The cost of organic foods is one of the major reasons behind their low adoption rate among the masses. Why are they so expensive? And is it feasible to bring down their cost anytime soon?

If you shop regularly at the supermarkets for your grocery and other household provisions, you would have most likely seen that all things organic are priced way higher thantheir regular variants, whether it's food, toiletries, beauty products orwhathave you (see the above chart on the online retail prices of 500 gm beaten rice (poha) for organic and non-organic varieties). You would have most likely also noticed that the organic sections are almost always thinly populated compared to the general sections. It's obvious that for the large majority of people price concerns get the better of the stated benefits of organic foods such as purity and wholesomeness.

But what makes organic foods so expensive? At the National Trade FairOrganics and Millets 2017, YourStory spoke to a variety of stakeholders in the organic food market to understand the reasons whether the situation is going to change anytime soon.

Organic foods are difficult to grow as they need high involvement and more time to grow. Moreover, lower yields of such crops and poor supply (still developing) chain further increases the production cost. Post-harvest processing and handling of organic food is a costly affair since the risk of contamination by chemical fertilisers, pesticides, etc. from water and neighboring farms is high. One of the biggest hurdles to the adoption of organic farming is the high fee for registration, accreditation and certification to become organic farmers.

While some of the above reasons have existed for decades, however, the government, cooperative societies and companies are working together to increase the adoption of organic farming and consumption of organic food in India.

One such body is the Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB), which was formed in 2013 to promote and coordinate the dispersed organic activities for organic farming in the state. According to Pankaj Kumar of UOCB, the organisation has certified 1.5 lakh farmers (with an area of 45 lakh hectares) under organic farming. The UOCB incorporates the internal control system which allows producer associations or groups to practice group certification, thus lowering its cost of certification. In addition, they also provide inputs based on their research and subsidised tools (for harvesting, farming, etc).

Nowadays, organic foods may appear to be a lucrative market for many, but there weren't many organised players in early 2000s. One of them, 24 Mantra Organic, claims to be the market leader in the organic food category across India with almost two-thirds of market share. Today, the decade-and-a-half-old company works with 40,000 farmers on 245,000 hectares of land across the country on a contract basis. But it hasnt been easy for the company to get farmers on board to do organic farming. Sunil Poovaiyah, Business Head for Exclusive Stores in Karnataka, says,

One of our key objectives is to provide sustainable livelihood to farmers. We take care of the education of the children of our dedicated farmers, and also organise their health checkups.

The company couldnt make profits for first 3-4 years because of the investments but with increased market size and awareness, its gunning for soaring profits now.

Ravi K, CEO of Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural and Ramanagara Districts Regional Farmers Co-operative Union, has been involved with organic farming since 2004 but formed the cooperative only in November 2015. Branded as Organic Market Federation, Bangalore, the cooperative operates in 32 hoblis (a hobli is a cluster of adjoining villages administered together for tax and land tenure purposes). Each hobli has 100 hectares of land under organic farming and the members (organic farmers) are provided with the support to directly supply the produce to companies. This ensures shorter credit cycles and they get paid within 10-15 days.

According to a study jointly conducted by industry lobby Assocham and private research firm TechSci Research in 2016, pegged at $0.50 billion, the organic food market in India is estimated to jump to $1.36 billion by 2020. This will still account for less than 0.5 percent of the total agriculture market size of India. There are numerous bodies across the country working to reduce (if not remove completely) the hurdles in adopting organic farming.

With more research and favorable policies, it's hoped that the demand for organic food will not be driven by metros only. After all, we were practicing only organic farming before the 70s. And given its sustainable nature, a step towards organic food (and farming) is a step towards a sustainable future.

Till the price of all things organic comes closer to their non-organic counterparts, lets bridge this gap with the awareness about the organic way of living.

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A primer on what makes organic foods so expensive - YourStory.com

bengaluru, Apr 29 Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies including ITC and Britannia, today evinced interest in foraying into the business of organic food products and millets.

"Organic products are the future for package food products because more consumers are seeking better ingredients..

