventional farmers can and do incorporate these methods.

Antibiotics are another area where more precise language would be helpful. If Whole Foods moved beyond labels like antibiotic free and provided more specific information about how their conventional farmers use antibiotics, it could encourage more strategic and sparing use of these drugs. And when it comes to organic meat, let consumers know which organic farmers responsibly treat their sick animals with antibiotics and remove them from the herd, and discourage the use of unproven and ineffective homeopathic remedies.

And while were at it, reward the farmers who pay their farm workers a decent wage and ensure good working conditions. Its a standard that would at least achieve something real and tangible unlike the non-GMO food label thats so ubiquitous in Whole Foods stores. The Non-GMO Projects butterfly seal of sanctity, slapped on products throughout the store, is a symbol of the issues that drove me away from Whole Foods in the first place: The Non-GMO project is (a) misleading, and (b) not backed by science. Products like non-GMO tomatoes are really just a trick on the consumer because all tomatoes fit that description; there are no genetically modified tomatoes currently on the market. And despite the fear over genetically modified foods, there has never been a proven case of illness attributed to a GMO. The overwhelming, well-documented scientific consensus is that these foods are safe (or, to be precise, just as safe as other types of food).

But what people really need to understand and what Whole Foods has the power to show them is that there really is no such thing as a GMO. Its a breeding method, not an ingredient. Rather than label something non-GMO, label each modified crop by its particular enhancement, so that consumers can evaluate each genetically modified food by its own merits. Customers could choose from disease-resistant papaya, inoculated against the papaya ringspot virus, or food made with Bt corn, modified to include the same toxin that other farmers have to apply in a separate pesticide application, often in larger amounts. Crops modified to be Roundup Ready, like soy and canola, allow farmers to apply the herbicide Roundup without affecting the actual crop. Lets also include foods like seedless watermelon and ruby-red grapefruit these fruits may have been created by non-GMO breeding methods, but theyre genetically modified all the same.

True, all of this may sound like a lot of information. But food labels are already jam-packed with information these days its just that most of that info is vague and unhelpful (what does natural really mean, anyway?). If Whole Foods could get consumers to focus on agricultural measures that matter, I just might fall in love with the store all over again. So, lets do this, Whole Foods. Tell the cheesemonger Im on my way.

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Whole Foods Would Look a Lot Different If It Were Science-Based - New York Magazine

I must admit that when I heard that a 2000-acre organic farm that had maintained its organic status for 18 years is being forced by the local government to spray pesticides on their crops, I was appalled, and a bit disbelieving. After all, what right do a few elected municipal officials have to destroy the food, the USDA certified organic statusand the livelihood of those running and working an organic farm? Sadly, it is the reality facing Azure Farms in Moro, Oregon. Officials of Sherman County are forcing the farm to spray noxious pesticides on their farm or be quarantined.

But Azure Farms is fighting back. Nathan Stelzer, the farms manager, is asking for public support against the countys requirements. He went to social media for help in spreading the message about their farms plight. He also asks that people phone Lauren, the courts administrative assistant, at 541-565-3416 to voice their concern over the countys policies. Sherman County may issue a court order requiring Azure Farms to spray Roundup and other toxic pesticides on the farm by as early as May 22 or to quarantine the farm while county officials spray the pesticides on the farm. The County is also threatening to place a lien on the farm to cover the costs of the chemicals and labor to spray the farm.

The safety over Monsantos Roundup and other glyphosate-based pesticides is questionable, with studies linking it to cancer. Recent reports have ghostwritten its own so-called independent research to suggest the pesticides are safe. Meanwhile the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer, cites research linking glyphosate to non-Hodgkins lymphoma and declaring glyphosate a probable carcinogen.

According to wheat farmers in Sherman County, the weed problem has gotten progressively worse over the years, and the farmers blame Azure for not spraying its organic food crops. While it is easy for people to seek out someone to blame for the problems they face, it is a serious oversimplification of the situation to simply point the finger at the local organic farm, for a number of reasons.

First, weeds are part of a natural and healthy ecosystem. Farms and weeds like those in question (Morning Glory, Canada Thistle and Whitetop) have co-existed for centuries, if not millennia. They are found throughout North America, so how can the wheat farmers accurately identify Azure as the culprit in spreading them to the wheat farms? Second, if they are spraying their crops to keep weeds down then the pesticides should be resolving the problem. But, the reality is that the pesticides are CAUSING super-weeds in the same way that antibiotics are linked to the development of super bugs.

