Posted Apr. 15, 2000

Nearly three years after its first attempt, the USDA this March introduced a revised set of standards intended to clear up consumer confusion surrounding the organic foods industry, one of the fastest growing sectors of American agriculture.

The proposed National Organic Program offers a definition for the term "organic." Organic food is currently certified by various private and state organizations that use their own standards.

"A single national organic standard, backed by consistent and accurate labeling, will greatly reduce consumer confusion," said Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman. "Consumers will know what they are buying, and organic farmers will know what is expected of them."

Estimated retail value of organic food sales for 1999 is approximately $6 billion. The number of organic farmers stands around 12,200 and has been increasing at about 12 percent per year.

The Clinton administration has proposed $5 million in the fiscal 2001 budget to promote organic agriculture. The funds would go toward conducting research on improved organic production and processing methods, evaluating economic benefits to farmers, and developing new organic markets.

Appearing in the March 12 Federal Register, the 147-page proposal details the methods, practices, and substances that can be used in producing and handling organic crops and livestock (but not aquaculture), as well as processed products. It establishes labeling criteria and rules so consumers know what they are buying when they purchase organic food.

Genetic engineering, sewage sludge, and irradiation would be prohibited in the production of organic food products. Antibiotics would also be forbidden in organic livestock production, and pure organic feed would have to be used.

Included in the proposal is an accreditation program for state officials and private persons to certify compliance with the organic standards. The revised proposal resulted from analysis of an unprecedented 275,603 comments received in response to the USDA's initial, December 1997 proposal.

The AVMA in 1992 stated its concern that animal well-being not be sacrificed through the avoidance of medical treatment to preserve organic status.

In their comments about the initial proposal, the Association and several others said the prohibition on accepted veterinary medical preventive health care procedures could result in the organic livestock being raised in less humane fashion.

Although the revised standards prohibit the use of antibiotics on any animal to be sold, labeled, or represented as organic, the standards require that sick or injured animals be treated with appropriate medicine, regardless of whether the organic status is lost as a result.

These and other issues raised by the AVMA are addressed in the National Organic Program, which the Association is currently evaluating. The deadline for comments is June 12.

Send comments by June 12 to: Keith Jones, Program Manager, National Organic Program, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, Room 2945-So, Ag Stop 0275, PO Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456. Fax to (703) 365-0760 or file via: http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. Comments should be identified with docket number TMD-00-02-PR.

Link:

National standards for organic foods proposed - American Veterinary Medical Association

The organic food industry is a booming business, and with the recent sale of natural-foods giant Whole Foods to Amazon, its expected to grow even larger in the near future. While some consumers buy organic because they believe it's better for the environment, even more do so for health-related reasons, according to one 2016 survey.

What, exactly, are the health benefits of going organic? That depends on who you ask and which studies you consult. But if you do choose to buy organic foods, here are some science-backed bonuses youre likely to get in return.

Fruits, vegetables and grains labeled organic are grown without the use of most synthetic pesticides or artificial fertilizers. (The National Organic Standard Board does allow some synthetic substances to be used.) While such chemicals have been deemed safe in the quantities used for conventional farming, health experts still warn about the potential harms of repeated exposure.

For example, the commonly used herbicide Roundup has been classified as a probable human carcinogen, and the insecticide chlorpyrifos has been associated with developmental delays in infants. Studies have also suggested that pesticide residuesat levels commonly found in the urine of kids in the U.S.may contribute to ADHD prevalence; theyve also been linked to reduced sperm quality in men.

A 2014 meta-analysis in the British Journal of Nutrition found that organically grown crops were not only less likely to contain detectable levels of pesticides, but because of differences in fertilization techniques, they were also 48% less likely to test positive for cadmium, a toxic heavy metal that accumulates in the liver and kidneys.

When it comes to meat and milk, organic products can have about 50% more omega-3 fatty acids, a type of unsaturated healthy fat, than conventionally produced products, according to a 2016 study in the British Journal of Nutrition. Organic milk tested in the study also had less saturated fat than non-organic.

These differences may come from the way organic livestock is raised, with a grass-fed diet and more time spent outdoors, say the studys authors. They believe that switching from conventional to organic products would raise consumers' omega-3 intake without increasing overall calories or saturated fat.

Conventional livestock can be fed antibiotics to protect against illness, making it easier for farmers to raise animals in crowded or unsanitary conditions. The FDA limited the use of certain antibiotics for livestock earlier this year, but loopholes in the legislation still exist. And with the exception of poultry, conventionally raised animals can also be injected with synthetic growth hormones, so theyll gain weight faster or produce more milk.

But traces of these substances can make their way to consumers, says Rolf Halden, professor and director of the Biodesign Center for Environmental Security at Arizona State University. Drug residue is believed to contribute to widespread antibiotic resistance, he says, and organic foodswhich are produced without antibioticsare intrinsically safer in this respect. Organic meat and dairy also cannot contain synthetic hormones, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer.

In a recent six-year study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers found that organic onions had about a 20% higher antioxidant content than conventionally grown onions. They also theorized that previous analysesseveral of which have found no difference in conventional versus organic antioxidant levelsmay have been thwarted by too-short study periods and confounding variables like weather.