On behalf of MTR-foods/75179" target=_blank>MTR Foods, the company has committed to use more millets in their products and support this initiative," MTR CEO Sanjay Sharma said at the National Organic and Millets Trade Fair 2017 here.

National Head of Buying and Merchandising, Big Basket, Sheshukumar said, Big Basket is propagating use of organic products among consumers because it is difficult to find all organic products under one roof with the help of state government which is linking them with farmers directly.

"It is a daring step by government.. No directory was available, but this is a very good thing which will help us link with the farmers directly.. Big Basket is propagating the organic products to consumers," he said.

Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, in the august company of retailers and FMCG companies, launched "Brand Siri Karnataka," which will ensure millets become rich man's saviour nationally and internationally.

The brand was selected keeping in mind the richness of millets to human health and wellness, he said.

Gowda also launched "Shresta Karnataka," a name selected keeping in mind the importance of organic farming practices to nature, environment and ecology.

"Siri Karnataka and Shreshta Karnataka will facilitate the organised marketing of these high quality food items," Gowda said.

"We will train farmer groups on grading, packing and quality aspects.. This is a big step towards 'From farmers to consumers' direct linkages," he added.

The brand name can be used only by those farmers who are certified or under the certification process, the Minister said.

"Only after three years (IC 1, IC 2, IC 3) are they certified fully organic.

Karnataka has the most stringent certification norms of all states," he added.

The farming federations of Karnataka, who engage in organic farming practices and the cultivation of millets, will be offered the usage of these brands to market their products and also earn better incomes through value added products that could be marketed under these brand names, Gowda said.

Next-Gen Food Startups, Big Organised and Progressive retailers can get in touch with the Organic cell running the programme, the minister added.

bengaluru, Apr 29 Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies including ITC and Britannia, today evinced interest in foraying into the business of organic food products and millets.

"Organic products are the future for package food products because more consumers are seeking better ingredients..

On behalf of MTR-foods/75179" target=_blank>MTR Foods, the company has committed to use more millets in their products and support this initiative," MTR CEO Sanjay Sharma said at the National Organic and Millets Trade Fair 2017 here.

National Head of Buying and Merchandising, Big Basket, Sheshukumar said, Big Basket is propagating use of organic products among consumers because it is difficult to find all organic products under one roof with the help of state government which is linking them with farmers directly.

"It is a daring step by government.. No directory was available, but this is a very good thing which will help us link with the farmers directly.. Big Basket is propagating the organic products to consumers," he said.

Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, in the august company of retailers and FMCG companies, launched "Brand Siri Karnataka," which will ensure millets become rich man's saviour nationally and internationally.

The brand was selected keeping in mind the richness of millets to human health and wellness, he said.

Gowda also launched "Shresta Karnataka," a name selected keeping in mind the importance of organic farming practices to nature, environment and ecology.

"Siri Karnataka and Shreshta Karnataka will facilitate the organised marketing of these high quality food items," Gowda said.

"We will train farmer groups on grading, packing and quality aspects.. This is a big step towards 'From farmers to consumers' direct linkages," he added.

The brand name can be used only by those farmers who are certified or under the certification process, the Minister said.

"Only after three years (IC 1, IC 2, IC 3) are they certified fully organic.

Karnataka has the most stringent certification norms of all states," he added.

The farming federations of Karnataka, who engage in organic farming practices and the cultivation of millets, will be offered the usage of these brands to market their products and also earn better incomes through value added products that could be marketed under these brand names, Gowda said.

Next-Gen Food Startups, Big Organised and Progressive retailers can get in touch with the Organic cell running the programme, the minister added.

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FMCGs eye organic food products, millets biz - Outlook India

BENGALURU: Even as the world laps up organic produce, India leads the way with highest acreage of land under organic production. Such is the demand, with a buoyant export market, that the central government body, Agricultural and Processed food products Export Development Authority (APEDA), has been assigned to regulate the sale of organic produce by ensuring each item is certified by a reputed agency.

