SMITHFIELD Its getting green again on the Tom and Linda Schwarz farm south of Smithfield, at least in the greenhouses where tiny mint and mustard plants were the first to emerge in early March from the organic soil sourced from Wisconsin dairy.

The four 30-foot wide greenhouses one is 100 feet long, two are each 72 feet long and one is 50 feet long first were used during the 2011 growing season.

They represent the latest steps in the Schwarz Family Farm transition from a traditional commodity grain, hay and livestock farm to an added-value enterprise now specializing in certified organic crops and produce. Tom said he now is planning to return cattle to the farms diverse mix of food and feed products.

Were thinking about starting some grasses for people to use in their yards, Linda added.

The family part of the six-generation farm has included daughter, Becky, as marketing director since she graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2010 and son, Alex, who was sales manager from after his Chadron State College graduation in 2008 until recently. Alex now lives and works in Kearney.

With Alex out of it, we need to figure out what we can do with one less person, Becky said.

It certainly wont be the first time the family has adapted to change.

Tom said that after he and Linda were married in 1984, he farmed with his dad, Paul Pete Schwarz. They had livestock and crops irrigated with surface water delivered by Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and groundwater.

We were farming on a large scale, 2,500 acres irrigated, Tom said, which required hired help.

In the 1990s, his dad said it was time to scale back to what he and Tom could handle on their own. After Pete died in 1997, the acres shrunk again as the family settled the estate.

Tom said that over 10 years, they had cut the farm enterprise in half and then cut it in half again. We couldnt work in the traditional sense. We had to change our thinking, he said. All you are is lunch, in time, for those big guys unless you build a different house.

So they transitioned into the only organic farm in Gosper County.

Tom said it was a good fit with the hay grinding business they had started in the early 1980s. They now use a rotation of organic irrigated corns, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa.

Hes looking at feeding some calves with rotational grazing of annual and perennial forages under pivot irrigation.

Becky said she also has an idea for raising some pasture pigs in the future.

Weve gotta break out of this traditional mentality of this is how you farm get out of thinking about commodities and (think) about customers, Tom said about a key to the future for many ag producers.

He said farmers and ranchers need to produce the products consumers want and deliver them when they want them. If people want non-GMO, we can raise non-GMO. If they want GMO, we can grow GMOs, he added.

Tom said his family prefers to grow food-grade crops. He explained that if they cant sell food-grade corn for a premium, it still can be sold as a commodity. The oats they grow can be sold as food, seed or feed.

A huge part of earning premiums for certified organic products is keeping the detailed records required. Record keeping requirements for organic are enormous, Tom said. Thats what Linda does almost full time.

Linda said she submits an application due each March for an annual recertification. At least one inspector comes to the farm to collect crop samples to test for GMO hybrids and pesticide use.

There are trade-offs with organic production, the Schwarzes said. Chemical and fertilizer costs arent as high, but there is more labor involved.

So instead of writing a check to Monsanto, we write checks to our kids, Tom joked.

Seasonal employees are needed to tend the greenhouse plants. Linda said there were seven teens hired last summer, six from Holdrege and one from Bertrand.

There is a lot of pruning with tomatoes, she said. They also do a lot of transplanting and packaging.

Linda and Becky oversee the produce production, while Tom farms the field crops.

Like all farmers, they weigh the pros and cons of different crops each year.

Tom said the Palmer amaranth infestation in south-central Nebraska soybean fields last year was just killing us. It also is an issue for a calf feeding plan that includes roasted soybeans, which are digested farther down the digestive track than alfalfa and other feeds.

Most produce is grown in the greenhouses, although Becky grew some garlic, onions, leeks and jalapeos, and a little okra outside last year.

Linda said the smallest greenhouse has perennial herbs and overflow from the other three. Its the only one heated over the winter, she said, so its home to anything that might freeze.

The 100-foot-long greenhouse is the starter site for most plants and where sugar pea greens are grown. The two middle-size, movable greenhouses are where most tomatoes, peppers, white carrots and beets are grown.