The research was very well done, says Guy Crosby, adjunct associate professor of Nutrition at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health. But he points out that this specific study takes just one aspect of phytochemicals and shows they can be improved under organic conditions. The question of whether organic foods are truly more nutritious is still debatable, he adds. Had the researchers chosen to measure a different vitamin or mineral, they may have found a different result.

Organic products are more expensive than conventional ones, and whether theyre really worth the extra cost is certainly a matter of choice. If you can afford all organic, that's fantastic, but it's not feasible for most people, says registered dietitian Cynthia Sass. If its not, the most important groups to buy organic, in my opinion, include foods you eat daily and produce on the Dirty Dozen listthose with the highest pesticide residues. If people eat eggs, dairy and meat, she also recommends buying those organic.

Halden says that vulnerable groupsincluding pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people suffering from allergiesmay benefit the most from choosing organically produced foods. He also points out that a strictly organic diet can still be plenty unhealthy: Eating too much sugar and meat and too few vegetables is risky, regardless of whether the shopper picks from the conventional or organic grocery selection, he says.

Its also important for consumers to make educated decisions about why they choose to buy organic, says Crosbyand not to get hung up on individual studies that havent been supported by additional research. If you're trying to reduce exposure to pesticide residues, organic is a good choice, he says. On the other hand, if youre buying them because theyre more nutritious, the evidence doesnt broadly support that," he says.

Link:

4 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Eating Organic - TIME

When some farmers in Tondoli, 35 km from Aurangabad, decided to form a group in 2000 to practise organic agriculture and sell their produce, they knew they had a long road ahead of them, particularly in convincing customers. With the help of the Institute for Integrated Rural Development (IIRD), which has been promoting organic farming in the region, they brought consumers from Aurangabad to show that they do not use chemical fertilisers or pesticides on their lands, which is why what they grow deserves a higher price.

Tondoli is in the semi-arid, drought prone Marathwada region and only 2% of its cultivable area is irrigated. This means the village has to make judicious use of water by growing crops native to the region and preserve the health of the soil. The villagers are convinced that organic farming is essential to that. Kailash Garad, a farmer in the group, says they get up to twice the price of inorganic vegetables and 20-25% more in pulses.

The 20-member farmers' group, which grows tur dal (pigeon pea), maize, millets, vegetables, wheat and cotton, does not get its fields vetted by a certifying agency. As small farmers owning between two and five acres each, they cannot afford one so they follow another, cheaper system, which has been gaining ground across the developing world over the past few years.

In Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS), farmers in a group inspect each other's land and vouch for its organic credentials. "Just by taking a fistful of soil, you can make out if chemicals have been used or not," says Radha Shelke, another farmer in the group, sitting with the other members in her house.

The inspection is carried out at the start of every sowing season and farmers visit each other almost weekly to provide counsel. If a farmer is found to be in violation, her produce is not sold through the group till she rectifies her mistake.

"Who knows a farm better than a neighbouring farmer?" asks Joy Daniel, executive director of the IIRD, which works with 3,000 organic farmers in Aurangabadand Jalna districts. He adds that PGS involve much less documentation and can be easily adopted and replicated. The farmers' groups are helped by facilitation councils, which are mostly nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) like the IIRD. Facilitation councils across the country have been working under an umbrella body called PGS Organic Council since 2011.

The Green Seals Since 2001, the government had been promoting organic farming through third party certification under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). It was only in 2015 that the present dispensation officially recognised PGS. The NPOP, which is run by the Ministry of Commerce, was originally meant for exports and requires adherence to stringent standards.

There are 24 accredited certifying agencies that verify farms, storages and processing units. Products certified organic by them carry the India Organic logo. In 2015-16, the latest period for which data is available, there were 1.5 million hectares (1 hectare = 2.47 acres) of cultivable land certified under NPOP. In the same year, India exported a fifth of its certified organic production of 1.35 million tonnes.

The PGS-India programme, meanwhile, is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture through the National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF). Presently, there are 2.1 lakh farmers under the initiative, owning 1.5 lakh hectares, which is just a tenth of the third-party-certified area. Produce from farms that are being converted to organic carries the PGS-India Green logo during the transition period, and after three years of not using any chemicals, the farm will be eligible for the PGS-India Organic symbol. Draft regulations on organic certification are a step in the right direction but these might create some confusion in the minds of consumers initially, says N Balasubramanian, CEO, Sresta Natural Bioproducts.According to a recent report by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), India had 5,85,200 organic farmers in 2015, more than any other country and a quarter of the world total. Still, organic farming accounts for just 1.7% of India's cultivated area.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) last month released draft regulations on organic certification, the first of its kind, which recognise both the thirdparty system and PGS. Chandra Bhushan, deputy director-general of the Centre for Science and Environment, says India is unique in that the government has taken the lead in organic certifications, while in the rest of the world it is left to autonomous bodies.

"Fake organic products are not a health issue. It's only about false claims. There are a lot of food products claiming they are 0% trans fat or 0% cholesterol. There is no mandatory certification for that."