Pesticides like Roundup have been used in increasing amounts in an effort to combat weeds that the pesticides were supposed to eradicate. According to a study released in February 2016, and published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Sciences Europe, 18.9 billion pounds (8.6 billion kilograms) of glyphosate have been used globally to date. Additionally, the use of the herbicide has risen almost 15-fold since Roundup Ready genetically-engineered crops were introduced in 1996.

Third, the farmers insist that they dont cause chemicals to drift onto the organic farm so they dont want weed seeds from the organic farm on their territory. The reality about pesticides is that they drift in the air and in ground water, so this claim by the wheat farmers is simply not founded in fact. Fourth, forcing the organic farm to spray chemicals on their produce destroys their organic farm status and business and its related jobs, which total $6 million annually in payroll. I doubt that any chemical-based wheat farmers would want to be shut down, but this is exactly what they are trying to force on Azure by insisting that the farm spray noxious chemicals on its soil and crops. And, it is unlawful to destroy anothers livelihood when that livelihood isnt breaking any laws. Since when is growing food in the same way it has been grown for thousands of years a crime? Frankly, it seems completely tyrannical than the countys wheat farmers and municipal authorities think they have the right to force the farm to destroy its pristine soil and organic status.

Please sign my petition asking Sherman County to stop forcing Azure Farms to spray Roundup and other noxious pesticides on their organic farmland.

Related:Dont Believe in Herbal Medicine? 10 Things to Change Your MindThe 5 Best Herbs to Soothe Your NervesShould You Actually Starve a Fever?

Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM is the publisher of the free e-news Worlds Healthiest News, president of PureFood BC, and an international best-selling and 20-time published book author whose works include: Be Your Own Herbalist: Essential Herbs for Health, Beauty & Cooking.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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County Officials Are Forcing This Organic Farm to Spray Roundup on Food Crops - Care2.com

May 15, 2017 11:31 ET | Source: Research and Markets

Dublin, May 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "France Organic Food & Beverages Market Size & Analysis, By Type, Market Share, Forecast and Opportunities 2017-2022" report to their offering.

France Organic Food & Beverages Market By Type, Forecast and Opportunities, 2017-2022, organic food & beverages market is forecast to touch USD 9.49 billion by 2022, owing to upsurge in the number of diseases caused by consumption of conventional food & beverages grown with more chemicals and pesticides, growing awareness resulting into change in consumers' taste and preference and increasing number of specialist organic stores. France organic food & beverages market is highly competitive market with large number of organic food companies.

France is the largest country in the European Union and it is world's sixth- largest economy by nominal figure. French consumers are showing high inclination for organic food products & beverages. And, the market for these products is burgeoning on account of increasing health conscious consumers with high per capita income and wide product offerings from specialist organic stores, supermarkets and grocery stores.

The key companies include Distriborg France, Lactalis Groupe, Triballat-Noyal SAS, Cedilac SA, Fleury Michon Nutrition & Sant SAS, Hipp and many others.

In 2016, Organic Dairy Products' category accounted for the largest market share in the country's organic food & beverages market, and was closely followed by Organic grocery products including sweet and salty groceries. North West region is the largest regional market for organic food & beverages in France, as it is home to tens of millions of French consumers with high personal disposable income.

French organic food & beverages industry saw strong growth, owing to institutional support from French Government as well as European Union. Moreover, improvements in macro-economic policies, like moderate inflation and low interest rates also boosted consumers' sentiments and organic industry emerged as one of the beneficiary.

This report elaborates the following aspects of organic food & beverages market in the country:

- France Organic Food & Beverages Market Size, Share & Forecast - Segmental Analysis - By Type (Organic Dairy Products, Organic Grocery, Organic Fruits and Vegetables, Organic Bread & Bakery Products, Organic Beverages, Organic Meat and Other Organic Products & By Company and By Region - France Organic Food & Beverages Market Dynamics (Drivers & Challenges) - Doing Business in France & Economic Analysis - Policy and Regulatory Landscape - Micro Market Trends & Developments - Competitive Landscape & Strategic Recommendations

Key Topics Covered:

1. Product Overview

2. Research Methodology

3. Executive Summary

4. Global Organic Food & Beverages Market Overview

5. France organic Food & Beverages Market Outlook 5.1. France Country & Economic Overview 5.2. Market size & Forecast By Value 5.3. Market Share & Forecast 5.3.1 By Product Type 5.3.2 By Company 5.3.3 By Region

