Soil Associations critics say it has abandoned organic to reach a wider audience. Photograph: Soil Association

The UKs biggest organic lobbying group has disowned its philosophical roots, is failing to support homeopathy for animals and has developed a dull and insipid image, say four trustees who have resigned over the Soil Associations future direction.

In a scathing letter the trustees say the 68-year old charity, which certifies four-fifths of organic produce and campaigns for organic farming, has abandoned its focus on organics in an attempt to reach a wider audience.

The Soil Association strongly refutes the charges, saying organic food and farming is still at the heart of it mission and that its views on homeopathy have not changed.

Pat Thomas, a journalist and one of the four trustees who signed the letter, said on her website that the decision was not taken lightly. However, I remain resolute in my belief that the organisation has lost its way, has lost its unique voice in the food and farming landscape and has largely abandoned organic in both the philosophical and practical sense of the word, in order to be part of an already overcrowded field of healthy-eating charities.

She said that the social media reaction to the resignation letter by critics of homeopathy was silly virtual group masturbation and confirmed her suspicions about one of the remaining trustees. It made her wonder whether trolls and sceptics were now running the Soil Association, she added.

The other trustees who resigned from the 17-strong board of trustees on 18 November include author Joanna Blythman, co-founder of the Real Bread Campaign and baker Andrew Whitley and food writer Lynda Brown.

Whitley said the Soil Association was drifting into irrelevance. He told the Guardian: Im afraid the Soil Association has succumbed to a sickness that affects some organisations as they mature. Its slowly gravitated to the corporate mindset. Quite a lot of the people involved at a senior level both on council and in the directorate, have got a corporate mindset if not background [such as ex-chair, Lady Adair Turner]. You get very few organic farmers or indeed any people making organic products.

He said that the charity had been co-opted by the power structures of big farming and the supermarkets. They [the directorate] do not understand the difference between dialogue and appeasement.

Blythman told the Guardian: Im mainly concerned about the Soil Association turning from a charity into a corporate thing, and this makes them risk averse. She added the resigning trustees had raised their concerns but just came up against a wall.

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Soil Association has disowned 'O word', say resigning trustees

Portland's first food co-op has opened its doors at 290 Congress Street.

It's a member-owned market which offers mostly organic foods supplied by Maine farmers and producers.

The 5,000 square-foot grocery store has just three checkout lanes and six aisles stocked with locally grown items.

More than 2,000 people paid $100 to become owners.

"Well first of all I try to eat only organic food, and there is no other store in the entire area that sells a majority of organic food or even a large percentage of organic food. That is the number-one most important thing to me," said shopper Shambhavi Sarasvati.

People do not need to be a member-owner to shop at the store.

"Food co-ops are popular in other cities and it's only fitting that Maine's foodiest town has its own,",said Mary Alice Scott, education and outreach coordinator.

The food co-op is being well-received during its soft opening.

"It just feels good shopping here because I know where the food is coming from," said shopper Jordon Mcleod.

A grand opening is scheduled for Dec. 10.

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Portland's first food co-op opens doors