Pawan Agarwal, chief executive of the FSSAI, counters that by saying even mislabelling falls within the Food Safety Act of 2006. "We are not getting into certification ourselves. We are only recognising certifications." He adds that if there are more valid certification systems in the future, even those might be included.

PGS vs Third Party Having two systems comes with its own hitches. Bhushan says there is no linkage between the two certification systems. For instance, exporters cannot process foods with PGS-certified ingredients because developed markets like the US, the biggest for organic products, and the European Union do not accept PGS yet. But Krishan Chandra, director, NCOF, says over a hundred countries are willing to trade in PGS products.

"Mauritius, Nepal and Taiwan are willing to import from us." PGS certification will soon cover not just farms but also food processing, he adds. Sikkim, which last year became India's first state to become fully organic, wants its land producing exportable commodities to remain under third-party certification, while introducing PGS in other areas.

Third-party certification is normally done for groups of 500 farmers each, and fields of 35-45 farmers are tested in each group.

Sandeep Bhargava, CEO of OneCert Asia, one of the largest certifiers, says it costs between Rs 150 and Rs 500 per farmer per year for certification and the cost of internal audits and documentation could be Rs 2,500 per farmer. However, he notes, the costs are defrayed by companies and through government schemes.

Joy Daniel of the IIRD says in PGS if the contribution of volunteers working with NGOs were to be monetised, the cost could be Rs 1,000 per farmer in the first three years and a tenth of that there on. Supporters of PGS question the veracity of third-party certification, given its small sample sizes N Balasubramanian, CEO of Sresta Natural Bioproducts, says the company foots the cost of certification of the farmers it sources from. Sresta, which sells the 24 Mantra Organic brand of products, is India's largest organic foods company, accounting for 28% of the Rs 3.2 billion packaged organic foods and beverages market in 2016.

Since 40% of its business comes from exports, which necessitates third-party certification, it follows the same for the domestic market.

"The draft regulations are a step in the right direction but PGS will have to be handled with care," says Balasubramanian, adding that a dual certification system might create some confusion in the minds of consumers initially. Shrikant Sharma, CEO of Sanjeevani Agro Foods, another organic foods company, says they experimented with PGS a few years ago but gave up owing to the lack of a viable market for the same.

"Consumers don't believe PGS as it is self-certification." Madhav Pandit, who used to be with the Maharashtra Organic Farming Federation, says PGS' biggest failure is its inability to create a market for the produce. "Whatever prices farmers get is because of their own efforts and individual identity and not because of PGS."

Kalyan Paul, president of the PGS Organic Council, says while small retail stores are open to selling PGS products, it's not easy convincing big retail chains. Future Group, which owns Big Bazaar and Foodhall, a premium store, and Godrej Nature's Basket did not respond to requests for comment. But Seshu Kumar, head of merchandising, Bigbasket, an online grocer, says the company spent a lot of time trying to decide where to source its organic produce from.

"We met people working in the organic field who believed PGS is more attuned to the Indian farming conditions and it can get a lot of farmers into the system."

While Bigbasket sources vegetables and fruits from around 100 PGS-certified small farmers in Mysuru and Gokak in Karnataka, for its in-house brand of organic rice and pulses, it has tied up with a couple of third-party-certified farmers' cooperatives in the state. There are sound arguments to be made to favour third-party certification over PGS and vice versa. But both are here to stay while exporters will always prefer third-party certification, given the conflict of interest in farmers certifying each other in PGS, the only way for small organic farmers producing fruits and vegetables to have some sort of label is through PGS. The need of the hour is for both systems to be linked seamlessly so that India's efforts to promote organic farming do not get lost in a tussle over which logo should be on the back of a pack.

Original post:

Is the two certification system harming India's organic food market? - Economic Times

Organic food can be more expensive at the grocery store but some experts say investing in your health is worth the cost. In the fifth episode of ABC News' "Healthy Living for Summer" series, we spoke with chef Tara Punzone from Real Food Daily, a Los Angeles-based organic restaurant.

But first, what does organic mean?

"The word 'organic' refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat," the nonprofit Mayo Clinic states on its website. Organic farming does not permit certain things, such as synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge as fertilizer, most synthetic pesticides, genetic engineering and antibiotics or growth hormones for livestock.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also sets specific standards for what is certified organic. Food that is organic will carry a USDA Organic seal.

Punzone said eating organic is better because "you're avoiding chemicals that they're spraying on foods and chemicals in soil and all kinds of pesticides, and things they have no idea what it does to your health."

"Research shows people have lower levels of pesticides when eating mostly organic," according to Karen Smith, senior manager of clinical dietetics at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. "But there is no research linking that to disease risk or disease incidence."

But she did point out that there appears to be a health correlation between pesticides and people working or living in areas with high exposure to them.

"People living in areas where theyre spraying fields with pesticides or working in areas with high pesticide exposures - there are studies showing higher rates of cancer or children having increased risks of birth defects and other diseases," Smith said.

Punzone warns consumers to avoid non-organic soy, corn and wheat.

"Those three things they're tying to turn out at mass production and speed, they're inundating these crops with all kinds of chemicals to grow faster and be edible faster and they're using these products in everything," she said.