6. France Organic Dairy Market Outlook 6.1. Market size and Forecast By Value 6.2. Pricing Analysis

7. France Organic Grocery Market Outlook 7.1 Market size and Forecast By Value 7.2. Pricing Analysis

8. France Organic Fruits & Vegetable Market Outlook 8.1. Market Size & Forecast By Value 8.2. Pricing Analysis

9. France Organic Bread & Bakery Market Outlook 9.1. Market size & Forecast By Value 9.2. Pricing Analysis

10. France Organic Meat Market Outlook 10.1. Market size & Forecast By Value

11. France Organic Beverages Market Outlook 11.1. Market size & Forecast By Value 11.2. Pricing Analysis

12. France Other Organic Food Products Market Outlook 12.1. Market size & Forecast By Value

13. Supply Chain Analysis

14. France Organic Food & Beverages Market Dynamics 14.1. Drivers 14.2. Challenges

15. France Organic Food & Beverages Market Trends & Developments

16. Policy & Regulatory Landscape

17. France Economic Profile 17.1. France Economic Profile 17.2. Doing Business in France & Economic Analysis

18. Competitive Landscape 18.1. Distriborg France 18.2. Lacatalis Groupe 18.3. Triballat-Noyal SAS 18.4. Fleury Michon, Groupe 18.5. Nutrition & Sant SAS 18.6. Danival SAS 18.7. Vitagermine SAS 18.8. Hipp SA 18.9. Fruit Entreprises SA

19. Strategic Recommendations

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/xvj4hv/france_organic

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France Organic Food & Beverages Market Size, Opportunities & Analysis 2017-2022 - GlobeNewswire (press release)

By: Dr. Joel Fuhrman - Updated: 10 hours ago

VALLEY There is not a definite yes or no answer to this question. There may be important time periods at which people are more vulnerable to the potential harm of pesticide residues on our food: just prior to conception, during pregnancy, and during early childhood. There is evidence that organophosphate pesticide exposure during these time periods is associated with deficits in cognitive and behavioral development in children.

There are some clear environmental benefits to buying organic produce. However, it is unclear whether there are health risks to consumers from ingesting pesticides from conventional produce. Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases their Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists. Using pesticide residue data from the USDA, the EWG ranks the highest and lowest pesticide fruits and vegetables.

The 2017 Dirty Dozen list contains strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, peaches, pears, cherries, grapes, celery, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, and potatoes. The 2017 Clean Fifteen list contains sweet corn, avocados, pineapples, cabbage, onions, sweet peas, papayas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplant, honeydew, kiwi, cantaloupe, cauliflower, and grapefruit. EWG recommends buying the organic versions of the fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list to minimize exposure to synthetic pesticides.

Organic agriculture utilizes crop rotation, compost and manure as fertilizers, soil and water conservation practices, natural methods for managing pests, and no synthetic pesticides. Some of the goals of organic agriculture, according to the USDAs organic program, are to promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity.

Pesticide exposure: The Environmental Protection Agency sets limits for safe consumption of pesticides; they estimate an exposure level called the chronic reference dose, the amount of a chemical a person could be exposed to daily throughout life without any harmful effects. A 2011 study estimated typical amounts of exposure to synthetic pesticides based on the USDAs pesticide residue data for fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list. They found that most pesticides were present at amounts one thousand times smaller than the chronic reference dose. Even the highest pesticide residue detected was only 2 percent of the chronic reference dose. This puts the Dirty Dozen list in perspective: it means that even the highest pesticide conventional produce is very low in pesticides.

Is that small amount of synthetic pesticide any risk to consumers? Some scientists think that pesticide residues do not pose health risks, because humans and other animals are exposed to small amounts of naturally occurring toxins in every plant food we eat. The body regularly breaks down self-produced metabolic wastes and naturally occurring carcinogens in foods, as well as pesticides, and excretes these harmful substances.

Greater concentrations of urinary breakdown products of synthetic pesticides have been found in frequent consumers of conventional produce compared to frequent consumers of organic produce, and several short-term studies have shown that switching conventional foods for organic foods reduces urinary pesticide metabolites. However, evidence is lacking whether the consumer gains any significant health benefit by eating organic instead of conventional produce.

What about people who work with pesticides in agriculture? Studies suggest a link between pesticide exposure and brain cancer, Parkinsons disease, multiple myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma, and cancers of the stomach and prostate. A study comparing several markers of DNA damage in blood samples of conventional and organic farmers found evidence of greater DNA damage in conventional farmers. This suggests supporting organic agriculture can help to reduce the harmful effects of synthetic pesticide exposure for those who work in agriculture and are exposed to very high doses.

