Organic Food Expanding Eight Times Faster Than Conventional

The organic food market is growing at an impressive rate. Organic sales have doubled since 1997 and increased 17 to 21 percent per year compared to increases of 2 to 4 percent for the entire food industry. The demand for fresh and naturally grown food is reflected in the ever-increasing shelf space devoted to organic […]

Cool School Lunches

As you know by now, all parents have a different idea of what is healthy food and what is not. For years, you have had the opportunity to hand select and monitor what your child eats for lunch. Now it is time to test their ability. It is only natural for your child’s eyes to […]

Homemade Baby Food: A Fresh Start to Healthy Eating

Introducing solid foods is a very important step in your baby’s development and well-being. In fact, studies show that babies who are fed nutritious, healthy diets grow into stronger kids and better-adjusted eaters than those who are fed poor diets. Many parents don’t realize that making baby food at home is a simple and economical […]

Birds Prefer Organic

Organic farms in Great Britain attract more wildlife than nonorganic farms. A study funded by the British government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs reported that organic farms in the UK had 109 percent more wild plants and 85 percent more plant species than did nonorganic farms. The farms attracted an average of 32% […]

Beware of Pesticides

If you still are not convinced about the wisdom of buying only organic food, you may wish to take a look at the latest studies on the world’s best-selling agricultural chemical, Roundup®. Roundup is the brand name for an herbicide whose main ingredient is glyphosate. According to a report in the June 2005 issue of […]

What is the Slow Food movement?

The Slow Food movement was founded in Italy in 1986 by Carlo Petrini and is an international association that works to combat the standardization of food and wine around the world. According to the Slow Food movement’s mission, “Slow Food believes the enjoyment of excellent foods and wines should be combined with efforts to save […]

Are all organic foods healthy?

Although I believe that organic foods are healthier than their conventional counterparts, not all organic foods are health supportive. In fact, my local health-food market has entire aisles dedicated to cookies and potato chips. When buying processed, packaged organic foods, it is still important to read labels as any processed foods may be loaded with […]

Is it okay to buy imported produce when fresh fruits and vegetables are not in season in my area?

While it is exciting to find bright, shiny nectarines in the middle of February, out-of-season fruits and vegetables may be more heavily sprayed and treated for more-consistent results and to survive shipping long distances. If the produce was not grown in the U.S., there is also a possibility that it was treated with a chemical […]

The Pumpkin and Friends

The pumpkin: a harbinger of happy times and one of the most welcome signs of fall. Pumpkins  appear stacked up and rolling in various directions at farm stands, or may debut along with other squash at farmers’ markets. And, they will always mark the season's spookiest holiday, Halloween disguised grimaced or gawking on doorsteps across […]

Home Care: Tips from MaryJane Butters

Make Your Carpet SafeGood news: You can seal the carpet in your house with a three-step process using products that form a barrier to prevent outgassing. Carpets are built with nasty things like formaldehyde and 1,1,1 trichloroethane, which release an alphabet soup of unpronounceable compounds, most of which challenge your immune system. Many of these […]

Organic Farming Can Enhance Food Safety

FOSTER, R.I. (September 22, 2005) — The Organic Center released today a report that shows organic farming practices can lessen the risk of dangerous mycotoxin contamination in foods, especially grain-based products. The report, Breaking the Mold—Impacts of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems on Mycotoxins in Food and Livestock Feed, analyzes scientific studies and literature comparing […]

O Brother, Where Artificial Thou?

Fight over synthetic ingredients splits organics communityBy Amanda Griscom Little 29 Sep 2005 What do xanthan gum, an artificial thickener, ammonium bicarbonate, a synthetic leavening agent, and ethylene, a chemical that accelerates the ripening of fruit, have in common? These and other synthetic additives commonly lurk behind that "USDA Organic" stamp of approval you see […]