Below is advice Punzone and experts gave ABC News.

While higher prices may hinder some consumers from buying organic, Punzone said organic vegetables and fruits are worth the cost because they have more nutrients and enzymes.

"You [may be] saving money on non-organic now, but think about what will happen in the future [if you get] sick and you have issues to deal with," she said.

Overall, if you can eat organic, "go for it, because we dont know the potential risks associated with consuming foods high in pesticides and if youre able to afford and have access to organic foods then I think thats a great option, but it definitely isnt the only option," Smith said.

And just because a cookie is labeled organic, it doesn't mean it's healthy.

"You have to weigh the risks versus the benefits," Smith said.

Watch ABC News discuss organic foods in the video above.This weekly health series will continue throughout the summer.

See the rest here:

'Healthy Living for Summer': Eating organic - ABC News

By Stephanie Hill-FrazierSpecial to The Star

"Don't eat anything your grandmother wouldn't recognize as food. - Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifesto

Down here in the warm, humid climate of the South, vegetables and fruits have a long growing season. What a great blessing for us! We have a nice long tomato season, peaches are sweet and juicy for a couple months, and yellow squash and zucchini seem to proliferate...well...nearly eternally.

Not that Im complaining!

Now, we all know that doctors and nutritionists say that we should all eat more fruits and vegetables, and boy, thats a wonderful prescription. We dont mind that one bit, right?

However, when we walk into the grocery store and are faced not only with the decision of what vegetables and fruits to eat, but.should we buy organic and pay the extra money? Or is it a gimmick and not worth it?

Apparently lots of shoppers in the aisle with you in the grocery store are starting to spend that extra money for organic food. The Organic Trade Association says that Americans bought nearly $40 billion worth of organic food in 2016, which amounted to about 5 percent of total food sales. Thats up from $28.4 billion in 2013.

However, the sometimes hefty price tag compared to conventional produce can leave shoppers like you and me wondering whether it's worth it. In a study performed by marketing group Mintel, it was found that 51 percent of Americans believe that labeling a food "organic" is merely a marketing ploy, intended to persuade consumers to pay more for the same food.

Others, like author Michael Pollan, say that to choose conventional produce is to leave oneself open to cancer-causing chemicals.

It helps to know what earns a product the right to be labeled "organic." The United States Department of Agriculture has the job of overseeing farms that wish to become certified organic. You can read all the technical details at the USDA website, but in short, the department requires that to be stamped organic, food must be grown using their approved methods.

"These methods integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used, according to the USDA website.

These methods do come at a higher cost, of course, but many consumers have decided that extra dollar or two is worth it for what they believe to be better nutrition and fewer chemicals.

But is organic produce really more nutritious than conventionally-grown produce? Some recent studies say yes.

Antioxidants, those nutrients which are said to help the body fight diseases like heart disease and cancer and protect our cells, have been shown to be more abundant in organic produce. According to a study performed by the prestigious British Journal of Nutrition, switching from conventional to organically-grown produce adds enough extra antioxidants to the diet to equal up to two more servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

Professor Carlo Leifert, who led the British study, told Newcastle University researchers that, This study demonstrates that choosing food produced according to organic standards can lead to increased intake of nutritionally desirable antioxidants and reduced exposure to toxic heavy metals.

So if its better for ones health, but the grocery budget is tight, which organic vegetables and fruits are the best choices?

An independent watchdog organization, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), studies pesticide residue on commonly purchased fruits and vegetables in the U.S., and creates two annual lists, the Clean 15 list of produce with the least amount of pesticide residue, and the Dirty Dozen, which are those fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticide residue.

The EWG says they test the produce after it has been washed as the consumer would wash it at home, so the levels of pesticide residue would not change after the consumer takes the food home and cleans it. Since some plants absorb pesticides systemically, the group says, no amount of washing would remove the pesticides used, as they literally become part of the produce itself.

According to their latest study, the worst offenders among conventionally-grown produce, and those they suggest consumers buy organic versions of, are as follows:

Strawberries

Spinach

Nectarines

Apples

Peaches

Pears

Cherries

Grapes

Celery

Tomatoes

Bell Peppers

Potatoes

Alternately, the EWG's Clean 15 list includes conventionally-grown produce that shows the smallest amount of residual pesticide residue after washing. If your budget is limited, these are the items that are least likely to expose you to those unwanted chemicals.

Sweet corn

Avocados

Pineapple

Cabbage

Frozen sweet peas

Papayas

Asparagus

Mangoes

Eggplant

Honeydew melons

Kiwi

Cantaloupe

Cauliflower

Grapefruit

Ultimately, the EWG and other watchdog groups say that if you can't afford organic produce, it is still better to eat properly cleaned conventional produce than it is to eat processed and sugary foods. While they recommend eating organics when possible, they are not saying that one should never eat conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables at all.

So, do eat up all the vegetables and fruits you can, whether organic or not, instead of processed foods like chips, dehydrated pre-cooked potatoes, macaroni with neon orange "cheese" powder, and candy. Train your children and grandchildren to do so, as well!