There are environmental advantages. Organic agriculture avoids conventional fertilizers, aiming to prevent harmful nitrogen runoff into waterways. Avoiding synthetic pesticides prevents pesticide contamination of groundwater. Although organic pest management methods may not work as well as conventional in some cases, there is a great deal of evidence that organic crops bring better soil quality, less soil erosion, more plant diversity, and more diversity in insects, soil organisms, and birds.

Regarding nutritional differences, there appears to be a small increase in antioxidant content in organic fruits and vegetables compared to their conventional counterparts.

There is growing evidence that exposure to a mixture of synthetic pesticides is harmful to the bees we depend on as pollinators for many crops. A shift toward organic agriculture could help to alleviate some of the stress on bee populations.

Note that the Dirty Dozen are not our major dietary source of exposure to harmful chemicals. Exposure to persistent organic pollutants such as organochlorine pesticides and PCBs occurs primarily via fatty animal foods like fish, dairy products, and meat. Also, glyphosate, an herbicide linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma in agricultural workers, is present primarily in processed foods.

By centering your diet on unrefined plant foods, you will automatically reduce your exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals. The large volume of studies performed on typical, pesticide-treated produce has demonstrated that consumption of produce, whether organic or not, protects against chronic diseases. For your health, consuming a diet of vegetables, beans, fruit, nuts, and seeds is the most important action you can take. If you are able to buy organic vegetables and fruits, that is preferable, especially for our children, the environment and for farmers.

Dr. Fuhrman is a #1 New York Times best-selling author and a board certified family physician specializing in lifestyle and nutritional medicine. The Eat To Live Cookbook offers over 200 unique disease-fighting delicious recipes and his newest book, The End of Heart Disease, offers a detailed plan to prevent and reverse heart disease using a nutrient-dense, plant-rich eating style. Visit his informative website at DrFuhrman.com. Submit your questions and comments about this column directly to [emailprotected]

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Fuhrman: Should we only buy organic produce? - Valley Courier

Tom Leyde 9:07 p.m. PT May 15, 2017

Fresh flowers are among the crops JSM Organics grows in north Monterey County. Zamora picks a fresh bouquet at one of his farms.(Photo: Tom Leyde/For The Salinas Californian)Buy Photo

Javier Zamora looks proudly at a rolling field full of flowers, fruits and vegetables.

I like being out here, he said. It calms you down.

On a walk to the top of the hill, he points out certified organic heirloom tomatoes, beets, parsley, cilantro, sugar peas, squash, strawberries and lavender. His organic growing business, JSM Organics, grows a variety of crops but focuses heavily on strawberries.

In five years, Zamora, 43, has gone from near ruin to becoming a successful grower. He came to the United States from Michoacan, Mexico, at age 20 and climbed the ladder to success at a restaurant corporation in Los Angeles. He had a large home and expensive cars.

But the housing crisis in 2006-2007 sent his life into a tailspin. He, his wife Paola and two daughters wound up in a one-bedroom apartment. The couple decided to move to Stockton, where his wife had relatives. Zamora found work and went to school to obtain his GED.

One of his teachers encouraged him to go to college. He did and earned associate of science degrees in horticulture and landscaping, studying at Delta College in Stockton and Cabrillo College in Aptos.

The couple then moved to the Watsonville area, where Zamora worked for a flower grower. He then attended classes to learn how to become an organic grower at Agriculture and Land-Based Training Associaton (ALBA) in Salinas. He graduated and went off on his own.

I started with zero money zero. Just my passion for growing my own food, Zamora said.

He began by obtaining a $5,000 loan and leasing one acre of land. He now leases several farms, totaling 60 acres that he works with the help of more than 20 employees. He recently purchased 200 acres of his own in the Royal Oaks area.

Although he didnt start out to be a farmer, he grew up in a farming family in Mexico. His father farmed there and so do his brothers.

At 7, I was farming with them in Michoacan, Zamora said.

Today, he willingly shares his farming expertise with other growers and students. In April, he was honored at the Salinas Sports Complex by the Monterey County Resource Conservation Districts annual stewardship and scholarship barbecue. Zamora was presented with the Cooperator of the Year award.

This is my Oscar for farming, Zamora said after receiving the honor.

The award acknowledges his successful farming operation and his contributions to organics. He has developed contacts with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement projects and practices to address erosion, soil health, water quality and water conservation and pollinator and wildlife habitat on his ranches.

Zamora has shared his knowledge at the EcoFarm Conference, the Salinas Ag Expo, the Latino Farmer Conference and elsewhere. He also sits on the boards of ALBA, the USDAs Small Farmers and Ranchers Advisory Committee and the Pajaro Valley Water Management Association. He has even helped four of his employees start their own farming operations.

His lifes philosophy is about giving.