The major market for Schwarz Family Farm produce is Hy-Vee, primarily Omaha and Lincoln area stores. Some also goes to the Grand Island and Kearney stores.

We literally call them up when we have things ready, Tom said. Some stores take a bunch and some take a little. Theres no rhyme or reason.

Becky transports most of the produce in a refrigerated delivery truck or sometimes a Toyota 4Runner with the air conditioner set on high.

I would really prefer it if we could hit the early tomato market, by the first of June, but that can be a challenge, Tom said, explaining that the best premiums are paid for produce delivered earlier or later than the big seasons for other commercial growers and home gardeners.

Most of the organic grain, which must be identity preserved, is marketed through Scoular, which has an organic division. The Schwarzes leave the wheat in their bins and Scoular picks it up there for the markets the company serves.

Tom said a lot of corn goes to a Chase, Kan., egg producer and some soybeans go to dairies that have their own soybean roasters.

Much of the organic alfalfa is sold to area conventional buyers, he said, because its hard to haul hay long distances.

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Schwarz family prepares to add cattle to diverse organic food and feed production - Kearney Hub

PHOENIX - Organic foods are really popularand usually expensive. But what are you really getting for the price?

Were breaking down three myths about organic food.

Myth number one: Organic foods are automatically healthier.

Not quite. Experts say there isnt a lot of evidence one way or the other about the healthfulness of organic versus conventional produce. However, registered dietician Sarah Martinelli with ASU School of Nutrition and Health Promotion says some organic meats can have a higher amount of good fat.

Myth number two: Organic and natural foods are the same.

Theyre not. Organic foods have to come from USDA certified organic farmers. They have to adhere to strict growing standards and use fewer pesticides. And higher prices for organic foods are often due to the cost of maintaining safer water and soil protection.

The natural label is much broader.

It just means nothing artificial but it doesn't address how things are produced, Martinelli said.

Myth number three: Health food stores only sell healthy food

Just because its a health-focused store like maybe Sprouts or Trader Joes or Whole Foods, it doesn't mean that every product they sell is good for you, Martinelli said.

No matter which foods you get, Martinelli says washing produce with water and friction significantly reduces pesticides.

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Call volunteers with the Assistance League of Phoenix at 855-323-1515, email me at Joe@abc15.com or contact me on Facebook or Twitter.

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3 myths about organic foods you need to know - ABC15 Arizona - ABC15 Arizona

Dear Editor:

This is big business, literally. I am not making a judgment about the affect on the nutritional needs of the human body, but I have to question their advertised nutritional affects. That is where the big business aspect comes in to play.

Do you the consumer, realize how much extra you are paying for organic or non GMO foods? Are you aware of the truth about GMO products? Do you know that there is no scientific proof, at all, that GMO foods are harmful to the body? This rumor was started years ago and to this day nobody can provide one shred of evidence that GMOs are harmful. But on the other hand it has been proven more products can be produced on less acres, using less water, less fuel, and less herbicides to harvest and feed more people, worldwide. Now what about the benefits? This part of the equation can be answered by the retailers.

They are making a killing. Some times twice the price of non organic or GMO.

Many of the same questions can be applied to organic foods. The Food and Drug Administration has strict rules that govern the production and distribution of foods raised on our farms.

One example-Honey, how can organic honey be produced? Can that little bee, be told where he can go to get his ingredients? But the retailers do not have to prove what makes his product organic. He just ups the price, puts his label on and collects his money.

You the consumer are paying for all of this. It might be wise for you the consumer to contact our geneticists at the U of I or some of our honey producers and get their opinion.

Concerned Citizen,

John Gilliam

Lenore

Excerpt from:

Letter to the Editor: Should we be concerned about organic foods? - Clearwater Tribune

Many people -- from consumers and farmers to scientists and international organizations -- believe that organic agriculture can produce enough nutritious food to feed the world without destroying the environment, while being more resilient to climate change and improving the livelihoods of farmers.

We discovered that organic farming does matter -- just not in the way most people think.

Compared to a neighboring conventional farm, an organic farm at first appears to be better for the environment. But that's not the whole story. Here's how it breaks down.