However, 28 certification bodies approved by APEDA, each with different manuals, has made it a messy affair. While APEDA has laid out broad guidelines for certification of organic produce which have to be adhered for export of produce, there is no regulation for the domestic market.

According to the international Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (CCOA), Karnataka has 93,963 hectares of land either certified or in the process of certification as being organic in nature. Karnataka is third in production, with 2.82 lakh tonnes of food being considered organic.

Farmer producer organisations said certification is provided for Rs 35,000 per organisation. "We pay Rs 35,000 for certification from the Karnataka State Organic Certification Agency (KSOCA) for getting our produce authenticated as organic. The certification is for three years," Krupa T, president, Chitradurga and Davanagere Organic Farmers Federation, said.

The federation has 40 organisations with 3,800 farmers as members. When asked o whether the certification agency gives its seal of approval to every farmer's produce, Krupa said it is for the organisation. "The certification is meant for organisation which take the responsibility of the organic produce," Krupa said.

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Authentication of organic products a mess - Times of India

Hundreds of glamorous guests made the most of the hottest tickets in town lastnight for the VIP launch party for LIV Organic and Natural Food Market. Well-known faces mingled with business leaders and key invited guests at theglittering bash, held at the stunning new Bold Street site.

In keeping with LIVs healthy but tasty lifestyle offering, guests were treated todelicious mocktails and canapes, with a focus on fresh produce and the best localsuppliers.

A live pianist ensured that the party went with a swing, while suppliers were onhand to showcase some of their outstanding ranges of food, drink, beauty andlifestyle products on offer at the ethical department store.

Proving to be a huge hit in the heart of the citys booming food and drink quarteron Bold Street, LIV opened earlier this monthafter a 1 million investment and hasalready wowed customers, offering the expertise of specialist independentretailers with the convenience of a department store.

Inside the Art Deco grandeur of Radiant House, LIV boasts a spectacular 10,000 sqft market area, as well as a light and bright 50-seat eatery, and a large featurewall artwork, celebrating Liverpools world famous sights.

Friendly and welcoming, LIV is the new venture from Knowsley-based Healthy FoodSupplies. It puts customers at the heart of everything it offers, making sure thatproducts are high-end but not elitist, truly offering something for everyone.

LIVs Ashleigh Coleman says: The feedback we have had so far has been reallywonderful to hear, from delight in the design, to how friendly our staff are.Everyone has made us feel so welcome.I am delighted that so many people have been able to enjoy tonights launch partyand we look forward to welcoming them back in the weeks to come.

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WATCH: Hundreds check out Liverpool's brand new organic food store, LIV - The Guide Liverpool (press release) (blog)

Photo: Tom Reel /San Antonio Express-News

Cashier Arnoldo Crispin bags some items for Amanda Cavanaugh at the new Natural Grocers store at 6514 N. New Braunfels Ave.

Cashier Arnoldo Crispin bags some items for Amanda Cavanaugh at the new Natural Grocers store at 6514 N. New Braunfels Ave.

Kelly Ranson heads home with purchases at the new Natural Grocers store at 6514 N. New Braunfels Ave.

Kelly Ranson heads home with purchases at the new Natural Grocers store at 6514 N. New Braunfels Ave.

Jeannine Wild (left) and Josie Amodeo shop in the produce section at the new Natural Grocers store in Alamo Heights.

Jeannine Wild (left) and Josie Amodeo shop in the produce section at the new Natural Grocers store in Alamo Heights.

The new Natural Grocers store the companys second in San Antonio at 6514 N. New Braunfels Ave.

The new Natural Grocers store the companys second in San Antonio at 6514 N. New Braunfels Ave.

Grocery manager Julian Coronado talks with Jo Dornak and Daniel McFall at the new Natural Grocers store.

Grocery manager Julian Coronado talks with Jo Dornak and Daniel McFall at the new Natural Grocers store.

Michelle McClinton shops the fully stocked shelves.

Michelle McClinton shops the fully stocked shelves.

Leslie Palmer turns cruises by the refrigerated items.

Leslie Palmer turns cruises by the refrigerated items.