Here are a couple of recipes that may just help you enjoy your summer produce even more this weekend:

Stephs sauteed balsamic vegetables with polenta and fresh mozzarella

One 5 ounce package of organic baby spinach, arugula or other greens

One fresh fennel bulb, chopped (found in most produce sections nowso delicious!)

One pound of fresh tomatoes, chopped (more or lessuse the amount you have, or use canned in a pinch)

One small package fresh mushrooms, sliced (optional)

1 medium or two small zucchini squash, peeled and chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

One cup (approximately) fresh mozzarella, cubed

One tube pre-cooked polenta (or serve over rice or grits)

Method:

Warm olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Add the chopped fennel bulb, and stir around in the very warm oil for two minutes. Add the zucchini and cook for three more minutes or more, but do not allow vegetables to scorch.

Add the chopped tomatoes, garlic, pepper flakes, vinegar and mushrooms. Stir and watch for the tomatoes to begin releasing their juices as they soften, and for the mushrooms to begin to shrink and darken.

After a few minutes, add the spinach or other greens. Sprinkle with a half-cup of water or broth if the pan looks dry to you. Stir and watch the greens cook down into the vegetables. Taste for salt and add as needed. (I allowed the whole mixture to cook for 10-12 minutes so the fennel and zucchini would be tender.)

Drop in a handful of fresh mozzarella cubes, if you have some handy. Slice the polenta and slide the veggies over to one side of the pan, and place the slices on the bottom of the pan to heat, turning at least once. Sprinkle polenta with a bit of salt.

Place a round (or two) of polenta on a plate; top with a healthy serving of veggies, making sure everyone gets some of the melt-y cheese. Top with a bit of shaved Parmesan or Grana Padano, if youd like.

Note: This vegetable mixture can also be served over grits or rice, and is delicious either way!

Gingered shrimp stir-fry for one

6 thawed, pre-cooked shrimp

3-4 green onions, thinly sliced

3 mushrooms, sliced

Read more here:

What Southern Folks Eat: Is buying organic food worth it? - News ... - Port St. Joe Star

Have you ever thought about the produce you get? Is it fresh? Organic? Local? Sometimes it can be hard to make sure that all of these boxes are checked by simply going to yourpreferredgrocery store. But fear not. Alocal business is turning that doubt into a simple online ordering systemwith its CSA(Community Supported Agriculture),Eating with the Seasons.

The Herbert Family has hadafarmin Hollister for four generations, producing organic produce. In 2000,Pat Herbert decided to create aneasier wayfor consumers to get his produce directly. He wanted people to know where theirfood was coming from; thus,the CSA was born.

In 2002, his daughter, Becky, joined the team and helped to grow the business to what it is today.With 120 pick-uplocationsspanningfrom Hollisternorth to San Rafael,Eating with the Seasonshas more than 1,200 customers that receive fresh local produce each week.Typical pick-up sites include neighborhood sites, local businesses, and even larger companies such as Google and Microsoft, where fresh produce is delivered toemployees.

The CSA partners with many local organic farms to provide a wide array of produce, dairy, and meatoptions to satisfy every customer.

Becky Herbert hasbeen directingEating with the Seasonsfor 15 years, andin 2016she openedtheFarmhouse Cafin downtown Hollister.The cafuseslocal produce and meat that you can get through the CSA, and sells local goods like fresh eggs, cheese and yogurt.In the kitchen shealsopreparespremade dips, soups and salads that she sells through the CSA.

Becoming part of the CSAis simple. Customers can gotoeatwiththeseasons.com,up for a weeklysubscription and choose an order size based on how many people they wish to feed. Then, they can choose a pick-up location that is mostconvenientand selecta payment plan. Once signed up, the customer gets to choose the goodies they want each week.

Herbert said she isproud of what her CSA has accomplished in the food industry.

"Mygoal with Eating with the Seasons is to provide anaffordable way for people to get local organic foodand alsoto givefarmersan outlet to get their food to consumers," she said.

In a time where you can get anything with the click of a button, Eating with the Seasons hopes to bring fresh foodin the same way.

More here:

Eating with the Seasons brings local, organic food to customers - Benitolink: San Benito County News

For a running back that had nearly 1,700 rushing yards as a junior, Garrett Morris remains as humble as a young man seemingly can be as he deflects praise for his accomplishments on the field. Instead, he decidedly points towards the bond of his teammates and coaches for his success.

The rising senior garnered Class 7A All-State first team honors for his accomplishments last year, though he views his accolades as a result of the opportunities that his team provided for him.

Last year when I was playing running back, I was able to show my stuff because of the offensive line and everyone else on the field, said Morris, one of the Opelika-Auburn News' Super 8 Seniors. They really opened up holes and then they gave me the opportunity to show my speed when I had to or run over someone but they didnt miss blocks and I didnt really have to do that.

Personally, I dont feel like I was doing anything more than each and every one next to me. I see everyone the same on our team, I think it takes all 11 of us to be out there and win every game that we did.

While Morris breakout year as a junior put him on the map, head coach Adam Winegarden saw the talent and his desire early on a year before.

When he was a sophomore, we recognized early that this kid had winning characteristics, Winegarden said. Hes a battler; hes a competitor in everything we do. Its hard to be a follower before we become a leader, but he had all the characteristics of the winning makeup.