What's good: Organic farms provide higher biodiversity, hosting more bees, birds and butterflies. They also have higher soil and water quality and emit fewer greenhouse gases.

The jury's still out on whether the consumer is better off, too.

What's good: For consumers in countries with weak pesticide regulations, like India, organic food reduces pesticide exposure. Organic ingredients also most likely have slightly higher levels of some vitamins and secondary metabolites.

Organic methods bring certain benefits for farmers, some costs and many unknowns.

What's not-so-good: We still don't know whether organic farms pay higher wages or offer better working conditions than conventional farms. Organic farm workers are most likely exploited in similar ways as those tilling the fields on conventional farms.

In short, we cannot determine yet whether organic agriculture could feed the world and reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture while providing decent jobs and giving consumers affordable, nutritious food.

It's a lot to ask of one industry, and there are still just too many unanswered questions. Some of these questions relate to agriculture, such as whether organic farms can eventually close the yield gap with conventional farms and whether there are enough organic fertilizers to produce all the world's food organically.

But some questions are also about humanity's collective future. Can people in the rich world learn to change our diet and reduce food waste to avoid having to increase food production as the global population grows? And are enough people willing to work in agriculture to meet the needs of labor-intensive organic farms?

A more useful question is whether we should continue to eat organic food and expand investment in organic farming. Here the answer is a definitive yes.

Organic agriculture shows significant promises in many areas. We would be foolish not to consider it an important tool in developing more sustainable global agriculture.

So yes, you should identify and support those organic farms that are doing a great job of producing environmentally friendly, economically viable, and socially just food. Conscientious consumers can also push to improve organic farming where it is not doing so well -- for example on yields and worker rights.

As scientists, we must close some of the critical knowledge gaps about this farming system to better understand its achievements and help address its challenges.

But in the meantime, everyone can learn from successful organic farms and help improve the other 99% of agriculture that's feeding the world today.

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Organic farming matters - just not in the way you think - CNN.com - CNN

MINNEAPOLIS Organic cotton textiles register no more than a footnote in the worlds cotton production, but Vishal Naithani wants to change that.

His company, Sustained Organic Living in suburban Minneapolis, selects certified organic cotton grown in India with non-GMO seeds. The products are made using only fair trade labor on the farms and in the factories.

The challenge for Naithani and his company, which is also known as Sol Organics, is to be able to create the level of interest among consumers for organic apparel that has been generated for organic food. For now, his chief weapon is price: He aims to price his products significantly lower than his online competitors and on par with high-quality bedding that is not fair trade organic.

Every family should have access to affordable organic cotton just like they have access to affordable organic food, he said. It shouldnt be only the wealthy who can afford premium products.

Sol Organics is one of a number of companies offering organic, fair trade textiles online or in stores. Companies such as Boll & Branch and Patagonia sell them. West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Target feature organic cotton that may or may not be fair trade. Naithani said Sol Organics is the only Minnesota-based company to do so.

Part of the reason Naithani acts as a maverick is that organic cotton hasnt grabbed the consumers attention like organic milk, produce and poultry.

Shoppers arent ingesting organic cotton as they do organic foods, so they may not see the benefit, said Mary Brett Whitfield, senior vice president at Kantar Retail, a retail consulting business. We havent trained shoppers to think about how cotton is grown or how it fits in the environmental food chain.

Conventionally grown cottons critics say the so-called fabric of our lives is a crop that requires lots of water and chemicals to grow. A pesticide-intensive crop, conventional cotton uses more than an average amount of pesticides, although the amount is in dispute.

Cotton covers 2.5 percent of the worlds cultivated land, yet growers use an estimated 10 to 25 percent of the worlds pesticides, according to Rodale Institute, a Pennsylvania organic farm and researcher. AMIS Global, an agriculture data firm, estimates the pesticide usage for cotton at closer to 5 percent, according to Cotton Inc., a U.S. trade organization.

In India, where more than 20 percent of the worlds cotton is grown, child labor is common. According to a Harris Poll conducted in 2016, three in five consumers would not purchase a cotton product if they knew it was picked by children or forced labor.