As organics become more mainstream, offerings in S.A. keep blooming

Mother and daughter Gina Hall and Ali Huser were scoping out the newly opened Natural Grocers store on North New Braunfels Avenue recently, checking out the organic produce, the humanely raised meats and the vitamins and supplements.

Hall joked that the selection reminded her of my hippie days, while Huser explained she was there because shed been born almost a vegetarian.

Both said they were happy to have the store in the Alamo Heights neighborhood the stores second location here and agreed theyd be back.

That these two women of different generations agreed that the store offered the kind of clean and green foods they are trying to eat more of says a lot about how the San Antonio grocery scene continues to evolve and how organic food has moved into the mainstream. As people become more watchful about what they put in their bodies and how diet affects health, more supermarkets are expanding their healthy offerings.

The situation in San Antonio reflects the rest of the country where sales of organic foods exceeded $35 billion in 2014 5 percent of total U.S. food sales according to the Organic Trade Association. And 51 percent of Americans reported buying more organics in 2015 than in 2014.

No surprise, then, that most of the nations largest retailers have publicly committed to offering more of these products to their customers.

In 2013, Target launched a line of organic, GMO-Free food called Simply Balanced. The next year, Walmart introduced its Wild Oats label.

Then last year Costco became the countrys top organic-food retailer with $4 billion in annual sales, compared to $3.6 billion for Austin-based Whole Foods Market, according to TheStreet.com. Costco highlights its organic offerings with green signage and often displays organics right next to conventionally raised produce for easy comparison.

As organics become ever more mainstream and these large chains duke it out for market share, prices continue to go down and consumers are paying ever less for organics.

Three pounds of organic bananas at the Schertz Costco store recently cost $1.99, versus $1.39 for the nonorganic. Two pounds of green beans were priced at $5.99 and $4.99, respectively. And 5.5 pounds of Gala apples went for $9.99 and $6.99.

San Antonio chef Elizabeth Johnson said she often finds organics cost less at her local Costco than from her traditional food purveyors.

With things like organic quinoa, basmati rice, dates, cashew pieces, youd be hard-pressed to find better prices than at Costco, said Johnson, owner of Pharm Table, which specializes in organic, plant-based cuisine.

A Costco representative declined to comment for this article.

The competition is good for consumers because supermarkets are no longer able to charge such a large premium on foods perceived as being clean, green and natural, said Rupesh D. Parikh, a senior analyst with Oppenheimer & Co. Overall, the market should continue to grow robustly, but well see see that growth spread out more widely among a larger number of players.

While a 2015 Consumer Reports survey found that organic foods were an average of 47 percent more expensive than their conventional counterparts, the difference shrank 8 percent between 2011 and 2015, according to the Organic Trade Association.

Walmart took one of the first shots across the organics bow when it introduced its Wild Oats brand in 2014, with prices that were, on average, 25 percent cheaper than national organics brands.

Even Whole Foods, which charges a premium for its healthy offerings earning it the derisive nickname Whole Paycheck is having to change its approach as customers migrate to lower-priced competitors.

Whole Foods previously announced it would be closing nine stores during the first quarter of this year. More recently it was rumored to be a takeover target of Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons, which once had 20 local stores, but left the San Antonio market in 2002.

In an effort to attract more price-sensitive consumers, particularly millennials, Whole Foods is launching an offshoot brand called 365 by Whole Foods Market that will feature a modern, streamlined design, innovative technology and a curated selection, said co-CEO of the company Walter Robb in an interview on NPRs Morning Edition. Prices there tend to be 15 percent to 20 percent lower than in the parent stores, according to Supermarket News.

There are now four 365 by Whole Foods stores open and a dozen more on the way, but the company currently has no plans to open any in the San Antonio area, said spokeswoman Rachel Malish.

The demand for organic foods is so great that at times it has strained supplies. To help guarantee theyll have enough produce, for example, retailers such as Costco and Whole Foods have reportedly offered loans directly to growers to help make the three-year transition from traditional to organic farming easier.