We knew that early in that year we had to start investing time in to get him ready to play because at some point that year we knew he was going to need to play for us. We got to the second half of the year and he was the big spark our team needed.

Morris was thrust into an early contributing role as a sophomore as the team was hit with several injuries, and despite the early call-up, he thrived as a player and built a relationship with his leaders that has inspired him as leader as he enters his final year.

Tyus Flakes was the running back here and just to be on the same field as that guy, it was awful that he got hurt early in spring practice, but he was a mentor to me, Morris said. When I was a sophomore and the seniors up there Bradley Northcutt up there at quarterback and everyone they really showed me how to be a leader and how to lead the people younger than me.

As Morris gained a greater knowledge of how to lead, it only served to bring the qualities that were already instilled within him based on the foundation that he was given from his family, friends, coaches and teammates.

His success on the field can be attributed to the support of those around him, but Winegarden also recognizes that Morris accomplishments have come from a tremendous expectation of himself.

Hes got a great family thats poured a lot into him, hes been given a great foundation by his family, Winegarden said. Your best players are self-motivated, and your best players are ones that have a high sense of excellence, not only in the sport that they play but in every aspect of their life. With that, he has a lot of great life balance. He gets what this is all about, he gets what his purpose is, he expects the very best out of himself in everything he does.

Morris has pushed himself, and while he prefers to point to his teammates for coming together and finding success as team, he has racked up numerous accolades and set the bar high for his senior year.

He rushed for 1,643 yards and 16 touchdowns and added 324 receiving yards with four touchdowns as he finished the 2016 season as a Class 7A finalist for back of the year. With such personal success, and a team that finished in the second round of the state playoffs, the expectations for team also remain high.

We are shooting for nothing less than a state championship, Morris said. But I feel like with football it comes with so many that you learn just by becoming a leader, becoming a friend, learning all of the life values that the coaches teach you. Thats really what people take away from the game, because you dont get to play football your whole life, but you will live out these characteristics that the coaches teach you and that you practice every day out on the football field.

While Morris looks to the life lessons that can be taken away from football, its no wonder to see the schools that have voiced their interest in him and offered scholarships. Morris holds four scholarship offers from West Point, the Naval Academy, Richmond and Furman.

Visit link:
BOND OF BROTHERS: Auburn's Garrett Morris finds strength and success through teammates - Opelika Auburn News

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TITANS HEAD COACH MIKE MULARKEY PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT - July 28, 2017

(opening statement)

Welcome back. Id like to say that I missed you all. But no, its been a good break for the team and for the coaches. I think everybody is glad to be back with the season getting ready to get underway and the start of training camp. Kind of an anxious time for everybody. Just had the assessment run and it was outstanding. I dont know if I could say it was any better, our guys came back in very, very, very good shape which they have to, to play at the level that we want to play at. So with that, Ill take some questions.

(on if defensive tackle Jurrell Caseys extension is an example of what working hard can do)

Yeah, I think so. I think so, I think it Id be shocked if it wasnt a great example for other players to watch how Casey goes about his business, both here and off the field. Hes done a lot for the community. Obviously, hes done a lot for this team and hes been very successful with his play based on a lot of how he works when he comes in here.

(on the uniqueness of extending Casey with two years remaining on his contract)

This is a unique case. Its definitely a unique case, but a lot of things played into the factor of that happening. But, it is unique. But again, like I said, theres a lot of just on and off the field things that warranted it.

(on if rookie wide receiver Corey Davis is in the facility today)

He is not, but were talking to him.

(on if any other players did not show up today)

Nope, everybody is here.

(on how much it would hurt Davis to miss the first day of camp)

Im not going to address that until he misses the first day or two, which Im hoping he doesnt obviously. Ill address it if it gets into a period that hes missing time. But, thats not the case right now.

(on the importance of Davis getting training camp reps)

Id be mistaken not to say every rep is important. Every single rep is important for everybody.

(on if quarterback Marcus Mariota will be a full participant in tomorrows practice)

He is cleared to go. We are still going to were not going to just send him out there and have at it. Hes still going to have some limited reps, not as much as he had obviously in the offseason camps. Its not going to be like hes been healthy the whole time. Were going to watch him.

(on if outside linebacker Kevin Dodd will be a full participant in tomorrows practice)

Hes full go, hes full go as well.

(on the importance of this training camp for Dodd)

I think he has he hasnt had a lot of time. That foot has been an issue with him. We need him, I think he knows that. I think he wants to play, he wants to practice, he wants to be out there with his teammates. He wants to be good. Thats important to him, and we want him to be. We need as much help as an edge rusher as we can get. Cant have enough, in my opinion. Its important that he comes up and shows that he can do it.

(on if outside linebacker Eric Walden is insurance at the linebacker position)

Sure, we have some depth there now. That is always an issue and concern about depth, especially at that position. We feel better about that position now.