Naithani and others in the business believe that, in time, more consumers will search out organic sheets, towels and clothing. Only 5 percent of consumers purchase organic clothing, slightly higher among millennials, according to Kantar Retail.

The average price paid for a queen sheet set in the U.S. is $80, but organic cotton sets (300 thread count sateen) start at $240 at BollandBranch.com and $258 at Coyuchi.com.

At the wholesale level, organic, fair trade cotton costs only about 15 percent more than conventional cotton, Naithani said. He doubles the cost of the goods for his retail price while competitors triple the cost, he said.

The only way to get people to convert to buying organic cotton is to keep prices competitive. Costco and Wal-Mart have made organic food affordable, he said. We want to do the same for organic cotton.

At $119 for a queen set and $139 for a king set at solorganix.com (after a $40 instant savings), his prices are 30 to 50 percent less than comparable products online, but still nearly double what a conventional set costs at Kohls or J.C. Penney.

Naithani hopes to drop the price of his queen-sized set to $99 within two years, once the product reaches critical mass. Affordability is the tipping point, he said. It promotes access, which in turn creates demand and conversion to organic cotton.

Brett Whitfield sees organic cotton as early in its life cycle but poised for growth. Target and Pottery Barn recently expanded their organic textiles selection. Pottery Barns spring collections show fair trade, organic sheets and towels.

Target, which already had organic cotton sheets, clothes and baby items, added organic in its new Cat & Jack kids line. Its recent pledge to remove perfluorinated chemicals and flame retardants from textiles by 2022 shows a long-term commitment.

We know organic cotton is important to our guests, said Erika Winkels, a Target spokeswoman. It will continue to grow in the future, whether its home or apparel. Its not the be-all-end-all, but its important.

Naithani, who also sells his product on Amazon, hopes to break $1 million in annual sheet sales by next month. Thats still a fraction of the online retailer Boll & Branch, which sold about $40 million in organic fair trade sheets and towels in 2016.

Sols products are getting four- and five-star reviews online. His return rate is an enviably low 2.5 percent.

Increasing the demand for organic cotton creates this tremendous upside where everyone wins, the farmer, the consumer and the earth, he said.

Read more:

Can organic cotton become as mainstream as organic food? - Mesabi Daily News

Mandy L. Puckett 9:01 a.m. ET March 22, 2017

Mandy Puckett(Photo: Photo provided)

The organic food business is growing rapidly. Nearly 70 percent of Americans buy organic food occasionally and nearly 25 percent buy it weekly. Organic food can be costly, so be sure to look for the USDA seal on any kind of packaged food to ensure youre getting antibiotic and hormone-free products.

What is the definition of organic?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines organic products by stating they have been produced through approved methods that integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balanceand conserve biodiversity. The national organic standards forbid the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, sewage sludge, irradiationand genetic engineering to grow fruits, nuts, vegetablesand grains. Also, organic meat and poultry cant be irradiated and the animals must have access to the outdoors, plus cant be given any growth hormones, antibiotics, or other drugs. All feed must be 100 percent organic, with no animal by-products.

Furthermore, it is important to clarify that organic focuses more on how the crops were grown or the animals were raised, rather than on the nutrients the food provides.

How is organic defined for food product labeling?

100 percent organic: Made with 100 percentorganic ingredients

Organic: Made with at least 95 percentorganic ingredients

Made with Organic Ingredients: Made with a minimum of 70 percentorganic ingredients with strict restrictions on the remaining 30 percentincluding no GMOs (genetically modified organisms).

What are reasons to choose organic?

Individuals choose to include organic foods in their diet for several reasons, such as to reduce or avoid toxins (pesticides, herbicides, etc.), to avoid genetically modified foods, because they prefer the taste of organic food, for protection of the environment, and due to perceived nutritional benefits.

If your reason in choosing organic food is to limit exposure to pesticides, antibiotics, etc., then you are making a good choice. Research has found that organically grown crops consistently have about one-third as many pesticide residues compared to conventionally grown versions. Organic foods are also less likely to contain residues of more than one pesticide.

