Buy from your local farmer, it turns out!
Found this interesting article, and hope to share more with you more regularly…
“‘FDA Cracks Down On Food Label Lies’
…”Still, it’s a useful reminder that “organic” means a food was produced without harsh chemical fertilizers or pesticides, but it doesn’t mean it’s nutritious. Processed foods are just that — processed.”
Do you use Jason Pure, Natural & Organic, Avalon Organics, Kiss My Face ObsessivelyOrganic, Nature’s Gate Organics, Stella McCartney 100% Organic, Giovanni Organic, Head Organics, Eminence Organic, Physicians Formula Organic Wear, Good Stuff Organics, Desert Essence Organics, or any “organic cosmetic” certified by Ecocert?
Hate to break it to you, but these so-called “organic” personal care products aren’t really organic and actually contain hazardous ingredients that would never be allowed in products certified to USDA organic standards.
Yesterday, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), along with certified organic personal care brands Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Intelligent Nutrients, and Organic Essence, filed a complaint with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), requesting an investigation into the widespread and blatantly deceptive labeling practices of leading so-called “Organic” personal care brands, in violation of USDA NOP regulations.
The complaint, filed on behalf of the estimated 50 million regular consumers of organic products, argues that products such as liquid soaps, body washes, facial cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizing lotions, lip balms, make-up and other cosmetic products produced by 12 different corporations have been advertised, labeled and marketed as “Organic” or “Organics” when, in fact, the products are not “Organic” as understood by the average health and environmental-minded organic consumer.
In addition to the complaint, Organic Consumers Association’s Coming Clean campaign has launched a boycott of cosmetics that claim to be organic, but aren’t certified to organic standards as required by law.
We’re encouraging our members to switch to USDA certified organic body care and cosmetics products, as part of a New Year’s Resolution to “be more organic” in 2010.
Switching to organic health and beauty products is easy and affordable. The simplest personal care regime involves shaving with an organic shikakai shaving gel, washing your body and hair with organic soap, following that with an organic hair rinse, and then using a baking-soda-based organic deodorant and finally moisturizing with an organic lotion or balm make of vegetable oils.
On our body care page, we’ve listed 26 different health and beauty brands where every single item under the brand name is certified to USDA organic standards.
We need your help to get the USDA to take enforcement action based upon our legal complaint. Please write to the USDA today.
We’re also collecting the stories of consumers who have been defrauded by fake organic health and beauty care companies. Do you feel shammed? Please share your story with us.
$2 Million in Conservation Funds Available For Organic and Transitioning Growers
Application deadline set for January 29
DAVIS, Calif., December 11, 2009 – California agricultural producers who are certified organic or transitioning to organic production, may qualify for technical and financial assistance through a special initiative administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Two million dollars in funding will be available to eligible producers in California as part of the agency’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Organic producers must submit applications by January 31 for funding consideration during fiscal year 2010.
Noting that the EQIP deadline for most applicants is Jan. 15, 2010, California Assistant State Conservationist Alan Forkey said the agency was allowing a bit more time for organic and transitioning producers to develop their conservation applications but stressed they should begin the process as soon as possible. “Organic producers tend to be new to USDA and NRCS procedures and it is a learning process on both sides. Getting in early allows for a quality conservation planning experience,” says Forkey.
Organic producers can receive up to $20,000 per year or $80,000 over six years through this initiative. The Organic Initiative targets core conservation practices such as Conservation Crop Rotation, Cover Crop, Nutrient Management, Pest Management, Prescribed Grazing, and Forage Harvest Management. “In addition to the six core practices, in California there are more than a dozen additional practices that can qualify for funding through this initiative,” Forkey said.
This is a nationwide special initiative to provide financial assistance to certified organic producers as well as producers transitioning to organic production. Applicants must either have an organic system plan or certify that they are working toward one. Organic producers may also apply for assistance under general EQIP.
Forkey encourages organic producers and those transitioning to organic production to contact their local USDA Service Center and learn more about this opportunity before the January 29 sign-up deadline. Driving directions and contact information to the Service Centers is available at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=CA.