(on what he likes about Walden and the unusualness of a player his age posting a double-digit sack season)

Again, thats why then, not earlier? I cant speak for the schemeor his opportunities, but he's been a thorn in any place that I've been that we've had to play againsthim. He is a good football player, he's a nasty player. He's not 30, he's just a physical player. Has given us problems again and again. Hopefully is building off what he did last year and that continues and gives us a force from the outside.

(on offensive lineman Sebastian Tretolas release from the team)

First of all, he couldn't practice with the injury he had. Second, he made some poor decisions. It wasn't strictly the two offseason incidents that made that decision.

(on if poor decisions by Tretola by extending beyond two off-season incidents)

Yes.

(on the reasoning behind holding quarterback Marcus Mariota back to start training camp)

Because we have time. Again, I'm not talking about an extensive hold back. There's going to be certain things I'm going to ease him into.

(on wide receiver TajaSharpe and quarterback Matt Cassel's health)

They're better. Tajawas in here, he's been in here every week. He's better. Matt is going to probably be limited. Tajaprobably won't practice tomorrow or I'm not even sure when, he'll be a PUP discussion later. Then we'll just have to limit Matt with the throws.

(on defensive lineman Karl Klug's health)

He could probably go full speed too, but we're going to again, like Marcus, we're going to limit him with his reps. He has made a tremendous effort to come back, and he could go, if I let him. I know he wants to.

(on Klug wanting to play immediately)

That doesn't surprise me. Not at all.

(on the possibility of Klug being on PUP to begin camp)

No, I don't think so. Again, we're talking about it, but he just did the conditioningtest with the d-line and looked great running.

(on his message to the team)

It's not going to change much from when they came here in April about us getting better. Every day that we're here, like we did in the offseason, I thought we got better. As a team, as individuals, as units, I think that's not going to change. If we can improve over what we did last year, I think we all know what the reward is. It's about getting better, coming in here and don't worry about what is being said outside this building. Worry about what we need to do inside the building.

(on disregarding the negative narrative that surrounded the team entering last year's training camp)

I do that all the time, regardless of what it is. I try to ignore things that are outside sources that can easily influence football teams. It's a matter of what we believe in here and expectations that we set amongst ourselves in here, and that won't change.

(on national pre-season predictions favoring the Titans)

That's nice. I think it's nice because it recognizes what they did last year, the talk is aboutwhat we did last year. Again, that was last year. This is a totally different year. Not totally different, but a lot of changes on this team, so you've got to just be careful about paying attention to that.

(on if nose tackle SylvesterWilliams will be a full participation training camp)

He's full go, he did the assessmentrun as well. He's in great shape, he should have no restrictions.

(on wide receiver Eric Decker's health and his role as a mentor to younger players)

He is full go. His role, he may have a little bit more of a role of being a utility guy that can play at multiple positions. We're going to start him out at the slot and as a Z receiverwith Rishard Matthews. He'll play all over the place. The value of having him in that room with some young guys, again even Eric Walden, another veteran that's had some success, is invaluable to me. You see how guys have done things over their career and the success that's come from it. We just added another guy in that receiverroom that will help that room.

(on how the organization has progressed since his arrival)

There's been a lot of change, we talked about it last year. We first got together, Jon Robinson and I, the facility has really changed since I got here. We've gone through two phases of renovation. Thisyear it included the weight room and training room, and we expanded and basically updated it to be one of the top facilities in the NFL. I'll be shocked to see if there's anythingbetter than this. Amy Adams Strunk has been very instrumental, very instrumental, in making sure it's gotten done. She has seen the vision that Jon and I have put in front of her and she's on board with it. I think the players respect that we are trying to do it right for them and make it one of the best facilities that they come to work in every day, and Amy has been very supportive of that.

(on the importance of bringing in veterans that have experiencedsuccess)

Add that on to personal success, and they've had some team success, I think that just gives them more credibility when they walk in that room.

(on being in pads throughout camp)

We'll be in pads every chance we have a chance to be in pads. By rule, we can't be in pads the first four practices, that's tomorrow andSunday. Monday will be the first time, and a lotof them are scheduled for the mornings. But if you look at the schedule for the practices, it's a variation of differenttimes and a lot of that is thought out. The Monday night practices, allows the players to geta littlemorerecovery from a Saturday game. Also gets them out of the heat, also gives fans the ability to come out and watch us. People that work all day have the ability tocome outandwatch us under the lights. And I think our players enjoypracticing at nightand then obviously we have the Friday Night Lights which is new and that's at Centennial High School. It'll give fans again a chance to come out and watch us there and thefamily night scrimmage at the stadium. There's just a variety of times so if you feel like you can't make it out to a practice because of work, look at the schedule. At some point you'll be able to make it out here and we're inviting everybody to come out and watchthis team. Especially with what, again, Amy is responsible for, putting all the stands out there on the fields. It's going to be a comfortableenvironment, you'recovered to get out of the heat. Thats a changein itself of what we're doing for the fans for training camp.

(on how Sharpe has responded to his off-field situations)

Very positive. He understands he's made a mistake and trying to handle it the best he can. He's been very positive but apologetic.