However, if you are choosing organic foods because you feel they provide a better source of nutrition, that is still up for debate.Currently, there is limited scientific evidence that shows that organically produced foods are in fact more nutritious in comparison to conventionally grown food. Similarly, taste and appearance of organic compared to conventionally grown foods tend to not show a significant difference either.Choosing fresh food is the best way to ensure you are consuming food at its peak of nutrition and best taste, whether organic or conventional.

RELATED:

Local organic grocery store owner takes aim at city support for Fresh Thyme

Muncie Makers Market joins Indiana Grown

What foods should you always, whenever possible, buy organic?

Ultimately, choosing to buy organic foods is a personal decision.Cost tends to be the more significant barrier in choosing to eat organic foods as they typically are priced 20-100 percenthigher than their conventionally raised counterparts.

If you would like to incorporate some organic foods, but your food budget does not allow for a full shift, you can use the Environmental Working Group (EWG) as a guide to selecting produce as a place to start. Based on the EWG analysis of tests performed by the USDA, they identify each year the top 12 foods that should be purchased organic when possible due to their high pesticide residuals.For 2017 the EWGs Dirty Dozen includes, in order,strawberries (one of their key findings was a single sample of strawberries showed 20 different pesticides), spinach, nectarines, apples, peaches, celery, grapes, pears, cherries, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers and potatoes.

Are there any foods that dont necessarily need to be organic? Opposite of the Dirty Dozen is the EWGs Clean 15.The 2017 Clean Fifteen list of produce least likely to contain pesticide residues included sweet corn, avocados, pineapples, cabbage, onions, frozen sweet peas, papayas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplant, honeydew melon, kiwis, cantaloupe, cauliflower and grapefruit. The EWG reported that there were relatively few pesticides detected on these foods, and tests found low total concentrations of pesticide residues on them.

What produce is in-season in the spring?

Choosing produce that is in season is one way to control food cost. This spring look to include asparagus, broccoli, snap peas, green beans and a variety of lettuces.

Mandy L. Puckett is the manager of clinical nutrition and weight management at the IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Bariatric andMedical Weight Loss Center. For more information, visit http://www.iuhealth.org/ball-memorial.

Read or Share this story: http://tspne.ws/2mPzadl

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Ask the Expert: How (and why) to eat organic - Muncie Star Press

Gluten-free bakery goods, organically grown food and even fresh dog and cat food is catching the publics eye these days and the interest in these products is helping to drive changes at Goodwin and Sons Market in Crestline.

We have been adding organically grown fresh vegetables and fruits to our produce section and the public loves it, said Mike Johnstone, store manager. We started out with just a four-foot section of produce and have expanded that to 12 feet. Weve been expanding our fresh organic line to where we even have a dry rack at the front.

Johnstone said that some of the most popular produce items are organically grown bananas and unique items such as golden beets.

One of his main suppliers is Alberts Organics, the nations leading distributor of quality organically grown fresh produce and perishable items, including meat, dairy, soy products, juices/beverages, and much more.

The golden beets we sell are very popular and have a sweeter taste, he said.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, consumer demand for organically produced goods continues to show double-digit growth, providing market incentives for U.S. farmers across a broad range of products.

Organic products are now available in nearly 20,000 natural food stores and nearly three-out-of-four conventional grocery stores. Organic sales account for over 4 percent of total U.S. food sales, according to recent industry statistics.

U.S. sales of organic products were an estimated $28.4 billion in 2012and was projected to reach an estimated $35 billion in 2014. Fresh fruits and vegetables have been the top-selling category of organically grown food since the organic food industry started retailing products over three decades ago, and they are still outselling other food categories, according to the Nutrition Business Journal.

Produce accounted for 43 percent of U.S. organic food sales in 2012, followed by dairy (15 percent), packaged/prepared foods (11 percent), beverages (11 percent), bread/grains (9 percent), snack foods (5 percent), meat/fish/poultry (3 percent), and condiments (3 percent).