I think its more of how many people can you help and what can you leave behind, he said. I thank God and Im really blessed As long as were healthy and were still here and have a positive attitude I think we will be OK.

Tom Leyde is a freelance writer and former Californian staff member living in Salinas. Contact him at thomasthomas9330@sbcglobal.net.

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Javier Zamora outlines his path to growing organic produce - The Salinas Californian

While his peers were chasing B-school placements, MNC jobs, and the big moolah, Raghav decided to venture into organic farming.

In an age where people are chasing B-school placements and those big pay cheques, few choose to tread a different path and follow their passion.

For Raghav Baldwa, a 24-year-old from Indore, growing food organically, farming, and leading the lifestyle that it entails meant much more than pursuing a degree in business administration. And thats how Mangalam Organic Foods was born.

Raghav, who is an MBA dropout from T.A. Pai Management Institute, Manipal, began researching organic farming and its scope in India. The more time he spent learning about it, the more he was convinced of becoming an organic farmer and addressing the issues faced by farmers in the country.

Raghav, who took a keen interest in organic farming, soon found out that there were major grey areas in the field. I realised that no matter how educated people are, they give almost no importance to the source of the food they eat every day. Many people claiming to sell organic produce failed to show any certifications related to it. Using this level of ignorance and the lack of information, organic retailers started taking advantage of the situation, says Raghav.

Raghav also points out that most retailers who sell organic produce at a premium price do so without any certification from a public or private entity. The middlemen who claim to sell organic produce, meanwhile, often have no clue as to how and where the produce they are selling is grown.

Raghav was concerned about the huge problem that the use of pesticides and fertilisers was giving rise to. Be it the increasing health problems, the degrading quality of the land, or farmers woes, everything could be traced to how our food was grown, and thats exactly what Raghav decided to focus on.

Having witnessed ignorance and malpractice in his very hometown, Raghav decided to start organic farming the right way, and started Mangalam Organic Foods.

In May 2015, a month after dropping out of his MBA course, Raghav, along with his father, purchased 20 acres of barren land in Harjipura village, about 80 km from Indore.

The barren land was converted into highly fertile organic farmland using natural methods. We practisedchemical-free agriculture, and focused on all the naturalways. We consciously chose not to use any chemicals or fertilisers on our farmland. We used naturally grown neem manure, gobar manure made of cow dung, vermi compost, and so on. We use techniques such as crop rotation, manual weeding, mulching, and composting, says Raghav.

We received certification after high level scrutiny and multiple lab tests of our produce and soil in May 2016. Officials from MPSOCA (Madhya Pradesh State Organic Certification Agency) visit every now and then for surprise checks, says Raghav.

Apart from managing the land that has been purchased, Raghav is also working towards developing land by taking it on lease from farmers nearby. He is currently leasing lands from farmers who are in debt and have land to spare but no resources to cultivate it.

We prepare such land for farming, train those farmers in organic farming, and take care of all the certifications, rules, and regulations. Employing those farmers again on their land means that they do not have to shift to cities for work, says Raghav.

Raghav and his team are currently managing 42 acres of land, including land that is under lease from six different farmers. The venture employs over 150 farmers and workers.

The produce from the land is sold directly to the consumers, doing away with middlemen, which has allowed Mangalam Organic Foods to sell the produce at prices 15-20 percent lower than those in the market.

We even sell our produce to Big Basket in Indore, and also ship it on demand to various cities in MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. We are currently selling over four tonnes of produce every month, with some handsome month-on-month increases in sales, says Raghav.

Raghav and his family rely completely on the produce from the land. The land currently produces multiple crops on rotation, such as grains, pulses, vegetables, pomegranates, oranges, drum sticks, and pulses like tuar, moong, and urad. The farm also has 12 desi cows and four bulls, a gobar gas plant, and a vermicompost pit as well.

Raghav mostly lives on the farm now, and intends to make a homestay out of the place pretty soon. I want this to be a place where people get to take a break from their busy and hectic lifestyle. A couple of tree houses are already under construction. The idea is about making people acquainted with organic farming and its benefits while they enjoy a relaxing short stay, he says.

Raghav also hopes to launch organic food trucks, which can supply Indore according to a fixed bi-weekly schedule, so that people can buy organic produce at a highly competitive price at their ease.

Raghav is currently working on various methods to increase their production and yield, including a moisture sensing technology. Presently in its nascent stages, the technology would be able to sense the moisture in the soil, which can enable them to time watering accordingly and save a lot of water.

More here:

Dropping out of his MBA to become an organic farmer, this 24-year-old is lifting farmers out of debt - YourStory.com