Organic, pesticides, local food and sustainability - hot news

There is wide divergence about the course of organic produce demand. In the current Fresh Talk poll,
With two days left to vote, here are the results so far:

How much will fresh produce organic sales grow in volume in 2009

Negative - volume will decline	8 (29%)
0 to 3%	7 (25%)
3% to 6%	5 (18%)
6% to 9%	3 (11%)
9% to 12%	4 (14%)

It is hard to believe there is that much diverging opinions about growth in organic produce volume this year. Obviously the economy is the primary reason for the pessimism among some voters. Coverage developing....


Nourish the land ... the way it nourishes you AJC

Q: Are you concerned that the recession will stifle interest?

A: Everybody is backing off [spending] because of the economy, but when you think about keeping the dollar in Georgia or keeping the money in our hands, you really have to give local a chance. … It's a great way to feel good about what you're eating and also get great quality products.

Spoiled indeed Grist
I like Paul Roberts. I liked his book The End of Food. But I must admit that I was a bit underwhelmed by his recent article on sustainable farming in Mother Jones, "Spoiled: Organic and Local Is So 2008." That's not to say there's nothing to recommend it. His central premise -- that we way we're farming today isn't sustainable and that no large-scale model of what sustainable agriculture would look like currently exists -- is valid and important (as anyone who hangs out around here is well aware).


Natural and organic claims have little behind them The Olympian
Although the FDA has the right to prevent false or misleading claims, they've never imposed any standards for the use of "natural," "botanical," "plant-derived" or "green." So an eyedropper full of herbal extract in a gallon of cleaner can be a "natural" product as can an entirely synthetic product that smells like flowers in spring. These words are to organic, what "lite" is to counting calories.

Web bites: is organic safer?  JS Online

Farmers market builds on record year Emporia Gazette

Whole Foods settles with the FTC  Reason Hit and Run

Whole Foods to sell 2 Boulder stores Northern Colorado Business report

Air war against gypsy moths approved in Canada The London Free Press

Cosmetic pesticide ban consider in PEI Canada.com