Our customers really enjoy the idea of taking home fresh organic produce and our need to keep adding to our produce section shows that, Johnstone said.

Also popular these days are gluten-free baked items and gluten-free baking supplies and products.

We now have a section of the store solely devoted to gluten-free items, and we organized it so that these products would all be in one area to make it easier on our customers, he said.

Goodwins also has brought gluten-free into its bakery.

Our specialty baker, Katharine DeClerck, has been adding a number of items, from breads to cookies, to our lineup, Johnstone said. The gluten-free baked goods have been really popular.

The items complement the stores lineup of fresh-squeezed organic juices from the juice bar, next to the coffee bar.

Johnstone also added that the publics interest in organic food extends to the stores lineup of pet food.

Recently Goodwins added a refrigerated display case featuring fresh pet products from Freshpet, a New Jersey-based company.

Packed with vitamins and proteins, our meals offer fresh meats, poultry and vegetables, farmed locally, according to the company. The Freshpet kitchens then thoughtfully prepare these natural ingredients and everyday essentials. We cook in small batches at lower temperatures to preserve key nutrients. That way, your pet gets the best.

Johnstone said that Goodwins will keep adding organic and gluten-free products to the stores lineup because the demand is there.

Its just amazing, he added.

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Goodwin's Adds Organic, Gluten-Free Items - Mountain News

ABU DHABI // A new government programme is making local organic produce not only more readily available in supermarkets around the country but also more affordable in comparison with its more expensive, imported counterpart.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has made a concerted push in recent years to subsidise farming equipment, provide expertise and connect local farmers with supermarkets to help market their products.

On Tuesday, Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, launched the programme whereby local produce will be made available in shops around the country.

"Its part of the countrys strategic goal to produce more food and we, of course, need to research new technologies and ways to make organic food a viable option for everyone," said Dr Al Zeyoudi at the opening of a Lulu hypermarket at Mushrif Mall.

Last week, he spoke at the Federal National Council about how his ministry would continue to support the sale of local produce, address the challenges the industry faced and that it soon planned to sign an agreement with Carrefour to market local fruit and vegetables.

Local produce becoming more prevalent includes zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes and eggplants. Dr Al Zeyoudi said the ministry had investments in other countries, and dates are being exported to 45 countries.

The idea is to work with farmers across the country using organic, hydroponic and commercially grown produce and support them in getting it into local supermarkets at competitive prices.

The growth of organic farm land in the UAE has gone from 2,360 acres in 2009 to 45,890 acres last year. The ministry also provided farming equipment, including tools for organic and hydroponic farming, at half price.

In some cases, support for the organic and local farmers from the ministry is allowing them to market produce at a price point equal to or lower than imported counterparts as is the case with tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, capsicum and cucumber.

"My dream is to have all the organic prices be lower than usual. We want to push nutritious products to the market," said Rashid Al Kitbi, whos been growing organic for the last 10 years on his farm.

He said that not much research has been done on the effects of chemicals used in modern pesticides and inorganic farming supplements, to the extent that being safe and eating organic not only provides more nutrition but also a safeguard against diseases.

Mr Al Kitbi teaches workshops around the UAE on ways in which urban farming can be done and ways to promote healthy diets in the country.

"Look at all these modern diseases, cancer and what not. It needs to be researched but, when you eat food the way it was intended, you feel it inside that youre doing something good for your body and good for your family," said the Emirati.

The organic UAE brand, which is mostly in line with European organic standards, is now available in Union Co-Ops around the country and in Lulu Hypermarkets in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Tawfik Ibrahim, executive chef of Yadoos House, an Emirati restaurant, said that organic produce is sometimes at a reasonable price point that allows him to buy local.

"It honestly all depends but, whenever we can, we try to buy local as long as the quality is up to par. Of course sometimes, what we need is not available but we try as much as we can," he said.

Cooking Emirati dishes requires fresh ingredients but that is not an issue when buying local.

"Thats whats nice about buying local, you dont have to worry about freshness. But when it comes to organic, sometimes its too expensive," he said.