While San Antonio may have been slow to latch onto the trend, were catching up fast, according to observers.

H-E-B, the citys dominant grocery player, has been in the natural food space since the 1990s.

Weve always provided our customers with fresh, healthy food, H-E-B spokeswoman Julie Bedingfield said. But now were calling it out more, being more aggressive in telling our story.

In addition to selling its own private-label organics, the company last year rolled out Select Ingredients, a line of almost 400 products made without synthetic ingredients, including Red 40 and Yellow 5 artificial colors, bleached flour, partially hydrogenated oils and preservatives such as BHT, BHA and EDTA. More recently, it began pilot testing Wellness Centers in H-E-B Plus! stores where customers can watch healthy cooking demonstrations breakfast migas recently get copies of the recipes and buy the ingredients all in one centralized location.

There are currently Wellness Centers in H-E-B Plus! stores at Interstate 35 and FM 3009 and at Bandera Road and Loop 1604.

As one of the largest retail distributors of health and wellness products, we see this almost as the right thing to do, said Bedingfield. We saw this (move to health and wellness) coming two decades ago and we dont see it going away.

But San Antonio has had organic stores for almost 40 years.

Bexar County judge Nelson Wolff opened Sun Harvest, generally considered the citys first health food supermarket, in 1979.

Nobody came into the San Antonio market for years after we opened, he said of the chain he sold in 1999. Then folks like Whole Foods and Trader Joes showed that people were willing to pay more for food thats good for them.

The influx of new organic/natural stores to the area could be a sign of the citys rising income, but chef Johnson says it also reflects new people moving here.

Im seeing more San Antonians who are educated and have traveled and people whove moved here from elsewhere who are more interested in eating better, said Johnson of Pharm Table, Thats made it easier for these chains to justify coming here.

Whole Foods Market, the first grocer to be certified by the federal National Organic Program, entered the San Antonio market in 1993 near Wurzbach Road and Interstate 10 before moving to the Alamo Quarry Market in 1997. The second store, in the Vineyard Shopping Center on Blanco Road and Loop 1604, opened in 2012.

The chain sees San Antonio as a market for healthy food thats equal to any other in Texas.

Youve got amazing farmers markets and a very impressive, expanding restaurant scene, said Kelly Landrieu, a local forager for Whole Foods Markets Southwest Region. (Her title means shes responsible for finding new, locally made products for the store to carry.)

The citys growing food culture is one reason Natural Grocers opened its first store here on NW Military Highway in 2016, according to Clinthorne.

You folks have an undeserved reputation for not wanting to eat anything but chicken fried steak. And thats simply not true, he said.

In addition to selling only organic produce, Natural Grocers recently enhanced its vendor standards. Egg-laying hens, for example, must have access to shaded, outdoor yards where they can take socialize, perch and take dust baths to keep themselves clean and parasite-free. Dairy farms are required require to graze milk cows on managed pastures for a minimum of 120 days.

We gave our vendors plenty of time to adapt to these new requirements, Clinthorne said. But even so we had to drop a number of them because they couldnt or wouldnt meet the deadline.

As demand for this kind of food continues to grow, these vendors may be forced to reconsider their reluctance.

rmarini@express-news.net

Twitter: @RichardMarini

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As organics become more mainstream, offerings in SA keep - mySanAntonio.com

iStock/georgeclerk

The National Organic Standards Boardvoted last Friday to recommend the immediate enactment ofhigher animal welfare standards for organic meat and poultry. This enactment is projected totake effecton May 19.

The NOSB, which provides recommendations to the USDA for the organic label, voted unanimously in favor of the new regulations.

The standards, called the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices,were developed and finalized in January. Their implementation has already been delayed once, following the change of presidential administration; the regulationswere first intended to be enacted in March.

The rules require that animals be able to exhibit natural behaviors including sitting, walking, and stretching. The regulations also includeprovisions for livestock handling and transport for slaughter, and they clarify the definition of outdoor access for livestock, specifically egg-laying hens.