$31.2 Million for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Available
Application deadline is set for January 15
Applications for EQIP are accepted year around. However, for initial funding consideration during fiscal year 2010, applications received by January 15 will be given first priority. To view EQIP information, visit to the California NRCS Web site: www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/programs or click here.
Financial Assistance Available for Wildlife Habitat Improvement
Application Deadline is January 15, 2010
NRCS has $534,500 of financial assistance available for WHIP, and can offer up to 75 percent cost share to implement wildlife conservation practices on private land. WHIP is a voluntary, incentive-based Farm Bill program. To sign-up, visit your local NRCS office or USDA Service Center. Driving directions and contact information for the Service Centers are available on the Web site: http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/.
The WHIP program is a competitive conservation program reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. All program applicants must submit project proposals, which are ranked according to environmental benefits to wildlife. The ranking criteria as well as eligibility and application procedures are available at www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/programs or by clicking here
This weekend we watched Food Inc. and I must say I have never been so glad that I am a vegetarian. Throughout the hour and a half of this informative documentary I vacillated through feelings of: shock, anger, sadness, disgust, and hope. I have always known the food industry in this country is bad – I mean this is the main reason I eat organics and work with an organization that has sustainability in its forefront of awareness. But seriously – if the mistreatment of animals, people, and the natural world in general displayed in this movie is even half true, these massive food corporations are utterly despicable.
Now more than ever it is imperative for each one of us to excersize our power in this country by influencing the production of food in this nation by every means possible. We need to not only vote appropriately – but as the movie says “vote every time we go to the market.” Buying organic products and local produce – and even better, growing your own garden, is a direct way to let these massive food producers know that individually we do care about the quality of our food, and we do insist that the means by which it is produced is viable and not damaging to the natural world. Where you spend your money – determines how the environment is treated.
I will not lie to you watching this movie is a bit depressing, however, I suggest that everyone (especially those who consume foods that contain corn or soy products – which is most everyone because 80% of food and non-food items at the supermarket contains some of these derivative substances) watch this movie. Depressing can be good if It inspires us to all take a look at where and how we get our food, because the truth has been hidden far to long, and responsibility is necessary if we want to turn this all around. The motto of PVFS has never rang so true – Grow Organic! For life!
Now up on our Freshman Farmer website, applications for next year’s first year farms.
Check it out here, and spread the word if someone you know is interested!
This week from the Organic Consumers Association:
“Organic agriculture puts the needs of rural people and the sustainable use of natural resources at the centre of the farming system. Locally adapted technologies create employment opportunities and income. Low external inputs minimize risk of indebtedness and intoxication of the environment. It increases harvests through practices that favor the optimization of biological processes and local resources over expensive, toxic and climate damaging agro-chemicals…in response to a frequently asked question: Yes, the world can be fed by the worldwide adoption of Organic agriculture. The slightly lower yields of Organic agriculture in favorable, temperate zones are compensated with approximately 10-20% higher yields in difficult environments such as arid areas.”
-International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements World Food Day, October 12, 2009
Read the full newsletter on their website.
There is strong evidence that organic-farming systems, which are usually a mix of diverse-plant communities—the furthest thing from the plains of monocultures that are the mainstay of American agriculture—are both more resistant and more resilient than other types of planting systems.
Peaceful Valley and our very own Farmer Pricing Rep. Greg Lightfoot were recently sited in an article in the Monterey County Herald in an article about cover crops. Take a gander an the article here.
Health, Justice and Sustainability News from the Organic Consumers Association
Our Contest Winners, Jesse and Celeste Jackson.
Congratulations to our greenhouse winners Celeste & Jesse Jackson of Smartsville, CA! Of all the people who entered the contest online and all the customers who made purchases between July 1 – August 31, 2009, Celeste & Jesse were selected at random to win this fabulous 6′ x 8′ redwood greenhouse (they are pictured in the 8′ x 12′ model in our nursery). They will be sending us updates about their new greenhouse on our blog once they get it assembled. Congratulations!
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