More supermarkets will soon be involved in the programme, allowing for more local products to be sold in those shops, said a spokesman from the ministry.

nalwasmi@thenational.ae

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UAE Government backs local organic produce - The National

Mayan farmers inthe states of Campeche and Quintana Roo have become players inthe global chewing gum market with their unique and organic product.

Sold under the brand Chicza Organic Rainforest Gum, the biodegradable chewing gum was launchedin 2009 and has since expanded to 26 European countries, Canada and the United States.

Introduced to the global market during BioFach 2009, the worlds largest trade fairfor organic food, Chicza was chosen as one of the top 20 original products.

Chicza is madefrom raw latex obtained from the sustainable harvestof the chicozapote tree by Consorcio Chiclero, an umbrella cooperativethat brings together 40 groupsrepresenting some 2,000 small producers from the two southeastern states.

The cooperativeprovidesgum producers with social security, scholarships and other benefits, improving the quality of life of their families.

The chicozapote, or Manilkara zapota, trees from which the latex is taken are located in a 1.3-million-hectare region of rainforest with organic certification.

Chicza chewing gum is produced in Campeche and Quintana Roo. (PHOTO: chicza.com.uk)

The cooperative produces 40 tonnes of flavored chewing gum annually, whilean additional 100 tonnes of raw gum are exported every year to Japan and Singapore, which have been buying Campeche and Quintana Roo gum for over 100years.

The processed gum comes in fiveflavors, lime, cinnamon, mint, spearmint and mixed berry.

With officesin Quintana Roo and the United Kingdom, Consorcio Chiclero oversees all stages of the production chain, from cultivation to distribution and exporting the finished product.

CEO Manuel Alderete Terrazas saysChicza is proof that the privatesector doesnt have to be at odds with the environment.

Source: mexiconewsdaily.com

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Mayan chewing gum penetrates global organic-foods market - The Yucatan Times

By: Danielle Pucillo

Its not uncommon to hear people bragging about the fact that they only eat organic food. But what benefits does eating organic really have? This is something I ponder every time I step into a Whole Foods Market and see customers piling their carts high with organic brownies, cheese and frozen burritos. When you peel off the organic label and look at the nutritional facts, these foods are not any healthier than their conventional counterparts.

Any meat and poultry considered organic does not contain growth hormones and antibiotics. This is all good and plenty, but there seems to be a common misconception about many of these foods: apparently eating anything labeled organic automatically means its healthier than conventional foods.

When people go on a health kick, the first instinct is to look towards any food besides the staple junk foods. But it seems that its an increasingly common practice to replace the conventional junk food with organic junk food, such as organic Oreo cookies, Kraft macaroni and cheese and toaster pastries. Doing minimal research and simply throwing food into your cart that has an organic label is not enough to lose weight or be healthy. Everyone has different nutritional needs, and we all have an individual chemistry that affects how our bodies process the food we eat. Organic food may be free of pesticides and antibiotics, but it doesnt have any less fat, sugar or carbohydrates than conventional food.

Its been proven by researchers at Stanford that there is little to no evidence that proves organic food has higher nutritional value or fewer health risks. What determines if produce and livestock are healthy is the quality of farming practices involved with their production. For instance, vegetables grown in nutrient-poor soil or in unsanitary conditions are going to have a higher risk of causing health problems. But conventional foods have been proven to pose no more or fewer health risks than organic food.

Theres a difference between a trending fad started by a celebrity *cough* Gwyneth Paltrow and the cold hard facts derived from research done by actual scientists. Processed food can still be classified as organic, as long as there are organic ingredients. So sodas, macaroni and cheese, french fries, ice cream, cookies, chips and anything covered in chocolate can be organic. You can shovel as much organic macaroni and cheese onto your plate as you like; your arteries will likely hold it against you later in life. So do yourself a favor. Before you spend that $15 on an organic bean burrito, think about your options. You might as well pick up some chicken nuggets and call it a day.

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Organic does not equal healthy - The Current - The Student-Run Newspaper of Nova Southeastern University. (satire) (registration)