The increased amount of land required for egg producers to comply with the outdoor access rule specifically led the USDA to build in a five-year timeline for producers to meet this standard; other standards must be met within one year of the publication of the final rule to maintain organic certification.

While most organic egg producers and brands already meet these requirements, and nearly three-quarters of brands surveyed by the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfarehave a formal animal welfare policy in place, the National Pork Producers Council has communicated its intentions to repeal the regulations, and nearly 66 percent of companies havenot implemented a strong system for monitoring animal welfare.

A small handful of faux-ganic producers raise animals under the USDA Organic label in factory-farm-like conditions, explains the ASPCA, noting that it strongly applauds this vote, calling it a huge step for the NOSB.

Eighty-six percent of people who buy organic food support these improved welfare standards, according to a new Consumer Reports survey.

NOSB proposals for these standards date back to 1994, and a unanimous recommendation from the NOSB in 2011 led to the USDA proposing the changes in April of last year.

Related on Organic AuthorityLouisiana Gets an F in Humane Slaughter by Animal Welfare Institute Animal Welfare Now a Top Priority for Global Food Brands, Report Finds Animal Welfare Victory in Massachusetts Just Changed U.S. Livestock Production

Emily Monaco is an American food and culture writer based in Paris. She loves uncovering the stories behind ingredients and exposing the face of our food system, so that consumers can make educated choices. Her work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, Vice Munchies, and Serious Eats.

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NOSB Recommends Higher Animal Welfare Standards for Organic Label - Organic Authority

April 25, 2017 10:43 ET | Source: WESSANEN NEDERLAND HOLDING B.V.

Press information

Wessanen and Impact Hub run the 'Organic Foods Against Climate Change' challenge with eleven sustainable food entrepreneurs

Dutch food innovators are competing with each other and especially against climate change in Wessanen's accelerator programinassociation with Triodos Bank powered byImpact Hub Amsterdamand Crosswise Works.

Amsterdam, 25th April 2017 - Wessanen and Impact Hub Amsterdam announce the participants of the 'Organic Food Against Climate Change' challenge. Eleven food start-ups will follow an intensive, two-month program. During this program, they will learn how to accelerate and grow their business. The winner of the program will be announced at the end of June and will be rewarded with 10,000 and additional management guidance. Finally, this company gets access to Wessanen's extensive network.

During 3 training days and 4 master classes the entrepreneurs will be challenged to take action and inspire each other. "There are many entrepreneurs with fantastic ideas who strive to improve the world of food. We want to share our knowledge and help them to grow their business." Klaus Arntz adds.

The scouting and pre-selection phase started in February. Wessanen and Impact Hub were looking for small food companies that already have a proof of concept and the need to grow and scale up. Furthermore, participants were required to engage in one of the following matters:

These are the eleven Dutch food innovators who are going to work out in the next few months in the "Organic Food Against Climate Change" challenge:

Meet the 2017 cohort and find out more here: http://www.wessanen.com/en/newsroom/organic-food-against-climate-change/and http://amsterdam.impacthub.net/program/organic-food-against-climate-change/

On Social Media: #OFACC2017

Contact:

corporate.communications@wessanen.com

Company profiles:

Wessanen

At Wessanen, we focus on food that is good for people and for the planet. In most cases, foods which benefit our own health are also better for the planet, and vice versa. We have therefore defined our mission as 'Healthier food, healthier people, healthier planet'. We focus on our core categories dairy alternatives, sweet in betweens, bread and biscuit replacers, veggie meals, breakfast cereals and hot drinks.

Many of our brands are successful leaders of their respective markets. They all have strong local roots and are among the pioneers of the organic market in their country.

Brands like Bjorg, Allos, Kallo, Bonneterre, Isola Bio, Gayelord Hauser, Alter Eco, Zonnatura, Tartex, Clipper, Whole Earth, Mrs. Crimble's, Destination and El Granero are part of our family.

