The Dirt on Organics: Essential Answer - January/February 2013 By Anna Hallingstad, Lindley Mease, Priya Fielding-Singh, Chad La Tourette and Isabella Akker I've heard news reports about a Stanford School of Medicine study that found organic foood isn't any healthier than conventionally grown food. If that's the case, is it worth paying the premium price? — Anonymous Grocery stores these days offer us a lot of choice. The study sought to compare the health effects of organic and conventional foods, focusing in nutrient and contaminant levels. The researchers compiled 237 studies addressing the nutritional benefits of organic and conventionally grown foods. Nutritionally, the Stanford team found few differences. These differences in what isn’t in organic food were largely overshadowed in the initial press release and by media outlets that first reported on the study. Besides, it’s not at all clear that the Stanford study is conclusive when it comes to nutrient content. In the meantime, the drawbacks of conventional food are clear.
The Dirt on Organics: Nitty-gritty - January/February 2013 I've heard reports about a Stanford School of Medicine study that found that organic food isn't any healthier than conventionally grown food. If that's the case, is it worth paying the premium price? Continually stumped by her patients’ questions about the benefits of organic food, Dr. Dena Bravata of Stanford Medical School grew curious herself. So she and a team of researchers set out to investigate the health and safety differences between organic and conventional fruits, vegetables, eggs, grains, dairy and meat. Using meta-analysis, Bravata’s team pooled together 237 peer-reviewed studies addressing the nutritional benefits of organic and conventionally grown foods. The researchers found few differences in the nutritional content of organic and conventional foods. That said, the verdict is not final on the nutritional differences between organic and conventional foods. Why did the Stanford study inspire such controversy after other studies received little attention?
Sugar Mountain Farm | All Natural Pastured Pigs, Poultry, Sheep, Dogs and Kids in the mountains of Vermont Local Harvest / Farmers Markets / Family Farms / CSA / Organic Food Starting a Raw Food Diet Real Food Defined (The Rules) Below are the rules we followed during our original 100 Days of Real Food pledge. If you are taking the 10-Day pledge you will follow these same rules. What you CAN eat: Whole foods that are more a product of nature than a product of industryLots of fruits and vegetables (we recommend that you shop for these at your local farmers’ market)Dairy products like milk, unsweetened yogurt, eggs, and cheese100% whole-wheat and whole-grains (find a local bakery for approved sandwich bread and check the Understanding Grains post for more info)Seafood (wild caught is the optimal choice over farm-raised)Only locally raised meats such as pork, beef, and chicken (preferably in moderation)Beverages limited to water, milk, all natural juices, naturally sweetened coffee & tea, and, to help the adults keep their sanity, wine and beer! What you CANNOT eat: Please leave a reply below if you have any questions about what is okay to eat during your pledge. How to Avoid Processed Food in General
Uprooting GM Crops with Creole Seeds NOTE: This is a guest post from Saulo Araujo, Program Coordinator for Latin America at Grassroots International. In rural areas like Seu Lazaro’s community in the state of Goiás, Brazil, vendors of genetically modified seeds used to drop by with wide smiles and black suitcases full of samples and colorful catalogues. Their dusty cars, parked in the middle of the road, are a map of their sales route across miles of unpaved, bumpy roads. Those promises convinced Seu Lazaro’s father to use GM seeds, who then convinced him. Seu Lazaro is 51 years old. That was before Seu Lozaro participated with other farmers in an experiment with Creole seeds organized by the Popular Peasant Movement (MCP), a Grassroots International partner. Seu Lazaro says that the GM seed vendors’ sweet talk doesn’t convince him anymore. In reality, the production costs required by the farming techniques sold by the vendors are exceptionally high and outweigh the promised productivity levels.
Planet organic: achieving sustainable food security and environmental gains Organic vegetables for sale in Argentina. Photo by: René Piamonte. The global farmland area certified organic has expanded more than threefold to 37 million hectares since 1999, according to new research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute. The Institute argues that organic farming has the potential to contribute to sustainable food security by improving nutrition intake and sustaining rural livelihoods, while reducing vulnerability to climate change and enhancing biodiversity. "Organic farming is now established in international standards, and 84 countries had implemented organic regulations by 2010," wrote Catherine Ward and Laura Reynolds, Worldwatch researchers and lead authors of the report. The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements defines organic agriculture has a production system that relies on ecological processes rather than the use of synthetic inputs (e.g. chemical fertilizers and pesticides). Related articles
A Buyer’s Guide | Grass Fed Beef Price is an important part of any purchase. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples when considering different producers. Our price, like most producers, is based on the hanging weight or carcass weight of the animal and includes all processing fees. Some producers will ask you to pay the butcher separately which will add around $1.00 per pound to your bottom line. Our butcher appreciates receiving one check from us instead of separate checks from each of our customers. What exactly is the hanging weight and why do we charge by hanging weight? The net weight of the beef in your freezer will be about 30% less than the hanging weight. The price per pound of the net weight of the beef that is cut and wrapped and in your freezer will be around $5.50/lbs.
From farmer to consumer: How to make direct marketing work CORVALLIS, Ore. – Consumers these days are eager to buy the ripest, freshest, high-quality fruits and vegetables they can find, and many farmers are stepping up to fill the demand at farmers' markets, roadside stands and U-pick operations. Farmers who consider selling directly to the public understand that they can save money if they eliminate middlemen, but might need marketing advice to succeed. A wealth of details on how to make farmer-to-consumer marketing work is available in a series of newly revised publications from Oregon State University Extension Service. The OSU publications help farmers evaluate their marketing needs and expectations and provide information on market alternatives. "Self-evaluation is also a key," said Larry Burt, an OSU Extension economist and co-author of the series. "Although additional income is often the first reason farmers decide to become retailers, many enjoy the flexibility of owning their own business,” he added.
Family Farm Defenders 15 ways to celebrate agriculture on Earth Day Agriculture: it doesn’t have to steamroll the environment to be productive. For over 40 years, Earth Day has served as a call to action, mobilizing individuals and organizations around the world to address environmental challenges. Agriculture, often blamed as a driver of these problems, is emerging a solution to environmental problems. It’s a source of food and income for the world’s poor and a primary engine for economic growth. It also offers untapped potential for mitigating climate change and protecting biodiversity, and for lifting millions of people out of poverty. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Farmers of the Future 0inShare Share Interview by Daniel Kane Robin Mednick is the Executive Director and Vice President of Pencils for Kids, a Toronto non-profit focused on providing school supplies and building schools for children in Niger. The mission of FOF is stated as enabling small farmers to make the transition from subsistence farming to agribusiness by educating young people. Pencils for Kids and Eliminate Poverty Now have partnered with Dov Pasternak from ICRISAT to pilot Farmers of the Future, a program aimed at educating young people about sustainable agriculture and empowering them to create their own agricultural enterprises. John Craig: When we first started our organization, we were broadly interested in economic and educational development in Africa. The key, then, to Africa being able to address hunger, nutrition, economic development, and agricultural development issues is that it needs to make the leap from subsistence farming to agribusiness. What exactly does the program entail?