(on if hell determine in late Augustwho can be expected to have return duties)

Probably will do that. But again we've had more options than we've had since I've been here, with Adoree' (Jackson) back there with punts, Eric Weems back there, Harry (Douglas)has always got returnability. Kickoff return, Khalfani Muhammad's got a chance back there, Eric Weems. I've been with Eric as a returner, kick returner. May again put Tre McBride back there in the mix. Got some options for both punt and kickoff return.

(on what he wants to see from safety Kevin Byard)

Take another step. I thought he took one last year, coming in here really not intimidated by the level of the game. Really confident in his ability, he looks great again to me the second year. When guys come back in here, and they've had a year inan NFL system and NFL weight room, their whole body type is different and you can just see he's been working at it. So, just take another step. See if he can be more of a force, make more plays for us.

(on if it can be expected that Byard will play more center field at safety than last year)

I think that it's all based on the way we're going to attack the opponent. What is their plan, and how we are going to counter it? I can't say it's going to be more. There'sbeen no conversationto get him back there more, it just depends on how we want to play our defenses for those games.

(on running back DeMarco Murray saying he'd like more work this year)

I love it. I mean, I hope everyone wants to get more work and play more and be more involved. We'll see howthat allunfolds. Again, a lot of that has to do with how we're game planning. But he'll have enough to keep his hands full. I promise.

(on the comfort running back Derrick Henrys skill provides if Murray needs an in-game break)

I think we havean option now and you saw it last year. What the numbers are this year, I'm not going to predict that because I'llback myself into a cornerwith that one. They'll both be involved, they'll both be effective for us. How that will be, we'll seewhen we line up on Sundays.

(on how the offense will evolve with the newly added players)

Again, we have more options to attack people and that's what we're always looking for. How many different ways can we come from all angles to attack the defense, and we have more now.

(on if the offensive game plan will change on a weekly basis)

Sure it does. I see it however we've got to win the game, that's what we're going to do. Again, no predictions. Wehave some more options of how we can keep some teams off-balance and try to hit them again from as many angles as we can to try to gain an advantage.

(on how the change in the roster reduction rules will change the amount of playing time during preseason)

It may, we haven't gotten to that point yet. It may, but I like the rule. We were in favor of it and I think it gives players another opportunity to show other teams - obviously, it's a big cut from90 to 53. It justgives other teamsmore opportunities tosee you one more time. And I like that, it's about opportunity for someguyswho may never play again.

(on replacing the physicality at tight end that departed in free agency)

I think everybody's going to kind of takeover. Obviously we're hoping our tight ends understand what's expected from them, I think they know that. I know Jonnu (Smith) knows what's expected from him. (Phillip) Supernaw'sbeen here long enough to know that he'll have a larger role and how important it is, but we'll find other ways. Again, based on our personnel is how we're going to do things. Again, we're not going to force feed anything down that we can't do. If we are struggling insomething we'll get away from it. We're going todo what we're good at.

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Coach Mularkey's Friday Training Camp Transcript - Tennessee Titans - Titansonline.com

Per Mertesacker says Arsenal want Alexis Sanchez to stay because of the special talent he brings. Shaka Hislop reacts to Per Mertesacker's decision to head up Arsenal's academy after the 2017/18 season.

LONDON -- Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker says he wants to influence the club "on a different level" when he takes over at the academy next year.

Mertesacker announced this month that he will retire at the end of the forthcoming season and become Arsenal's new academy director.

The former Germany international, speaking after Arsenal's 5-2 Emirates Cup win over Benfica, said he was excited about "getting an opportunity to work here and inspire young people."

He added: "That is my path, and that is why I made this decision. But the club has so much trust in me, and that's why I took that job as well."

Some have speculated that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger could be preparing Mertesacker as his eventual replacement.

But the defender said: "I have no ambition [to become a manager] at the minute, because I have no coaching background.

"So learning will be something that I have to really do, but I embrace that. I love this club, and I'm hoping that I can have an impact on a different level."

Mertesacker has already started mentoring academy players such as 17-year-old Reiss Nelson, who has impressed in the club's preseason games.

"I like to see them playing that well, but it takes more than that," he said. "And to educate them a little bit is fun for me -- to be a helping hand, to communicate well with them.

"They need some guidance -- they're not quite there. [I am] influencing them on the pitch, being that guy who is questioning things, who is not just praising, who is always reminding them what it takes."

Mertesacker is also helping new signings Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette settle in at Arsenal and said fans needed to give ex-Lyon star Lacazette time to adjust to the Premier League, calling it "a huge step" from Ligue 1.

He praised Kolasinac for his performance against Benfica, saying: "He is a presence and he fits well into this team, and he's quick as well -- he looks lively.

"He can play a deeper role in that back three because he's got that tactical education from Germany -- you can feel that in training."

Mertesacker added the continued uncertainty surrounding Alexis Sanchez was not affecting the team and stressed: "We cannot just concentrate on one player. That doesn't work.

"Everyone wants him to stay because he's a player with the X factor. But still, we're not focusing as much on that because it's another season and we have new signings, trying to implement them into our game.

"To focus just on one player is not what this club is about."

Mattias is ESPN FC's Arsenal correspondent. Follow him on Twitter: @MattiasKaren.

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Per Mertesacker aims to inspire young Arsenal players to success - ESPN FC