Further information at http://www.wessanen.com

Impact Hub

Impact Hub Amsterdam is part of the global Impact Hub community of social innovators with 15000+ members in 80+ locations. Since it was founded in 2008, Impact Hub Amsterdam has inspired, empowered and connected thousands of professionals to grow their impact. We do this through building and facilitating a strong network, organizing events, offering co-working space and a series of accelerator programs. The Impact Hub Amsterdam network consists of over 700 impact makers, innovators and investors. Yearly we welcome 10,000 visitors, organise more than 250 impact events, and accelerate over 150 entrepreneurs through our programs. See more at: amsterdam.impacthub.net

Triodos Bank

Founded in 1980, Triodos Bank has become a reference point for sustainable banking globally. Triodos Bank is an independent bank that promotes sustainable and transparent banking. It does not see any conflict between a focus on people and the planet and a good financial return. Instead it believes that they reinforce each other in the long-term. Triodos Bank has branches in the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Spain, Germany and an agency in France. It is a global authority in the field of microfinance in developing countries, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Triodos Bank co-founded the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, a network of 36 sustainable banks. Together these banks want to grow sustainable banking and its impact substantially. Triodos Bank N.V. has a full banking licence and is registered with The Nederlandsche Bank N.V. (the Dutch central bank) and The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. Most recent company information is available on Triodos Bank's website: http://www.triodos.com

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Kick off "Organic Food against Climate Change challenge" - GlobeNewswire (press release)

Cranberry Rock Farm owners Ron DiGravio and Cindy Townsend will talk about certified organic food and why is it beneficial to eat locally grown organic food at a May 4 Winthrop Lakes Region Chamber Breakfast talk, according to a press release from the chamber.

The breakfast begins at 7:15 a.m. in the Winthrop Commerce Center Community Room, 16 Commerce Plaza.

DiGravio and Townsend bought Cranberry Rock Farm in 2012 after the farm had not been in operation for 50 years. They will explain why organic is safer, more nutritious, and better for the environment than conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.

Located on 427 Pisgah Road in Winthrop, Cranberry Rock Farm is a certified organic farm, which requires following strict guidelines and Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association approval.

The Cranberry Rock Farm breakfast talk is open to the public. The cost is $7 for Chamber Members; and all others $10. RSVP not necessary.

For more information: [emailprotected], 207-778-1556 or Cranberry Rock Farm on Facebook. Contact the chamber at 377-8020 or [emailprotected]

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Winthrop chamber to host organic farmers - Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

Cuba Points to Urban Farming to Boost Organic Food Production

Not far from Havanas iconic Revolution Square, a Green plot of land offers a welcome break from the skyline and hubbub of Cubas capital.

More importantly, it guarantees the people an assortment of fresh Organic fruits and vegetables year-round.

This urban farm, like numerous others like it, grows leafy greens, such as cabbage, lettuce, chard and occasionally arugula, ensuring fresh vegetables feature on local dinner tables.

Thanks to a government program begun 30 yrs ago, urban farms today produce more than 1-M tonnes of Organic crops.

The program, which has spread across the country and is present in almost all major cities, was strengthened in the early 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union, then Cubas main political and economic ally.

The produce goes from the plot to our plates, says a retiree, who at least once a week visits the urban farm near her home in a populous Havana neighborhood.

It is a good source of Organic vegetables to complement the typical Cuban dish of rice, beans and pork, she said.

By Y 2020, government plans to invest more than $96-M, 80% from international financing to expand urban farms, according to the programs executive director.

The investment will be earmarked to develop irrigation, seed production, organic fertilizers, agro-ecological management and use of renewable energy, among other aspects, he recently told a Congress of urban, suburban and family agriculture in Havana.

As part of the program, locals will receive training to produce Organic vegetables and fruits, including local production of seeds, organic fertilizers, farm implements, bio-control and other factors.

Director of development for Cubas Agricultural Business Group, Alina Beltran, said the program has in the past year produced 70% of the lettuce seeds it needs, 80% of the Chinese cabbage seeds and 40% of radish seeds.

The program also teaches children how to plant and harvest vegetables, herbs and fruits.

By Y 2019, officials expect to produce around 1.2-M tonnes of Organic fruits and vegetables at 10,000 hectares of urban farms throughout Cuba.

Agriculture production is a priority of the national push to modernize the economic and productive system, with the goal of producing up to 60% of the countrys food needs.

Cuba currently spends some $2-B a year on imported food products, according to government officials.

Eat healthy, Be healthy, Live lively

Cuba, farms, fruits, government, organic, produce, program, urban, vegetables

Paul A. Ebeling, polymath, excels in diverse fields of knowledge. Pattern Recognition Analyst in Equities, Commodities and Foreign Exchange and author of The Red Roadmasters Technical Report on the US Major Market Indices, a highly regarded, weekly financial market letter, he is also a philosopher, issuing insights on a wide range of subjects to a following of over 250,000 cohorts. An international audience of opinion makers, business leaders, and global organizations recognizes Ebeling as an expert.

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Cuba Points to Urban Farming to Boost Organic Food Production - Live Trading News

More than 800 residents spread around the northeast metro area have joined a Stapleton-based food cooperative with the goal of building an organic and locally sourced food market in north Aurora, across from the Stanley Marketplace.

This is a consumer-owned grocery store. We would purchase our food from local growers and source as much of our food locally as possible, said Stapleton resident and chair of Nourish Community Markets board of directors, Thomas Spahr. Our concept came from a group of neighbors in Stapleton who got together in 2009 and wanted an alternative to King Soopers.

But Stapleton alone doesnt havea big enough community to viably serve an independent, full-service grocery store.

We talked to Natural Grocers, Whole Foods and Sprouts about trying to come out to Stapleton, and none of them were interested, Spahr said. So, we decided to build it ourselves and make it something a little bit more inclusive of different neighborhoods like Park Hill, Northwest Aurora, Hoffman Heights and East Colfax.

So residents formed The Northeast Community Co-op Market, which incorporated as a Colorado cooperative in July 2014. In 2016, members rebranded the entire co-op organization as Nourish Community Market.

Since then, the primary goal of the group has been to gather enough members and enough money to feasibly build a marketplace at 2352 Dallas St. The store would go on the ground level of The Heights at Westerly Creek Village, a planned mixed-use condo development. Today, that land is an auto lot that is owned by one of the co-op members.

Were a ways out from breaking ground yet, Spahr said. Right now, the co-op has an agreement for that space that is contingent upon us getting our financing in order. We still have time to get there, but were exploring what its actually going to take to raise enough money to build in this location.

Right now, the co-op has about 802 members. Each members initial buy-in is $200. That money will go toward building about40 percent equity on the overall $4 million development cost of building a 10,000-square-foot grocery store from the ground up.

The co-op aims to have about 1,500 member-owners by July 1 in order to spread the financial risk among a larger pool of investors.

I was in Idaho before we moved to Aurora two years ago, and I grew up with a co-op just a couple blocks down the street the Boise Co-op, said Carolyn Pace, Nourish Community Market member who lives near the proposed market site in northeast Aurora. I always thought that every community had these, so it was interesting to move to such a big city and find out that theres no co-op here.

Organizers for Nourish Community Market are targeting Stapleton and northwest Aurora as their service zone because the communities are what members call food deserts; places devoid of fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthy whole foods.

I think of the area more as a food swamp than a food desert, Pace said. There are a lot of options, but its kind of a glut of unhealthy choices. It can be challenging to find a nutritious, affordable meal on East Colfax. I think providing access to those kinds of foods is a needed thing in this area.

In 2016, the co-op launched the Nourish Fresh Food Program, a food-box program delivering pesticide-free food farm Colorado Farms to the heart of Stapleton each week.

Ultimately, what were trying to do is develop a model that works, Spahr said. The grocery business is a difficult market to succeed in for startups, especially produce, but weve contracted with consultants who have done this many times over throughout the nation. Its financially challenging, but it isnt anything that any small business hasnt overcome. And this is something that the community really needs.

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Major grocery chains said no. So hundreds in north Aurora are making an organic food co-op. - The Denver Post